Pick My Next Bottle – 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The January Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. As I mentioned in the first installment, the purpose of this series is to provide insight into specific wines or producers you may currently have in your cellar. The winning bottle will be opened this Saturday and a Bottle Note will be published next week.

2005 was an exceptional vintage in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Conditions were perfect and the vintage rivals other greats of the last 30 years including 1990 and 1998.

The Contenders:

• 2005 Clos Saint-Jean La Combe de Fous – One of the candidates for the wine of the vintage is the extraordinary 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape La Combe des Fous (same blend and elevage). Probably the best cuvee of this wine yet made, the wine has a saturated purple color to the rim as well as an extraordinary nose of blackberry, blueberry, black truffle, incense, lavender, and a hint of graphite. The wine is remarkably concentrated, spectacularly pure, full-bodied, with amazing length of well over a minute. This wine is a ‘wow, wow’ sort of wine, a profoundly great Chateauneuf du Pape. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025. 98 points from the Wine Advocate.
• 2005 Chateau de Beaucastel – Young but far from unapproachable, the 2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape has screaming aromatics of bloody meats, iron, and truffle that are wrapped around a gorgeously fruited core. Medium to full bodied with beautiful structure, a solid, full mid-palate, a smooth, precise texture and a long finish, this is a smoking bottle of wine! Give it another 3 to 5 years in the cellar and then drink over the following 20. 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck.
• 2005 Domaine Charvin – Laurent’s 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape continues to show brilliantly. Made from the standard estate blend of 85% Grenache and then 5% each of Syrah, Mourvèdre and Vaccarese, aged all in concrete tank, it offers up a thrilling bouquet of kirsch and darker berry-styled fruits, flowers, licorice and pepper. Gorgeous on all accounts, with full-bodied richness, beautiful purity and laser focus and precision on the palate, drink this rock-star Châteauneuf anytime over the coming 10-15 years. 95 points from the Wine Advocate.

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Thanks for voting! I’d love to see a comment below on why you picked one bottle over another. Also, let me know if you have any suggestions for the February installment of Pick My Next Bottle.