Pick My Next Bottle – 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape

The June Installment of Pick My Next Bottle focuses on 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape. 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 on Friday and a Bottle Note will be published this coming weekend.

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 des Papes – Deep red. Explosively perfumed nose offers a profound bouquet of red and dark berries, licorice, incense and musky underbrush. Broad, palate-staining raspberry and blackcurrant flavors are enveloped in velvety tannins, with suave anise and Asian spices adding complexity. A huge but balanced-even graceful-wine, with a finish that refuses to let go of the palate. This remarkable young Chateauneuf has the sheer sex appeal to enjoy young but also possesses superb cellaring potential. I’d hold mine. 95 points from Vinous.
• 2005 Domaine du Pégaü Cuvée Réservée– After tasting the 2005 Domaine du Pégaü Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée two separate times from varying casks and barrels at the domaine, this was my first taste from bottle and I certainly wasn’t disappointed. Surprisingly, this doesn’t possess the same meaty and burly Pegau aromas but showed a pure, clean and precise character. Bright raspberry, cherry and mineral aromas shows up at first but with air, more earthy, peppery and tar laced aromas show up. The palate is awesome with beautiful balance, tension and texture that lead into a long, tannic finish. It wasn’t until the last sip that this showed more of the subtle meat and leather aromas that I’m use to getting from these wines. Outstanding. 96 points from Jeb Dunnuck.
• 2005 Chateau Beaucastel – Reminiscent of the 1995, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape is tight, structured and backward, with high acidity and tannin. Showing notes of blackcurrants, black raspberry, truffle, damp earth and cedar, with medium to full-bodied richness and depth, it needs another 3-5 years to reach the early stages of maturity, at which point it will hold for another decade or more. Drink 2017 – 2035. 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 July installment of Pick My Next Bottle.