2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Felix

Coming from 90-year old vines and a blend of 65% Grenache and the rest Mourvèdre and Syrah, the 2003 Domaine Bois de Boursan Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée des Felix has smoking aromatics that just scream Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Smoked cherries, leather, garrigue, dried blood, tar and subtle floral aromas literally jump from the glass and the wine is both complex and intense at the same time. These characteristics carry over to the palate where the wine shows medium to full body, sweet fruit, fresh acidity, firm, dry tannin and a long, lingering finish. The dry tannin on the finish gives me a slight pause with regards to aging but it’s drinking beautifully right now, especially with food. Given how expressive and aromatic this is at the moment, I’d opt for pairing with food and drinking over the next 5 to 8 years.

Deep red. Superripe, exotic aromas of kirsch, plum and garrigue; potent-verging-on-overwhelming. Extremely ripe, with dense flavors of sweet cherry and candied rose that build and expand through the finish, which features dusty, fine-grained tannins. The floral notes linger nicely on the back.

The 100% Grenache cuvee, the 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Felix offers beautiful currants, cherries, incense, black tea, and flavorful, intense black cherry jam intermixed with hints of mineral and black currant. A distinctive, elegant wine that has surprising structure, definition, and an almost Bordeaux-like mouthfeel, this reminds me of the 1998 but seems to be slightly behind the 2001 and 2000. Drink it over the next 12-15 years. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 163 Feb 2006