2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac

The blockbuster 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac shows classic garrigue notes intermixed with ground pepper, lavender, and sweet black currant and black cherry notes with hints of raspberry and olive. The wine is full-bodied has a boatload of tannin, fabulous concentration, and a finish of close to 50 seconds. This is a brilliant Barbe Rac that should be at its best between 2010 and 2025. The great terroiriste and biodynamic farmer of the northern Rhone, Michel Chapoutier, continues to display impressive talent for turning out strong wines from the southern Rhone even though his undeniably strengths are his single-vineyard wines from the north. Importer: Terlato Wines International, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Medium red. Deeply concentrated, powerful, game-accented red and dark berry aromas. Inky, chewy cherry and cassis flavors are framed by solid, chunky tannins, with a subtle note of smoky herbs. A bit tough to read today but there's clearly outstanding material here.

Hugely ripe, almost overripe nose. But then on the palate it’s all held beautifully in check. Bravo! A real balancing act. You could almost lap this up now. Smooth and suave – positively a lounge lizard. Very tight fine tannins on the finish – this should have a really long life. Inredibaly there is no heat on the finish despite that ripeness on the nose. Wjhat a bravura performance. Silght dustiness on the finish but such FRESHNESS on the finish. Ninety year old Grenache vines on varied soils. Fermented in epoxy-lined concrete to minimise oxidation. (JR)