2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Boisrenard

Offering up a beautiful bouquet of sweet red cherries, rose petal, tar and licorice (dare I say, Nebbiolo like), the 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Boisrenard is medium to full-bodied, nicely focused and polished on the palate, with silky, fine tannin and mid-weight flavors and texture. A blend of the 13 permitted red varieties that spent 18 months in 1-5-year-old smaller barrels, it still shows hints of vanilla and spice, yet has wonderful fruit, good texture and plenty of length. Enjoy it over the coming couple of years. Owners Frederic and Daniel Coulon made solid wines (particularly their whites) in 2004. Looking at the reds, their top cuvee (Boisrenard) still shows hints of its oak elevage (which I don’t think will ever completely disappear), yet stays pure, balanced and very drinkable. Both it and the traditional cuvee are medium-bodied, elegant efforts to drink over the coming couple of years.