2007 Domaine de la Janasse Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes

A bigger, richer, more concentrated wine than the ethereally textured Cuvee Chaupin, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvée Vieilles Vignes is unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage as well as one of the finest Chateauneuf du Papes ever made. Offering notes of cassis, roasted meats, beef blood and licorice, this heavenly 2007 is full-bodied, hugely concentrated and rich yet shows incredible purity, focus and precision, with no sensation of heaviness or weight. It’s still deep purple colored, with no signs of evolution, and it has another two decades of life. Having said that, it’s a gorgeous drink today.

Glass-staining purple. Powerful, room-filling aromas of blackberry, boysenberry, incense, olive and potpourri, plus a strong mineral quality. Deep, chewy and remarkably pure, with sweet black and blue fruit flavors and sexy violet and lavender pastille character. The finish seems to go on forever, leaving lush, creamy dark fruit notes behind. You don't really drink this as much as you eat it, observed Isabelle Sabon. She said that the potential alcohol of the fruit jumped from 14% to 17% during the harvest. This is the polar opposite of the Chaupin.

Inky purple. Hypnotic bouquet of dark berries, flowers and spices complicated by black olive, sandalwood and star anise. Lush, creamy and liqueur-like in its depth and sweetness, offering palate-enveloping boysenberry and blueberry flavors and exotic floral pastille and spicecake qualities. Fine-grained tannins add grip and focus to an endless sweet, floral aftertaste.