The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out to be a beauty. Dark ruby/purple to the rim, with a flamboyant black currant, sweet cherry, floral, licorice, and spicy nose, the wine is deep, full-bodied, with supple tannins and long, heady glycerin and extract in the supple finish. This is a surprisingly approachable 2005 that already drinks well but should continue to evolve for 10-15+ years.
At times proprietor Paul Autard has clearly moved into the modern school of Chateauneuf du Pape with the use of barriques, still very much a minority school, but like so many who have experimented with new oak for the Syrah or Mourvedre components, there seems to be a gradual shifting back from the percentage of new oak to larger barrel formats such as demi-muids, etc. I felt this was Paul Autard’s strongest lineup of wines since his 1998s.
Represented by Russell Herman, Berkeley Heights, NJ; tel. (908) 771-9082. Various American importers.
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