The top 2005 is the Cuvee Andre Eleazar Chateauneuf du Pape. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as notions of sweet black fruit, damp earth, licorice, and spice. Full-bodied, dry, and rich, it will be even better after several years of bottle age, and should drink beautifully for 10-12+ years. Burgundy wine broker Alain Corcia ventures into the southern Rhone to purchase wine which he then raises in old oak foudres and smaller barriques, and bottles them under assorted names. Some of the cuvees see 30% new oak, but Corcia’s overall philosophy is to keep the wood as a background element to the fruit, which is dominated by Grenache (60-70%) with the rest Syrah and occasionally Mourvedre. The 2006s are charming efforts displaying the vintage’s up-front, forward fruit, but not the structure, weight, or density of the 2005s. An Alain Corcia Selection, various American importers, including Premier Wines, CA; tel. (510) 237-6284, and Calvert Woodley Wines, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-4400

The top 2005 is the Cuvee Andre Eleazar Chateauneuf du Pape. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as notions of sweet black fruit, damp earth, licorice, and spice. Full-bodied, dry, and rich, it will be even better after several years of bottle age, and should drink beautifully for 10-12+ years. Burgundy wine broker Alain Corcia ventures into the southern Rhone to purchase wine which he then raises in old oak foudres and smaller barriques, and bottles them under assorted names. Some of the cuvees see 30% new oak, but Corcia’s overall philosophy is to keep the wood as a background element to the fruit, which is dominated by Grenache (60-70%) with the rest Syrah and occasionally Mourvedre. The 2006s are charming efforts displaying the vintage’s up-front, forward fruit, but not the structure, weight, or density of the 2005s.An Alain Corcia Selection, various American importers, including Premier Wines, CA; tel. (510) 237-6284, and Calvert Woodley Wines, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 966-4400