While I have some concerns with the tannin in the classic cuvee, I’ve no such reservations with the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Boisrenard and it’s a gorgeous wine that’s still young and vibrant. Cassis, licorice, sweet oak, menthol and spice and all emerge here, and it’s full-bodied, big-boned and structured, with a balancing amount of fruit and texture. Give this beauty another year or three and enjoy bottles through 2030.

Dense dark ruby/purple with a nose of pain grille, melted licorice, espresso, chocolate, blackberry and cherry, the modern-styled 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Boisrenard has little evidence of spicy oak but is deep in color, structured, masculine, with less flesh than some of the previous top vintages such as 1998, 2000, and 2001, but with plenty of power, concentration, and intensity. This is certainly one of the best Boisrenards since the 2001, and needs a good 4-5 years of bottle age. It should keep for at least two-plus decades. One of the great families of Chateauneuf du Pape, the Coulons, have been estate bottling for nearly 100 years, and have an impressive, nearly unmatched record of quality. Moreover, one needs to keep an eye out for their best value wine, the Rasteau cuvees they produce.Importer: New Castle Imports, Myrtle Beach, SC; tel. (843) 448-9463