CDP Deus Ex Machina, Clos Saint-Jean 2005

The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Deus-Ex Machina is utter perfection in the glass - an awesome wine both comparable to and eclipsing the otherworldly 2003. Saturated purple to the rim, with an extraordinary nose of incense, fruitcake, blackberry and black cherry notes with some subtle roasted herbs, roast beef, smoke, and licorice, massive fruit concentration, extraordinary intensity, unreal purity and harmony, and a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, and alcohol, this is a tour de force in winemaking and certainly one of the most compelling Chateauneuf du Papes I have ever tasted. The length goes on well past a minute, and the wine should age effortlessly for 25-30+ years. The tannins are formidable according to consulting oenologist Philippe Cambie, but they are nearly obscured by the wine's remarkable concentration and intensity. This is a riveting wine. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2030+.