CDP Cuvée Réservée, Domaine de la Vieille Julienne 2006

A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve exhibits an opaque purple color, peppery, spicy, earthy notes, full-bodied intensity, and outstanding concentration, purity, and length. It is another sensational wine, but finding a few bottles will be difficult given the microscopic production. It should drink nicely for 20+ years, atypically long for a 2006.

There are only around 125 cases of the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve, which is fashioned from 102-year old Grenache vines planted in pure sand, and is aged totally in neutral foudres or tanks. Dense purple to the rim, with an extraordinary perfume of graphite, blackberries, cassis, kirsch, melted licorice, smoke, pepper, and a hint of chocolate, it is fabulously concentrated, with an unctuous texture, amazing purity and generosity, a multidimensional mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts well past a minute. It should drink well for 25-30 years. Make no mistake about it ... this is the wine of the vintage!