Domaine de la Mordorée Mordorée La Plume du Peintre 2005

Dense and impenetrable at first, the monumental 2005 Domaine de la Mordorée Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Plume du Peintre, 100% Grenache all from la Crau, sports a vivid black, opaque color to go with dense, compact aromatics of blackberry and raspberry fruits, iron, blood, and striking minerality. Over the course of the evening, this slowly opens up, gaining amazing complexity, depth, and layers to the aromas. Full bodied and astonishingly concentrated on the palate, this stays fresh and lively with perfect balance, a focused, precise texture, huge structure and extraction through the middle, and a blockbuster finish. Truly extraordinary, this is still a baby and needs at least 5 to 8 more years in the cellar, at which point it should drink well for two decades. A phenomenal job by Christophe and Fabrice!

A stunning combination of density and purity, with a nearly distilled essence of kirsch and blackberry fruit that's layered with exotic fig, graphite, licorice and spice cake notes. The long finish is full throttle, yet racy and balanced. (JM)

Inky ruby. Room-filling bouquet evokes dark cherry, boysenberry, graphite, fresh lavender and anise. Palate-staining red and dark berry liqueur flavors are uncannily fresh and precise, managing to be both hugely concentrated and strikingly fresh at once. With its echoing notes of sweet dark berry preserves and minerals, this stunning wine doesn't ever seem to finish. (JR)

The tiny production 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape la Plume du Peintre is a monumental wine. Coming all from the La Crau lieu-dit and made from 100% Grenache aged 30% in small barrels and 70% in stainless steel tanks, it offers massive amounts of cassis, blueberry, licorice, graphite and spice, full-bodied richness, building tannin and a youthful, unevolved profile that’s hard to believe... This is a singular Châteauneuf du Pape that I wish every reader could taste; unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to find in the market. (JD)