2005 Domaine Beaurenard "Cuvée Boisrenard" Châteauneuf-du-Pape

96 points Wine Spectator. "This lush beauty really tames the rugged structure of the vintage, offering gorgeous boysenberry and raspberry confiture layered with mocha, Turkish coffee, licorice and fig paste notes. The long finish has great grip, though it's remarkably well-embedded, allowing the exotic spice notes to linger beautifully. Best from 2010 through 2030. 1,665 cases made." (04/08) 94 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar: "Inky ruby. Exotically perfumed nose offers a striking array of red and dark berries, flowers and garrigue Fresh cherry and boysenberry flavors are sweetened by vanillin oak and candied licorice, finishing with gentle grip and superb persistence. Leaves a lingering spicy quality on the palate, along with clinging dark fruit preserves." (Jan/Feb '08) 92+ points Robert Parker: "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." (10/07) 14.5% abv.