2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Chante le Merle Vieilles Vignes

Beautifully traditional and classic, with plenty of seaweed wrapper, herbed game, truffle, garrigue and sweet kirsch and blackberry-styled fruit, the 2003 Bosquet des Papes Chateauneuf du Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes is medium-bodied, clean, balanced and has solid focus and length on the finish. In a great drinking spot, with mature fruit, yet a core of sweet fruit, it should be consumed over the coming 4-6 years or so. Given the balance, this will certainly drink nicely beyond that point, yet I like it now while the mature profile is balanced by notable fruit. Well-done, and worth seeking out for a mature, well-made Chateauneuf du Pape drinking experience.

Ripe, heady and spice laden, the 2003 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes offers up perfumed and intense aromatics of licorice infused raspberries, leather, stems and boat loads of garrigue. This leads into a medium to full bodied wine that displays gobs of sweet fruit, a slightly rustic, savory texture and notable, chewy and slightly drying tannins on the long finish. There’s lots to like here and while the tannins sweetened with air, they’re something to watch and might dictate drinking this on the early side.