2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Roussanne V V
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Tasting notes
The 2005 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Roussanne Vieilles Vignes has moved fully into its tertiary phase, showing intense straw tones alongside candlewax, a drizzle of honey and baked-apple crumble. Full-bodied yet beautifully balanced, the 2005 combines bold concentration with excellent freshness, gaining complexity and breadth the longer it sits on the palate. A subtle bitterness frames the long finish, lending contrast to its brooding richness. Totally delicious to drink today, this is an expressive Roussanne Vieilles Vignes at its peak.
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One of the best whites I’ve had in some time, the 2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Roussanne Vieilles Vignes is a 100% Roussanne that sees half in tank and half in barrel. While it starts out tight, it blossoms with air, showing perfectly ripe fruit, medium to full body, an unctuous yet light texture and a blockbuster finish. This is still fresh and vibrant but I hesitate to give drinking windows given the propensity for this to shut down. There’s no harm in drinking one of these now though!
The 2005 Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape blanc Vieilles Vignes is a knock-out wine in this vintage, 100% Roussanne from very old vines with 50% of it kept in tank and 50% barrel-fermented and the blend done prior to bottling. The wine has fabulous intensity, a big, sweet nose of exotic fruit, fig, marmalade, and honeysuckle, huge body, decent acidity, and an unctuous palate. It is a gorgeous wine to drink over 3-4 years or assume the risk that it is going to rebound in 10-12 years, which it most frequently does. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Yellow-gold. Intensely floral aromas of jasmine, beeswax and coconut-accented orange and pear. Lush and weighty, with powerful pear, tangerine and nougat flavors accompanied by exotic oak notes. This reminds me of high-end white Bordeaux. Tightens up on the back, where bright mineral and citrus pith notes give shape and grip to the intensely sweet fruit. The finish of this wine is endless.
About the producer
This Châteauneuf-du-Pape estate is one of the Rhône’s most famous addresses. With a history stretching back to the 16th century, Beaucastel remains family owned and run, with the fifth generation of the Perrin family – Marc, Pierre, Thomas, Cécile, Charles, Matthieu and César – at the helm today.