2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois

Light red. Wild aromas of charred meat and garrigue add complexity to the sweet notes of raspberry preserves, candied cherry, red plum and subtle white pepper. Explosively fruity Chateauneuf du Pape with no rough edges to its lush strawberry and candied raspberry flavors. Finishes with excellent length.

Reminiscent of a liqueur of herbes de Provence intermixed with notes of saddle leather and licorice, the dark ruby/plum/purple-tinged 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape Croix de Bois reeks of herbs, pepper, and spice box. Smelling and tasting this wine is like walking through an open air Provencal market. It is beautifully fragrant, rich, full-bodied, heady, and long. Drink it over the next 15+ years. Robert Parker, Wine Advocate # 163 Feb 2006

Coming from a single plot of 80-year-old vines and a blend of 100% tank-aged Grenache, the 2003 Croix de Bois is a ripe, exuberant, yet elegant Chateauneuf du Pape that oozes southern Rhone flair. While from a decidedly hot vintage, it shows nothing except pure, textbook Grenache aromas and flavors. Starting out tight and slightly reserved, it comes together with air and possesses an almost Rayas-like transparency, with knockout kirsch liqueur, sappy herbs, flowers, seaweed and licorice qualities all emerging from the glass. Still lively and energetic, with a core of sweet fruit, no hard edges and a silky, seamless texture, it is a beautiful, full-bodied 2003 that is at full maturity and drinking brilliantly. While I see no reason to hold off, it will continue to evolve gracefully for upwards of another decade. Jun 2013, www.robertparker.com