2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Papet

An excellent ’06 and a solid vintage for this cuvée, the 2006 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée du Papet is decidedly traditional and savory, with copious red and black berry styled fruit, hosin sauce, spiced meat, fennel, and wild garrigue and Provencal herbs all soaring from the glass. Still primary and youthful, this full-bodied, classically made Châteauneuf-du-Pape has juicy acidity, sweet fruit, and enough ripe tannin to warrant another 3-4 years of bottle age. It will drink beautifully for 15+ more years.

Deep ruby. Alluring, highly perfumed bouquet of vivid black raspberry, blueberry and minerals, with a sexy floral overtone. Impressively precise, with sweet red and black fruit flavors braced by tangy minerality and complemented by rose, lavender and succulent herbs. The finish of this impressively balanced wine is brisk and focused, with sneaky sweetness and persistence. This is Apollo to the 2007's Dionysus.

Ruby-red. Intensely perfumed, floral-dominated bouquet of red and dark berries, kirsch, rose and incense; if the '05 smells like Chambolle, this one is more Vosne-Romanee. Velvety flavors of raspberry and blackberry betray no rough edges, and offer a deep, sweet personality. Leaves a wake of floral pastille and dark berry liqueur on the extremely long finish. This seems to have more oomph than the '05, if not the same element of finesse today.