2005 Domaine Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Deep ruby. Dark berry liqueur and kirsch aromas are complemented by smoky garrigue and licorice, giving the wine a rather brooding personality. Big and fleshy, with deep dark fruit preserve flavors, youthfully chunky tannins and a broad, long finish. There's more than enough fruit here to outlast the tannins.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape has turned out to be a beauty. Dark ruby/purple to the rim, with a flamboyant black currant, sweet cherry, floral, licorice, and spicy nose, the wine is deep, full-bodied, with supple tannins and long, heady glycerin and extract in the supple finish. This is a surprisingly approachable 2005 that already drinks well but should continue to evolve for 10-15+ years. At times proprietor Paul Autard has clearly moved into the modern school of Chateauneuf du Pape with the use of barriques, still very much a minority school, but like so many who have experimented with new oak for the Syrah or Mourvedre components, there seems to be a gradual shifting back from the percentage of new oak to larger barrel formats such as demi-muids, etc. I felt this was Paul Autard’s strongest lineup of wines since his 1998s. Represented by Russell Herman, Berkeley Heights, NJ; tel. (908) 771-9082. Various American importers.
Inky violet. Deeply concentrated, ripe scents of kirsch and cured meat. Deep, powerful cherry and dark berry flavors lead to chunky tannins and a long, chewy finish. This muscular wine will need some cellar time.