A lilting, perfumy style, with lots of floral and spice notes up front, followed by plush fruitcake, red cherry and incense notes. Fine-grained tannins carry the rich but elegant finish. Drink now through 2022. 5,830 cases made. Rated 92. ‑ JM, Wine Spectator December 31, 2007

Deep red. Sexy Asian spices and incense complement fresh strawberry and raspberry preserves on the nose. Luscious, alluringly sweet red berry flavors offer liqueur-like intensity but are firmed by juicy minerality. Very suave, with lovely sweetness and clarity. You could drink this now. Rated 89. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 136 January/February 2008

Bright ruby. Vibrant red berry and cherry aromas are complemented by suave mineral and fresh floral nuances. Resembles a great pinot noir in its clarity and sexy raspberry expression, with silky tannins adding grip. Gains weight on the finish, picking up cherry and cassis preserve qualities, with no loss of energy or focus. I love this wine's suave texture. Rated 94. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 136 January/February 2008

Medium red. Ripe red fruits and minerals on the nose; like a Burgundy in its aromatic profile. Very fresh and elegant, with precise strawberry and redcurrant flavors, impressive focus and a long, juicy finish. This is absolutely delicious now but has the balance for cellaring. Rated 93. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

Deep red. Incredibly aromatic nose offers a kaleidoscopic bouquet encompassing red and dark berries, candied cherry, lavender, rose and smoked meat; I could easily confuse this with a grand cru from the Gevrey neighborhood. Lush and creamy, with a sappy texture and explosive red berry flavors, superb concentration and bright, energetic mineral tones. The finish doesn't quit, and who would want it to? One of the greatest wines I tasted in the entire Rhone valley this year. Rated 96-99. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

Dark red. Ripe raspberry and strawberry scents are deep and expansive. Impressively sweet and lush, with supple tannins supporting powerful red berry flavors. Deepens with air, finishing on a ripe blackberry note, with good acid lift and excellent length. Very promising. Rated 92-95. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

Medium red. Precise raspberry and redcurrant aromas complicated by assertive garrigue and mineral notes. Highly concentrated, very pure berry flavors are nicely framed by gentle acidity. Finishes silky and very long, with compelling sweetness. Daniel Brunier rates this wine alongside his 1978 and 1998 for sheer quality. Rated 93-96. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Steven Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

A beautiful wine is the 2005 Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf du Pape. A saturated dark ruby, it offers up notes of seaweed wrappers (nori) intermixed with truffle, black raspberry, cherry, and some black currant, pepper, and iodine. Fleshy, full-bodied, with good acidity, moderately high tannins, and a long, rich finish, this wine will require 2-4 years of bottle age then drink well for close to 20 years... Drink 2009-2027. Rated (92-94). ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 169 February 2007

Ruby-red. Intense spice and floral notes lift the deep cassis, dark cherry and cured tobacco aromas. Wild, gamey and sweet, with deep flavors of blackberry and blackcurrant fruit, bitter licorice root and espresso framed by strong tannins. A solidly built if rather brooding La Chapelle that will require plenty of patience. Give this a decade in the cellar, at least. Rated 92. ‑ Josh Raynolds, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar Issue 130 January/February 2007

The finest example of this cuvee since 1990, the 2003 Hermitage La Chapelle (50,000 bottles rather than the normal 96,000+ were produced) possesses an inky/purple color as well as a tremendous bouquet of creme de cassis, crushed flowers, truffles, and licorice. Full-bodied and powerful (15% natural alcohol) with good freshness and definition, this big, rich, dense, reassuringly great La Chapelle should be cellared for 5-8 years, and drunk over the following 20-25. Rated 95. ‑ Robert M. Parker, Jr.'s The Wine Advocate Issue 163