Sunday, August 10, 2008

Louis Bernard Chateauneuf Du Pape 2005 Wine Review (NW)

Tasting notes:

Hot nose burns off to reveal cherry, red licorice, and cinnamon
Full-bodied on the palate
Finish of prune, herbs, and some lingering spice

I like the Chateauneuf du Pape wines I've sampled from recent years. Many of them are loaded with fruit and spice. Chateauneuf's generally have a unique quality and are based on a unique tradition of blending many different grapes including Syrah, Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, and many others.

With this wine, I was hoping to find a bargain. It's on the lower end of the price range, at $30, and tastes like it. While it has the fruit and spice characteristics, it doesn't show a lot of depth and richness like many of the other wines costing $50-60. The logical question is "will this evolve with time?" While this is often hard to predict, the answer is probably not much. Although, it will develop into something a bit different after five years or more.

If you're looking for a Chateauneuf you can get around $30, this is still a decent bet. However, if you're looking for a flagship Chateauneuf, you'll need to spend more. Either way, raise a glass!

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