CDP Cuvée de la Reine des Bois, Domaine de la Mordorée 2005

The Delorme Brother's 2005 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee de la Reine des Bois has been incredibly consistent for me, and is always an upper-90s scoring wine. A big, full-bodied, structured effort, its inky purple color is followed by a terrific bouquet of ripe black fruits, toasted spice, graphite, chocolate and garrigue. Made from 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and the rest 5% Vaccarèse, brought up 30% in barrels and 70% in stainless steel, it will have another 10-15 years of prime drinking.

Dark purple. The nose offers a kaleidoscopic bouquet of dark berry preserves, Asian spices, incense and fresh flowers. Impressively deep and velvety, with sweet blackcurrant and boysenberry flavors and gentle mineral lift. Really stains the palate, finishing with outstanding cling and sappy persistence. The oak spice, which was so noticeable and bothersome to me last year, seems to have been nearly completely absorbed. Mea culpa.