(97 points) All 13 varieties have been used from lieux-dits La Crau, Les Escondudes and Mont Pertuis, with no destemming. There's some complexity and interest on the nose already, with aromas of violets, blueberries, raspberries and a touch of tobacco leaf. The wine is medium to full-bodied, but without any heaviness, with sublime freshness and piercing acidity. This has real life, and a lightness of touch which delivers real drinkability. Very fine, abundant ripe tannins work like a lattice through the fruit. The fairly raised levels of alcohol don't give a sense of imbalance in the wine, and it finishes on a lifted note. The best Da Capo in a long time. Real elegance.

(97 points) Wow, just utterly fantastic and this bottle of 2003 Cuvée du Vatican Châteauneuf-du-Pape Réserve Sixtine was even better than the last one. The nose shows beautiful dark, smoky fruit, cassis and earth notes with wax, minerals and spiced meat notes showing up in the background. There’s some integrated wood notes but they’re much less prevalent than the previous bottle and they add rather than detract. The palate is fruit driven and is full bodied with awesome concentration, perfect balance, serious structure and plenty of fine grained tannins on the long finish.

(94 points) Produced from incredibly low yields ranging from 17 to 25 hectoliters per hectare, this rich, intense, powerful, plush style of Chateauneuf du Pape remains deeply colored. With a nose packed with fennel, jammy blackberry, blue fruit, pepper, herbs, spice, griotte and smoke, the wine slides from the glass, filling your palate with pleasure. It's big, rich and packed, yet everything is in balance. There is no sensation of heat from the 15.7% alcohol. Vatican Sixtine remains one of the best values in a world of increasing prices. I'd drink this over the next 5 years to preserve its freshness and fruit.