Young but far from unapproachable, the 2005 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape has screaming aromatics of bloody meats, iron, and truffle that are wrapped around a gorgeously fruited core. Medium to full bodied with beautiful structure, a solid, full mid-palate, a smooth, precise texture and a long finish, this is a smoking bottle of wine! Give it another 3 to 5 years in the cellar and then drink over the following 20.

Really dense and locked up now this is packed with dark fig currant and blackberry fruit shrouded by layers of tar hot stone bittersweet licorice and espresso. The long dense finish has a great tug of iron buried within it. Best from 2011 through 2030. 15000 cases made.

Reminiscent of the 1995, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape is tight, structured and backward, with high acidity and tannin. Showing notes of blackcurrants, black raspberry, truffle, damp earth and cedar, with medium to full-bodied richness and depth, it needs another 3-5 years to reach the early stages of maturity, at which point it will hold for another decade or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

Cask sample at Farr Vintners. A limpid ruby hue. A lush, voluptuous nose with great definition. Cherry, bales of hay, espresso and earth. The palate is full-bodied and dense with red-berried fruit, white pepper, sour cherry and earth. Very backward with saddle-leather on the finish. The final blend should be a treat. Tasted December 2006. Drinking 2012-2020.