Surprisingly closed and structured on this occasion (bottles from my cellar are much more ready to go), the 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape showed a savory edge in its bouquet garni, pepper, currants and licorice aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, structured and tannic, with impressive mid-palate depth and concentration, give bottles a few years in the cellar; it's certainly a 20+-year wine and a serious success in this under-the-radar vintage. - Jeb Dunnuck

This has terrific purity with a stunningly pure beam of cassis holding sway over fruitcake melted licorice and incense notes. Shows impressive density for the vintage but this is suave elegant and seamless through the finish with terrific underlying minerality. Best from 2009 through 2030. 7165 cases made.