Just pure perfection in wine, the monumental 2007 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes ranks with the top wines in the region as well as vintage. Still youthfully ruby-hued, massive, full-bodied, and opulent, it offers a kaleidoscope-like style in its ripe black cherry, framboise, sweet garrigue, fruitcake, lavender, and charcuterie-like aromas and flavors. It’s a ripe, hedonistic wine yet it holds onto a sense of elegance, purity, and finesse, with silky tannins and a finish that goes on for over a minute. Châteauneuf du Pape (or red wine, for that matter) doesn’t get any better.

Pure perfection in a glass, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is up with the tiny handful of truly monumental wines from this hallowed appellation. Deep, concentrated and incredibly balanced, yet packed with character and intensity, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by insanely good notes of black cherries, fruit cake, lavender, garrigue and chocolate. While a blockbuster of a wine, it possesses the telltale elegance, seamlessness and perfume that's the hallmark of this estate and it never puts a foot wrong, with a seamless mid-palate, building, sweet tannin and a great finish. It's a tour de force to drink anytime over the coming decade or more.