2007 Domaine de la Vieille Julienne, Chateauneuf-du-Pape

This will be assembled this afternoon in one tank and bottling will take place in January. The nose is incredibly pure with raspberry, black cherries, a hint of fig and a touch of cooked meats that should evolve after bottling. Very fresh with good definition. The palate is incredibly smooth and downright sexy on the entry, utterly harmonious with blackberries, touches of cassis and a touch of damson. This is unreservedly a thrilling Chateauneuf-du-Pape, opulent, incredibly focused.

A beautiful wine that's just now hitting maturity, the 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape from Jean-Paul Daumen is still ruby colored to the rim and offers up a classic bouquet of black raspberries, black licorice, fruit cake, garrigue and roasted meats. Full-bodied and concentrated, yet with a seamless, impeccably balanced profile, it's drinking beautifully today but has another 10-15 years of overall longevity.

While the beautiful 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape is already accessible, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and should last for two decades or more. It exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color, a great texture, and a gorgeous nose of boysenberries, blueberries, blackberries, acacia flowers, licorice, and incense. There is wonderful freshness and vibrancy (because of the good acids) as well as a terrific finish. Jean-Paul Dauman is one of a handful of Chateauneuf du Pape proprietors who believes his 2005s are better than what he produced in 2007, and I find it difficult to disagree relative to this estate-s wines. True lovers of Chateauneuf du Pape will probably want to have both vintages in their cellars.