The Delorme Brother’s 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de la Reine des Bois has been incredibly consistent for me, and is always an upper-90s scoring wine. A big, full-bodied, structured effort, its inky purple color is followed by a terrific bouquet of ripe black fruits, toasted spice, graphite, chocolate and garrigue. Made from 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and the rest 5% Vaccarèse, brought up 30% in barrels and 70% in stainless steel, it will have another 10-15 years of prime drinking.

Pure fruits, young nose. Deep black cherry fruits. Sweet, round, fresh fruit with new oak. Balanced, well made. Very long.