The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale, is powerful and full-bodied, with moderately high tannins, enticing, lush, intense texture, and hints of black cherry, roasted herbs, meat, and resiny, loamy soil notes. This is a very pure, structured, high tannin wine with good acidity that should be given 3-4 years of bottle-age and drunk over the following two decades. There are two superb Usseglio estates in Chateauneuf du Pape, and this one, although somewhat in the shadow of the recent efforts of the Domaine Pierre Usseglio, should never to be discounted as the wines from Raymond Usseglio are top-notch and classic in style. Both 2006 and 2005 are strong vintages for this estate. Readers should know that the Cuvee Girard is essentially the same cuvee as their traditional cuvee of Chateauneuf du Pape but bottled unfined and unfiltered for the American importer and thus available only in the United States.Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800

Concentrated but silky, with a core of raspberry and blackberry fruit woven with dark toast, licorice and plum sauce notes. The long finish shows nice depth. Has more grip than the Girard, but it's not as fresh. Drink now through 2020. 80 cases imported. -JM

Baked fruits reflect ripeness. Peppered raisin air. Conceals its intrinsic power pretty well. Good length, nice end tannic kick.