A step up over the classic cuvee, the 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Privilege is 50% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 12% Mourvèdre and the rest Cinsault, Clairette and Bourboulenc. Aged 12 months in new and one-year-old barrels, it’s still young and exhibits lots of jammy blackberry, kirsch and raspberry notes intermixed with spice and cedar nuances. Full-bodied and beautifully textured, this outstanding 2005 will have another decade of prime drinking.

Ripe, savoury nose, good depth of black fruit and olive. Sweet, rich, silky fruit, strong impact of tannin. Powerful wine, excellent.