One of the strongest wines in the vintage, Ferrando’s 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Collection Charles Giraud continues to show brilliantly, and has rated in the upper 90s every time I’ve had it in the past 2-3 years. Made from 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvèdre that comes from a small plot in the Serres lieu-dit and a small part of the Cristia lieu-dit, it offers a beefy, meaty array of dark fruits, cured meats, chocolate and tapenade to go with a full-bodied, powerful, chewy style on the palate. It’s a big, full-flavored Chateauneuf du Pape that will continue to knock it out of the park for another 10-15 years.