Domaine du Grand Prieur Cotes du Rhone, 2005

Lke Ottone I (below), Grand Prieur is a wine I usually drink in its first year after release, but I have a few bottles from 2005 and 2006 alongside the 2007s in my cellar. My first impression on pulling the cork was that the wine was beginning to lose some of its vibrant fruit; about 10 minutes later, I became convinced that it is in its prime and dancing.

The color still has some bluish tints, unusual for a Cotes du Rhone, but when the glass is nearly empty, you can see the lightening shades of crimson with some slight browning at the rim. The nose reveals lovely mature pepper and spice with some floral tones. Then black raspberries and licorice. A rich mouthful of ripe fruit.