2005 Perrin & Fils - Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien

Dark violet. Very rich, ripe aromas of cassis, kirsch and espresso. Round and fleshy, with intense red and dark berry flavors, a licorice accent and firm, chunky tannins. The fruit builds on the long, powerful finish. The vines here are over 80 years old, according to Marc Perrin, and are a blend of 50% grenache and 50% syrah.

A fabulous wine is the estate-bottled 2005 Perrin et Fils Cotes du Rhone-Villages Vinsobres Les Hauts de Julien. Sadly, there are only 500 cases of this sensational blend of 50% Grenache and 50% Syrah. The finest wine they have yet made from these vineyards they acquired a few years ago, the wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a gorgeous nose of incense, spring flowers, boysenberry, blueberry, and black raspberry. The wine shows some crushed rock notes, spring flowers, and sensational richness in a full-bodied palate with remarkable freshness and vibrancy. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 15 years. Oct 2007, www.robertparker.com