Domaine de la Charbonniere - Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciales, CDP, 2007, 750ml

"This wine is composed of a selection the Maret family makes from their holdings in one of the great sites in all of Chateauneuf du Pape, the lieux-dit known as La Crau. The 2007 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Hautes Brusquieres Cuvee Speciale is a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah. The Grenache is aged in large oak foudres and most of the Syrah in smaller barrels. This fabulous, inky/ruby/purple-tinged wine offers up sweet, jammy aromas of black raspberries, licorice, truffles, underbrush, and Provencal herbs. It is the deepest colored of these four wines, and is also profoundly rich and layered, with sweet tannins as well as refreshing vibrancy and acidity. This stunner should hit its peak in 3-4 years, and last for two decades. The Maret family runs this impeccably managed estate that has nearly 45 acres of vineyards, primarily in the northeast sector of the appellation. They also have a large holding on the high plateau in the northern tier of Chateauneuf du Pape from which they produce their superb Les Hautes Brusquieres from a lieux-dit of the same name. Only two 2008s were made. All of the 2007s performed better out of bottle than they did last year."

Score: 95+, Robert Parker
Wine Advocate (185), October 2009