99/100 PP
"The 2005 Marcoux Châteauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a rock star that’s up with the top 2-3 wines of the vintage. Perfumed, complex and brilliantly Provencal, with sweet kirsch, pepper, crushed flowers and dried earth, it’s full-bodied, seamless and silky on the palate, with no hard edges and incredible length. Opening up in the glass, drink this heavenly Châteauneuf anytime over the coming decade or more."
(Jeb Dunnuck, robertparker.com)
97/100 PP
"Utterly profound, the dense ruby/purple-tinged 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (16.7% natural alcohol) is a blockbuster. Full-bodied with great intensity, superb richness, and tremendous floral, truffle, meaty, raspberry, and blackberry-scented aromas, this wine, which comes from three well-known parcels in Chateauneuf du Pape (La Crau, Gallimards, and Esquirons) exhibits high tannin and good acidity, but the massive fruit and richness from these old vines dominate the wine’s personality. Although it is tasting profound at present, shrewd buyers will give it 4-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following two decades."
(Robert M. Parker, Jr., robertparker.com)
96-99/100 vinous
"Deep red. Stunningly aromatic nose offers a kaleidoscopic array of fresh and dried floral scents, red and dark berry tones and minerals. The nose seemed to expand with air, taking on depth and power: I thought I could taste the bouquet! Lush, concentrated and sweet, with a panoply of dark cherry and berry flavors, velvety tannins and a bright spicy character on the back. The finish boasts a palate-staining persistence that's simply uncanny. I wonder which of my daughters I should trade for some of this."
(Josh Raynolds, vinous.com)
