Domaine de la Mordorée Côtes du Rhône la Dame Rousse 2005

The brilliant 2005 Lirac La Reine des Bois, which is made from equal parts Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah, and aged in a combination of tank, wooden foudres, and small oak barrels, shows notes of ground pepper, melted licorice, roasted meats, blackberry, and cassis. This is a sensational wine, and frankly, the best red wine made in Lirac. Full-bodied and rich, it will hold up for at least 10–12 years.

As for the 2005 Lirac Cuvee de la Reine des Bois, this wine is superb, with a dense purple color and a beautifully sweet nose of blackberries, licorice, smoke, and acacia flowers. The wine is deep, full-bodied, with tangy acidity, moderately high tannins, and tremendous texture and length. This is a serious wine that could compete with some of the finest Chateauneufs. Give it 2–3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15 years.

As for the 2005 Lirac Cuvee de la Reine des Bois, this wine is superb, with a dense purple color and a beautifully sweet nose of blackberries, licorice, smoke, and acacia flowers. The wine is deep, full-bodied, with tangy acidity, moderately high tannins, and tremendous texture and length. This is a serious wine that could compete with some of the finest Chateauneufs. Give it 2andndash;3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15 years.

The brilliant 2005 Lirac La Reine des Bois, which is made from equal parts Grenache, Mourvedre, and Syrah, and aged in a combination of tank, wooden foudres, and small oak barrels, shows notes of ground pepper, melted licorice, roasted meats, blackberry, and cassis. This is a sensational wine, and frankly, the best red wine made in Lirac. Full-bodied and rich, it will hold up for at least 10andndash;12 years.

Powerfully ripe, with raspberry and boysenberry fruit that never gets heady, thanks to the racy structure, and a long anise- and graphite-filled finish. An impressive display. Drink now through 2009.