Châteauneuf du Pape, Cuvée Laurence, 2004

Bright red. Impressively complex, exotic bouquet of dark berries, anise, botanical herbs and potpourri. Zesty minerality adds urgency to the deep blackberry and blueberry flavors, with a late kick of cracked pepper adding verve. The floral quality repeats on the long, sappy finish. Incidentally, Paul Feraud told me the Cuvee Laurence was never intended to be a super-cuvee, but rather a wine of extended elevage that he envisioned being better suited for early consumption.