The 2005 Domaine Pierre Usseglio & Fils Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Deux Freres is a rock star wine that's built for the long haul with massive amounts of rich dark fruit, acidity and tannin structure. Cassis, black berry and even some blueberry notes are mixed with scored earth, ash and earth aromas on the nose. The palate is full bodied with rich fruit, high acidity and quite a bit of sweet tannins on the back end that give the finish some kick ass length. It's still drinkable at the moment due to the depth and richness of the fruit but if this closes down, it will be painful so I'd drink now or in 10+ years.

The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Deux Freres, which is aged in one-, two-, and three-year-old small barrels and larger demi-muids, is 100% Grenache in 2005. Dense purple to the rim, the wine displays superb concentration, with notes of creosote, blackberry, coffee, pepper, earth, meats, and smoke. A wine of massive intensity, fabulous purity, and a thick, unctuous texture, the tannins do kick in at the end, so this wine will probably require 5-7 years of bottle age and drink well for close to three decades. It does have the requisite concentration to balance out the wine’s structure.