Dom Marcoux Cnp Vignes Vieilles 04

94/100. The 2004 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes has a saturated dark ruby/purple color and the tell-tale black raspberry, blueberry, and cassis notes intermixed with black truffle and floral notes. Moderately firm tannins give it a more structured feel than the regular bottling and the wine again shares wonderful purity, texture, and length. This is another beauty that should hit its peak in 2-4 years and last for 15 or more.

source - erobertparker.com

James and Rebecca were recently married so a celebration was in order. James is a Heston Blumenthal disciple so he was eager to wow us with a 5-course dinner that had been weeks in the planning. I was in charge of pairing the wines. James had prepared Braised Venison in a Red Wine and Chocolate Sauce for the main. Normally Syrah would have been the obvious match with venison but I had a Te Mata Coleraine 1991 and a Domaine de Marcoux Old Vine Chateauneuf de Pape 2004. I felt the robust chocolate sauce would be too heavy for the delicate perfume of Syrah. The Coleraine was a thing of beauty on its own, still youthful despite its complex flavours of cedar, chocolate and coffee, but it was the Chateauneuf de Pape that stole the day. Once the Grenache and Syrah components mingled with the game, chocolate and red wine sauce, we were on another plane. The wine seemed as if it had been waiting for 7 years for its perfect match and we could almost taste the burnt soils of the Southern Rhone as we gobbled down the perfectly cooked venison. AC Mar 11