Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Côte Ronde 2005

94 points Robert Parker: "The 2005 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde is undeniably the best wine Autard has made since the 1998 rendition of this cuvee. This got a big 'Wow!' when I smelled it. A stunning nose of black truffles, melted licorice, blackberries, and sweet cherries is followed by a multi-dimensional, multi-layered, full-bodied wine with tremendous power, richness, and a hint of barrique. One could say this is modern, but the Provencal personality jumps from the glass of this meaty, dense wine. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 15+ years. (Oct 2007)"

94 points Jeb Dunnuck (Rhone Report): "A big, dense wine, the 2005 Domaine Paul Autard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée La Cote Ronde is loaded with smoked cherries, roasted herbs, melted licorice, spice box, and chocolate aromas and flavors. What starts out as a very modern seeming wine, with obvious oak, morphs into a quite Provencal wine with beautiful spice and hints of garrigue. Full-bodied and powerful on the palate, this has real density and depth though the middle, thick, rich fruit, and a structured finish. Still very youthful, this needs another 2-4 years of cellaring and should be very long lived. (Sep 2011)"

93 points Josh Raynolds (Vinous): "Dark ruby. Deep cherry and blackcurrant aromas, with sexy anise, incense and floral character expanding with air. Lush and sweet, offering deep creme de cassis and bitter cherry flavors framed by supple tannins. Invitingly sweet and plush on the finish, which echoes the cassis and licorice qualities. This is utterly seductive today. (Jan/Feb 2008)"

93 points Wine Spectator: "Delivers a healthy dose of cocoa and toast before more typical black cherry, currant, tobacco and mineral notes fill out the back end. There's also lots of spice, with a muscular, chewy finish that needs some time to settle in. Best from 2008 through 2020. 850 cases imported. Highly Recommended. (8/31/07)"