($110) Bright red. Brooding, slow-to-open bouquet of cherry, dark berries and tobacco. Meaty and powerful, with chewy dark fruit flavors and dusty tannins. Far more difficult to read today than the Croix de Bois. This needs time to stretch out but there's clearly serious material here.

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The deep ruby/purple-tinged 2006 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac reveals a rich, sumptuous perfume of root vegetables, blackberries, cassis, melted licorice, incense, and spice. Chapoutier's single vineyard Chateauneuf du Papes represent two different areas of the appellation, with the Barbe Rac coming from the western corridor, not far from the Plateau of Mont-Redon. Chapoutier has adjusted the manner in which he ages these cuvees, as they are now completely aged in tank. It is incredibly full-bodied for a 2006, with superb concentration as well as excellent length and purity. Both the Barbe Rac and Croix de Bois are 100% Grenache.

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A very beguiling, stylish, perfumy style, with incense, tea, sandalwood, red cherry and red currant fruit allied to a fine-grained texture. Supersilky and extremely long, with a lingering mineral- and shiso leaf-tinged finish that wont quit.

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Garnet with a watery rim. Rich minerality on the nose with an earthyness which balances the sweet raspberry fruit. A medium body with powerful flavour; dark berry fruits, black coffee and fine dry tannins.