05 CDR/CDRV sanity check

I was thinking there must be some excellent 05 CDR/CDRV wines out there since the vintage is so great. I was wondering if anyone has come across one that does a good job of showing just how good the vintage is. It’s not every day (vintage) that a simple wine like a CDR or CDRV can really shine, right? Not sure if it’s possible that a stellar 05 CDR/CDRV can be better than an average vintage but good cuvee CdP or higher end AOC Southern Rhone, but I’m thinking maybe it’s possible and I’d like to know if it is. And if so, what/which in your opinion achieves this lofty dream? This is part I of this post’s sanity check.

Part II of the 05 CDR sanity check post: I thought for sure I’d found a stellar 05 CDR - an 05 Caves des Papes Heritages CDR. It’s about $13. I’ve had a few 05 CDR’s that I have access to in Alberta including Chapoutier Bellarouche, Vins de Vienne and Roger Sabon which come to mind, but the Caves des Papes Heritage was the best balanced of all of them IMO (and the cheapest I think). I recently joined (paid for a month at this point) WS online and found this bottle was rated 84. I find this wine has a nice balance of fruit/sweetness, round tannins without being too soft and good acidity. It’s a versatile wine with food and really good without as well. Pretty much a great drink now everyday CDR that I preferred to all of the other 05 CDRs I’ve tasted. Better defined tannis and structure than the Vins de Vienne and Chapt., and really nice sweetness and alcohol heat. So help me with my sanity check. Try this CDR if you can and give us a TN. It should be very accessible and affordable. I’d be surprised if you thought it was an 84. Or is it typical for a well balanced versatile wine to be rated an 84 by something like WS and I just need to adjust my attitude (sarcasm)? BTW, I have had 2 bottles of this and I’m ruling out bottle variation on my part. However, I wouldn’t rule out wine tasting evaluation skills on my part, which if you can give me a reality check on if you taste this. And hey, if it's an 84 and you know of some 90 plus CDRs (see part i) give it up!

So… if you can help cure either of my 05 CDR insanity issues, I would be in your debt. And a big howdy to Bob Parson’s up in Edmonton. I've been lurking here for a while and couldn't help but notice I've a neighbor Rhone lover.

Bryan, Calgary.

Hey Bryan, a fellow Albertan. Welcome.

I haven't had any '05 CDR/CDRVs yet myself, but I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Spec's ratings. Go with your own tastes.

Hey Bryan, a fellow Albertan. Welcome.

I haven't had any '05 CDR/CDRVs yet myself, but I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Spec's ratings. Go with your own tastes.

Hi Mike.
In other interests and hobbies I have there's the same advice you just gave - go with your own instinctive preferences instead of media ratings. But if you sit two people down and have them taste a wine and they rate by the same criteria shouldn't they come to a relatively similar rating/eval even with the subjectives involved? My findings vrs theirs is a huge difference, and taking in to account I've tasted other CDRs WS rated and I know where something like an 89 stands, causes concern for (my) sanity.

Do you drink any Rhone wine at all?

Bryan

Welcome Brian, another Albertan here forumites. He lives down south so has a cushier life, warmer temps la la la

Bob/Edmonton.

Hey Bryan, a fellow Albertan. Welcome.

I haven't had any '05 CDR/CDRVs yet myself, but I wouldn't pay too much attention to the Spec's ratings. Go with your own tastes.

I wouldn't pay too much attention to vintage ratings either. it is true that 2005 is generally an excellent vintage but so was 2004 in that area and the 2006s which I have had are very good too. In fact, starting with 1998 there has been a string of very good vintages; only 2002 and 2003 are subject to caution, the former for many thin, under-ripe wines and the latter for many heavy, over-alcoholic wines.

I have not had a lot of 2005s but one of my usually reliable stand-bys, CDRV Cairanne Réserve des Seigneurs from Oratoire Saint-Martin, suffers from reductive aromas. However, if I have not left it too late, I will be buying some other 2005 cuvées from this grower and from others. But, if I miss them, I don't worry too much. There are plenty of good 2006s and the reports of 2007 vintage conditions are also good.