03 Domaine Jean Royer, Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige

A promising window into 03 Rhone, the luscious fruit-forwardness and brambly intensity of the 03 Royer is powerful and intoxicating. What starts off as a here's-your-blind-test-for-CdP wine reaches its apogee when its syrupy raspberries turn to flavors of beef fat, cartilidge, licorice, and coffee bean for support. Afterthoughts of marachino cherry and navel orange zest make the pressing wine a bit more welcome to all palates.