1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes

Possibly the greatest vintage ever for this cuvee (we'll see if the 2010 tops it in another decade), the 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes is up with the creme de la creme of the vintage. Still fresh, concentrated and lively, with medium to full-bodied richness and polished tannin, it reveals a vibrant ruby color to go with tons of garrigue, leather, chocolate, cured meats and spice. A blend of 37% Mourvedre, 36% Grenache and the rest Syrah that spent 12 months in small barrels followed by six months in tank, it's an incredible, modern-styled Chateauneuf du Pape that's drinking spectacularly today. Aug 2015, www.robertparker.com

Bright ruby color. Superripe aromas of blackberry, plum, roast coffee and charred oak. A wine of great sweetness, ripeness and depth; almost too big for the mouth. A step up in concentration and texture from the normale Really explosive fruit currently hides the suave tannins. One of the stars of the '98 vintage.