1995 Chapoutier Collection (1999 VDF Coufis, 2010 Ermitage Vin de Paille)

Youthful, but drinking pretty much at point in my opinion, the 1995 M. Chapoutier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Barbe Rac is a seamless, elegant Châteauneuf that boasts perfume aromatics of pure black fruits, white pepper, spice, and earth, a medium+ bodied mouth feel, and brilliant focus and delineation on the palate. While fine tannin emerges on the finish, the fruit and acid are beautifully integrated and I don’t see much upside to holding bottles. It should continue to shine and drink beautifully for another decade however.