1990 Chapoutier Chateauneuf du Pape 'La Bernardine' - the colour has lightened
on this quite a bit in the last few years and it is now a nice medium garnet.
The nose is leathery slightly hot with a recioto tinge to it and a bit of
pepper. The wine is fully mature and the tannins are quite soft but there is
good acidity. On palate it comes across as a late harvest wine with smooth feel
and good length - particularly suited to cheese. It isn't the most elegant
Chateauneuf, and is rather like an old friend that talks just a bit too loudly
at parties and tells jokes that are slightly off-colour, but no one minds as he
is reliable and is always what you expect. The flavour concentration is
commendable, the elements are all there, and if you've got it, open it soon, as
it isn't going to get any better, though it will hold a few more years.