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RP100 - The debut vintage for their luxury old-vine cuvee, which is over 90% Grenache, but in theory made from all 13 authorized red wine varietals in Chateauneuf du Pape, the 1998 Cuvee da Capo is a monumental Chateauneuf du Pape. It was actually splendid to drink in its first 5-6 years of life, and then shut down very firmly, and is now just coming out of this dormant period. It is much more delineated than it was in its fat, grapy, almost overripe youthful state, and now shows extraordinary precision and definition. It is still a massive wine, opaque ruby/purple to the rim, with notes of camphor, meat juices, roasted herbs, licorice, pepper, and spice. Thick, unctuously textured, but with zesty acidity and sweet tannin, the wine is still very young, and not yet an adolescent. This is one 1998 Chateauneuf du Pape that will age for 30-40 years, and no doubt be prodigious with another decade of cellaring. The debut release of 1998 Cuvee da Capo (made from incredibly low yields of 90% Grenache and 10% the other twelve permitted varietals) is profound. The color is a dense thick-looking ruby/garnet/purple. The aromas begin slowly but then roar from the glass like an out-of-control locomotive offering up a smorgasbord of candied black fruits pepper garrigue earth and truffles. Enormously thick and rich but amazingly not heavy this blockbuster full-bodied Chateauneuf du Pape is still youthful but should age gracefully for three decades. The Cuvee da Capo is frightfully expensive by Chateauneuf du Pape standards but if quality like this existed in Burgundy consumers would be willing to pay $500 a bottle. Think it over! |