1998 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Papet

The two bottles opened for this report were both totally shut down and impossible to judge, which struck me as unusual. One of my all-time favorite Chateauneuf du Papes is their 1990 Cuvee du Papet, and I thought the 1998 had a chance to behave in that manner, never closing down and always being drinkable. This wine exhibits a dark plum/ruby color, with hints of garrigue, new saddle leather, tapenade and kirsch, but it shuts down tight in the mouth. It is medium to full-bodied, has weight, purity, and richness, but it is just not singing. No matter how much aeration I gave it, nothing seemed to come forward, making judgment virtually impossible. Whatever the reason for it, I thought this was just bizarre. The mysteries of wine - may they never end!

Badly corked.

The two bottles opened for this report were both totally shut down and impossible to judge, which struck me as unusual. One of my all-time favorite Chateauneuf du Papes is their 1990 Cuvee du Papet, and I thought the 1998 had a chance to behave in that manner, never closing down and always being drinkable. This wine exhibits a dark plum/ruby color, with hints of garrigue, new saddle leather, tapenade and kirsch, but it shuts down tight in the mouth. It is medium to full-bodied, has weight, purity, and richness, but it is just not singing. No matter how much aeration I gave it, nothing seemed to come forward, making judgment virtually impossible. Whatever the reason for it, I thought this was just bizarre. The mysteries of wine - may they never end! Jun 2010, www.robertparker.com