| Score: |
100 RP.
"The debut vintage for their luxury old-vine cuvée, which is over 90% Grenache, but in theory made from all 13 authorized red wine varietals in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, the 1998 Cuvée da Capo is a monumental Châteauneuf-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 Châteauneuf-du-Pape that will age for 30-40 years, and no doubt be prodigious . . ." Wine Advocate #189, Jun 2010 |