1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Bosquet des Papes
This has a deep, warm, mature nose with notes of raspberry jam, thyme, garrigue, raspberry liquorice and dried resin. A nice warmth but it is a tad flabby in its structure.
The taste is big, warm and ripe with notes of thyme spiced raspberries, lingonberry bushes, resin, milk chocolate and forest floor. Soft tannins. Good but it hasn´t got much of a backbone. Fully mature and should probably have been drunk some 5+ years ago.
85p (tasted 2013/12)
1998 Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Le Vieux Donjon
This on the other hand is a really fine bottle of an almost mature Châteauneuf. The nose is deep, creamy yet intense with lovely notes of dried strawberries, root vegetables, violets, dried rose petals and lots and lots of herbs. Very complex and fine. A very fine warmth. Very floral. Great.
The taste is big, warm and juicy with still a firm tannin grip and notes of strawberry compote, licorice, fried root vegetables, forest floor and fresh rosemary. The finish is long and balanced. This still needs a couple of years to hit its plateau, but it is impossible to resist today. Bought in 2000 for 20 Euros - too bad I didn´t bought more...
93p (tasted 2013/12)
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