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1998 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Prestige - France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape (8/11/2009)
Mmmm, this was go-o-o-o-d! A somewhat murky dark plum color on opening, the wine spent about 1.5 hours in the decanter before dinner. In the glass it was clearly a wine with age, with lightening at the rim. The nose was packed with plummy black cherries, underbrush, and some tobacco and herbs. There was also the sense of roastedness to the fruit that many have spoken of. I did not find it off-putting as it was in check, and seemed, to me, to add to the rich sense of the wine. On the palate the wine was medium to full bodied, with great balance, soft, almost-resolved tannins, enough acid to prevent the ‘jammy syrup’ problem, and wonderful, sweet fruit along with earthy secondary flavors, and a very good finish. Outstanding, and with at least three or four good years left, but ours will be gone by then! (92 pts.)
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