1990 Chapoutier La Bernardine

1990 Chapoutier Chateauneuf du Pape 'La Bernardine' - the colour has lightened on this quite a bit in the last few years and it is now a nice medium garnet. The nose is leathery slightly hot with a recioto tinge to it and a bit of pepper. The wine is fully mature and the tannins are quite soft but there is good acidity. On palate it comes across as a late harvest wine with smooth feel and good length - particularly suited to cheese. It isn't the most elegant Chateauneuf, and is rather like an old friend that talks just a bit too loudly at parties and tells jokes that are slightly off-colour, but no one minds as he is reliable and is always what you expect. The flavour concentration is commendable, the elements are all there, and if you've got it, open it soon, as it isn't going to get any better, though it will hold a few more years.