Wow! What an enjoyable Chateauneuf du Pape! It's now in its 21st year but showing the qualities of a young wine. It may never be terribly complex, but it certainly is delicious.Good crimson color. Beautiful aromas pop out as soon as the cork is removed. Ripe red berries, wild and beautiful. Also a good measure of garrigue (Provencal herbs) and spice box. The acid level is perfect and apparent in both the smells and flavors. Very fresh and lively. Long, ripe finish. No need to wait on this wine...nor study it. It's delightful right now.
SECOND NIGHT: Some big changes occur when the bottle is re-corked and kept for a day. The fruitiness gives way to earthy and savory scents and flavors--tobacco and dark fruits rather than red berries. The finish has taken on some weight and depth. It's now a very typical Chateauneuf du Pape. No less enjoyable but a different wine. If you have some, you have a choice--drink now or wait a few years. Either way, you win.
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