Clos du Mont Olivet Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Unique, 1998

Clos du Mont Olivet can always be depended on to produce a good, ageworthy Chateauneuf du Pape. Cuvee Unique refers to a wine made from barrels selected by North Berkeley Imports, and the result is an even more special wine. It's a wine that begs for grilled leg of lamb with roasted vegetables, and that's exactly what we had.

The color has turned to brickish red, but there are no other signs of advancing maturity. Very aromatic. You can almost hear the wine singing "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme." Also plenty of mint and other aromatic herbs to highlight the scents of ripe strawberries and raspberries. Still singing on the palate. Deep and complex with fruit and herbs dancing together. Rhone critic John Livingstone-Learmouth writes that he would like a just a bit more "richness" on the finish, but I like the acidic edge that, with aeration, actually does become richer and richer as the meal progrsses.  Thank you Clos du Mont Olivet and North Berkeley Imports.