Domaine du Haut des Terres Blanches Chateauneuf du Pape, 1998

The 1998 vintage in Chateauneuf du Pape was far superior to that of 1994. However, this estate's 1998, compared to its excellent 1994 I had last week, is a dud.

Medium ruby with browning, particularly at edges. Strawberry fruit and earth but none of the old vine intensity or power that I found in the 1994. Fruity rather than savory, but the fruit is fading and not very interesting. Has some Southern Rhone charm but more what I would expect from a Cotes du Rhone than a Chateauneuf du Paper.