'98 CDPs

[brappy]

I'm not sure how many of you cellar Châteauneuf-du-Pape but I was lucky enough to taste through 10 '98s. Although I did not take notes, I did rank them and here are the findings:

1. Les Secret des Sabon, Domaine Roger Sabon et fils
2. Domaine du Pegau, Cuvee da Capo
3. Boisrenard
4. Le Vieux Donjon
5. Domaine de Marcoux, Vieille Vignes
6. Vieux Telegraphe "La Crau"
7. Domaine de la Mordoree
8. Reserve des Celestins
9. Domaine Font de Michelle, Cuvee Etienne Gonnet
10. Les Cailloux, Cuvee Centenaire

Wines 8-10 were great wines but seemed to have not fully awoken from thier sleep. Wines 4-7 were wide awake and showing beautifully. Wines 2 and 3 were stunning. These wines are at the point where you get excited and simply can't get enough. Les Secret des Sabon was just short of a wine moment for me. The balance was exact. I could've just sat for hours with my nose in the glass. This bottle was the PERFECT CdP. This wine excited me. And I liken that to when I was a child waiting on Christmas Eve just dreaming of the gifts the next day.

So, if any of you have these wines, I hope this helps.

mark