1998 Chateauneuf-du-Pape AOC Da Capo, Rhône, France

On the nose raw meat and noticeable high alcohol, rum punch, very complex fruit aromas, lots of overripe red fruit and malty notes. Very concentrated in the mouth, again lots of sweet, overripe fruit, bread and malty aromas, cocoa, oak, tremendous power and lots of alcohol, tremendous depth, but overall a little too much of everything, not quite in balance, very long finish. Max be the perfect wine for some, but I am not certain the components of this monster will ever come together in a harmonious whole, or whether the fruit will ever shed its broad overripe notes. In short: will this ever be a joy to drink? Very cautious rating.

Best to drink: 2010-2030? What our ratings mean