1979 Chateauneuf du Pape
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Tasting notes
Unfortunately the 1979 Châteauneuf-du-Pape was corked.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
A wine that once hit the magical three-digit score, it is now in decline. The 1979 reveals a complex nose of dried herbs, leather, animal fur, black raspberries, cherries, and licorice. It is beginning to fade in the mouth, with the tannin and acidity poking through in the finish ... always a sign of a wine turning the corner ... for the worse. It can still be spectacular, and there may well be some pristine bottles that remain perfect, but I have not seen one in many years. Importers: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173 and Martine’s Wines, Novato, CA; tel. (415) 883-0400
About the producer
Ch. Rayas is a cult name in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The wines – pure, silken expressions of Grenache with distinctive perfume – are revered for their singularity and fiercely collected. Made by Emmanuel Reynaud and renowned for their ageability, they have become some of the region's most sought-after.