1990 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes

The 1990 has been a consistently perfect wine for much of its life. However, it appears to have turned the corner and lost some of its most profound aspects. It is still an immortal Chateauneuf du Pape, with a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a gorgeous nose of licorice, white flowers, blueberries, and blackberries. The wine is heady, with high alcohol, an unctuous texture, and an extraordinary ripe, concentrated finish. However, some bottles tasted seem far older than others. I don’t know whether it is a bottle variation problem or a question of improper storage. Nevertheless, pristine bottles remain candidates for perfection. ||Catherine and Sophie Armenier continue to fashion one of France’s greatest wines. There are 750 cases produced from 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, and 10% miscellaneous varietals. eRobertParker.com.January, 2003

Unfortunately, I found this bottle of the 1990 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes to be slightly tired and showing some cracks around the edges. This goes to show that at this age, there are no great wines, only great bottles. But, this is also a good example of making sure you don't wait too long on those gems in your cellar. Drink! Oct 2016, www.robertparker.com