1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage a Jacques Perrin

Clearly drinking at peak, the nose is off the hook with its olives, herbs, smoked red cherries, bright red plums, black pepper, flowers, and thyme notes. There is power here which is balanced by the wine\'s elegance, which allows the finish to shine with all of its meaty, red fruits that linger. Drink from 2022-2035.

Absolute perfection and just another heavenly example of this cuvée, the 1990 Châteauneuf Du Pape Hommage A Jacques Perrin is still a healthy ruby hue and has a kaleidoscope-like array of red and black fruits, dried flowers, Provençal garrigue, and spicy, meaty, truffly nuances. It builds beautifully on the palate and is full-bodied, with a graceful, seductive mouthfeel, resolved tannins, and a blockbuster finish. It's a little more evolved compared to the 1989, with a slightly more layered, seamless mouthfeel. Both the 1989 and 1990 are simply magical wines that I wish every reader would be able to taste. Drink bottles over the coming decade. Drink 2026-2036.

About as sexy as this cuvee gets, the 1990 Châteauneuf du Pape Hommage À Jacques Perrin (60% Mourvedre, 20% Grenache, and the rest Syrah and Counoise) is spectacular. Similar in style to the 2000, it comes from a hot, dry vintage (and a big crop) that resulted in perfect ripeness and low acidity in most of the varieties. Full-bodied, supple, seamless and silky, with sweet tannin, it has awesome aromatics of kirsch liqueur, currants, Provençal herbs, meat juice and exotic spices all literally soaring from the glass. At maturity and drinking brilliantly, it should hold nicely for another decade easily, and have a gradual decline after that.