2010 Chapoutier Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac Duo (1990 & 1998)

Saturated ruby. Black and blue fruits, violet and incense on the pungent, intensely perfumed nose. Stains the palate with sappy cassis and blackberry flavors, picking up spice and smoke on the back half. Cola and floral pastille nuances come up with air and carry through a strikingly long, gently tannic finish. More powerful than the Croix du Bois, with greater depth but less finesse, relatively speaking.

A magnificent effort, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Barbe Rac boasts huge notes of kirsch, exotic herbs, lavender, cedar, fig, black cherry, black currant, licorice and roasted meats. This flamboyant, rich, full-throttle Chateauneuf du Pape should age well for two decades. It will be interesting to follow this wine’s evolution alongside the brilliant 2009 and 2007 Barbe Racs. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900