This midweek dinner morphed into the end all, be all of 1990 Chateauneuf-du-Pape and I was lucky and humbled to take part.  Prior to diving into the reds, we worked though a gorgeous bottle of 2001 Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes.  Beautifully rich with toasted nut, white flowers and ripe citrus and stone fruit notes, this had lively acidity in the mouth paired with cut, edge and precision.  A seriously good bottle of wine.

All of the reds were opened ahead of time and then drank over the evening.  I did my best to will away the TCA on the 1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin but it steadily grew worse over time.  This didn’t carry over onto the palate however and the wine possessed a perfect, silky texture and incredible length.  I had no problem drinking through both my glass… and Traci’s…
The 1990 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve was the lightest wine in the flight and was simply a perfect blend of complexity, lightness and hedonistic pleasure.  The consensus of those that have had this wine numerous times was that this was a top bottle.  I can only concur and if there’s a better wine out there, please let me know.  The texture and finish on this wine are something to behold.
The crazy 1990 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale was a real treat and a small pour on the next day was still singing!  Extremely ripe with a meaty, bloody and liquefied stem character, this is still reasonably civilized but those that decry the slightest hint of alcohol had best stay away.

Aside from the TCA on the nose of the Hommage, these were all riveting and not a one seemed on the downward slope.  My sincere and heart felt thanks to all those involved!

1990 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
Truly otherworldly, the 1990 Château Rayas Châteauneuf-du-Pape Reserve possesses stunningly perfumed and intense aromatics of kirsch and raspberries intermixed with sweet spice, roasted herbs, leather and licorice notes.  Very ripe and beautifully complex, the palate is full bodied and a hedonistic dream that just expands in the mouth.  There’s amazing sweetness, low acidity and an unbelievable, lush, thick and yet light texture that carries into a monster finish.  Firing on all cylinders and as good as wine gets!  (100 pts.)

1990 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
The late harvest, 16.5% alcohol (w/ 3 grams residual sugar) 1990 Henri Bonneau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Spéciale shows fantastic, Amarone like aromatics of grilled meat,  blood,  roasted herbs, liquefied stems and leather nuances all supported by borderline overripe plum and prune fruit.   Full bodied on the palate with stunning balance, decadent fruit and a seamless texture, this picks up a chocolaty richness on the blockbuster finish.  The alcohol is certainly noticeable on the tail end of the finish but this remains an absolutely stunning, unique bottle of wine!  (97 pts.)

1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin (France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
The 1990 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape Hommage à Jacques Perrin started out with meaty, funky earth, truffle, cassis and black berry fruit aromas but also subtle TCA aromas that ,over the coarse of the evening, slowly dominated the wines bouquet.  Regardless of the TCA on the nose, the palate was perfect with full body, a lush, rich and full texture, impeccable balance, stunning fruit, and a screaming long finish.  (NR.)

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