Violets and Tar

Domaine Saint Benoit
Chateauneuf du Pape, Cuvee de Grande Garde
1994
Shane's Notes
$29.99

Finding an aged Rhone is about as tough as finding a Frenchman who praises American wine. When I discovered this 11 year-old Chateauneuf du Pape for only $30 at K&L, I had to buy it. In the glass, the wine was dark red with a brownish tinge on the meniscus, indicative of bottle age. The aroma was dominated by sweet cherries and film. The palate was initially tight and displayed a light cherry flavor followed by dirt. After about 20 minutes in the decanter, the palate really opened. The light cherry flavor turned into a heavy, concentrated floral flavor (reminiscent of violets) with some tar in the middle. It had a dry, lingering finish with barely enough tannins to hold it together. The texture was dense and chewy. We suspect this one peaked a few years ago and is just beginning to decline. The palate was rather simple but the heavy concentration of flavor made this one interesting. It was definitely worth $30.