Chateau de Beaucastel 1999 Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge 750ml

I was more than pleasantly surprised with the 1999 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape and it's drinking amazingly well. Sporting a dark red, opaque color as well as a big, rich nose of earthy blackberry fruit, mushroom, tar, and garrigue aromas, this has surprising density, ripeness and depth to the aromas. With air subtle roasted herb notes show up and while not terribly complex, it is not primary or simple. Medium bodied and balanced; this isn't a blockbuster and shows nice balance, ripe fruit and a clean, precise texture that leads into a medium length, enjoyable finish.

Score: 93 points -- Jen Dunnock, jebdunnock.com, 2008