The 1994 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes offers a saturated dark ruby/purple color, followed by a tight but promising nose of sweet cassis fruit, minerals, smoke, herbs, and a touch of prunes. Full-bodied, dense, and muscular, with plenty of grip and tannin, this is a highly structured, potentially outstanding wine that needs another 4-5 years of bottle age. It should keep through the first two decades of the next century.I suspect La Nerthe will make even greater wine, but there is no reason to complain about the quality emanating from this, Chateauneuf du Pape's most historical estate, and its only grand chateau. Importer: Veuve Clicquot Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575

The 1994 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Cadettes offers a saturated dark ruby/purple color, followed by a tight but promising nose of sweet cassis fruit, minerals, smoke, herbs, and a touch of prunes. Full-bodied, dense, and muscular, with plenty of grip and tannin, this is a highly structured, potentially outstanding wine that needs another 4-5 years of bottle age. It should keep through the first two decades of the next century. I suspect La Nerthe will make even greater wine, but there is no reason to complain about the quality emanating from this, Chateauneuf du Pape's most historical estate, and its only grand chateau. Importer: Veuve Clicquot Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575