I’m confident that recent vintages of 2007 and 2010 will be every bit as long lived as the 1978, which is a vintage I continue to be incredibly impressed by every time I’m lucky enough to taste a sound bottle. The 1978 Chateauneuf du Pape from Domaine de la Charbonniere certainly doesn’t disappoint and it’s a clean step up over both the 1982 and 1983. Sporting a ruby/amber color, with impressive freshness and purity in its kirsch, sweet cherry, cedar and garrigue aromas and flavors, this gorgeous effort is medium-bodied, has a silky, light texture, no hard edges and a clean finish. Bravo!