I am impressed with this effort made by Philippe Bravay. The 1996 Chateauneuf du Pape was one of the few wines of this vintage not yet in bottle. It possesses a dense ruby color, and a sweet nose of black cherries macerated in brandy, with mushroomy notes in the background. This is a concentrated wine, but notes of wet dog and a mushroomy character are cause for concern. It could be very good to excellent given its richness, but it will need to be re-tasted after bottling. The alcohol is a lofty 14.5%. No known American importer.