An impressive example of the finest this vintage can offer, the 2008 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 90% Grenache and the rest Mourvedre, Syrah and Cinsault from 80+-year-old vines aged in tank. The wine’s dark plum/garnet color is accompanied by a strikingly complex bouquet of grilled meat, seaweed, herbes de Provence, pepper, incense and abundant black currant and black cherry fruit. Medium to full-bodied and extremely perfumed with silky tannins as well as a long finish, it offers a smorgasbord of aromas and flavors that challenge the olfactory senses. Enjoy it over the next 7-8 years. Philippe Bravay continues to turn out sensational wines at his tiny, artisanal estate of just under 14 acres. His greatest vintage to date was 2007, but he has done an exemplary job in both 2008 and 2009. Bravay also turns out two top Cotes du Rhones from his holdings just outside the appellation. Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800