Barrot has fashioned an exceptionally seductive 1990. The deep ruby/purple color is followed by a wine with a spicy, precocious, peppery, smoky, tar, and berry-scented nose. I also detected the apricot and peach scents of super maturity. In the mouth, there is wonderful richness, a velvety texture, and gobs of ripe, luscious fruit. The wine does not possess either the structure or tannic grip of the 1989, but for drinking over the next 10 years, this heady, fat, somewhat decadent style of Chateauneuf du Pape will prove hard to resist. Importers: Chateauneuf Imports, Los Angeles, CA and a Christopher Cannan Selection, Europvin - various importers.

No Specific Tasting Note

The 1988 is an excellent, full-bodied wine, with a natural alcohol content of 13.5%. Typical of the Barrot style, it is deeply colored, with highly extracted, chewy, muscular, rich, yet pure, impeccably balanced flavors. This intense, traditionally made Chateauneuf du Pape should age gracefully for up to a decade. Anticipated maturity: now-2001. Last tasted 8/96. The Barrot family has been residing in Chateauneuf du Pape since the fourteenth century. However, it is only recently that they have been estate-bottling their wine. Lucien Barrot, one of the members of the small group of artisan producers called Prestige et Tradition, fashions delicious, textbook Chateauneuf du Papes that have given me immense pleasure over the years. I was first smitten with Barrot's wines when I tasted the 1979. As a fan of his bold, blockbuster, but never hard style of Chateauneuf du Pape, I have purchased almost every top vintage, and I have never been disappointed with their quality or development in the bottle. As a general rule, Barrot's wines are drinkable young, but capable of lasting for 15-16 years.