The dark garnet-colored 1996 Chateauneuf du Pape is rich, full, and generous, with surprising fat and richness in the mid-palate. It is a very fine effort. The nose offers aromas of pepper, leather, spice, roasted herbs, and meat along with kirsch liqueur-like notes and flavors. Medium to full-bodied and expansive, with a certain corpulence and lushness, this excellent Chateauneuf du Pape will be a crowd-pleaser for another 7-8 years. By the way, this 1996 performed better out of bottle than it did when I tasted it from foudre in 1997. Importer: North Berkeley Imports, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 848-8910