Lastly, the 1978 Chateauneuf du Pape is a beauty, and it continues to prove that these warm years produce more age-worthy, enjoyable wines. Its healthy ruby/amber color is followed by notes of shiitake mushrooms, forest floor, iodine and sweet cherries. It has a Burgundian elegance on the palate and has no hard edges, beautiful fruit and a clean finish. It holds up nicely in the glass and is an outstanding, elegant, impressive wine that I was thrilled to be able to taste.