WTN: Old School Chateauneuf in the modern world ('98 CdMO)

[David M. Bueker]

1998 Clos du Mont-Olivet Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Mature & drinking very well right now (but no fear of this declining any time soon). This still has some of the original fruit, and the developed herb, leather & earth elements are now in full force giving the wine a very complex personality. It's medium weight, though really more light bodied by modern standards, and has great presence despite not being a bruiser. There was an elegance about this wine that kept bringing me back until I suddenly noticed that most of the bottle was gone. There was never any heaviness or feeling of alcohol, and it was a fine partner to my evening meal.

[James Roscoe]

This is why I hate you!

Great note. I wish I had started collecting when these were still reasonably priced.

[David M. Bueker]

Mont Olivet is more expensive than it used to be, but is not expensive. I've drifted away from most Chateauneuf due to pricing, but not Mont Olivet.

[James Roscoe]

Mont Olivet is more expensive than it used to be, but is not expensive. I've drifted away from most Chateauneuf due to pricing, but not Mont Olivet.

I think I may actually have the '07 in the basement. How long should I give it? five more years? I think my daughter's company may distribute it in SC so I could have a relatively inexpensive source.

I've always liked Clos du Mont Olivet's CdP. When touring the Rhone some years back we visited two CdP estates: Beaucastel and Mont Olivet. What a contrast. Beaucastel is large, ultra-modern, and the cellars are squeaky clean. Mont Olivet's cellars are part of a working farm--we walked across a patio with chickens scratching in the dirt to reach the cellar door.

Thanks for the TN.

-Paul W.

Nice note David, Mont Olivet was one of the first CdPs I ever tried and one of the bottles that started my love of the region (getting turned onto Pegau certainly helped as well.) I think when put up against current pricing of other CdPs like Clos des Papes and Beaucastel, it still is a great bargain. 07s can be had for $30-$35 from what I can tell. I have had several vintages starting with the 99 and enjoyed them all, very pure expression of CdP, sounds like the 98 is hitting a good spot.

[David M. Bueker]

Sadly that was my last bottle of '98. There's still '99-'04 downstairs though. I'm going to wait a while on the '07.