the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Réservée is a classic

In these rather claustrophobic times

round and polished middle weight plus flavors that possess plenty of underlying muscle and power on the hugely long

The nose seemed to have closed down since I last encountered it in 2012

The other parcels all merited 97-100 points

Chapoutier, Ermitage Meal Vintage:2008 the 2012 Châteauneuf du PapeEven inkier in color than the 2010, the 2009 Ermitage le Meal is as good as Hermitage gets. Locked and loaded with phenomenal notes of jammy black raspberries, creme de cassis, crushed violets, smoked earth and spice, it's thick and unctuous on the palate, with incredible density, a huge mid palate and a layered, multi dimensional, seamless, elegant texture that just keeps you coming back and begging for another sip. More hedonistic and voluptuous