Stunning aromas and flavors of plum compote hoisin sauce vanilla bean raspberry jam and violets with a long supersilky finish. The fruit is still youthful the structure still vibrant the balance impeccable.--1995 Châteauneuf-du-Pape retrospective. Drink now through 2025. 830 cases made.

The 1995 is spectacular. When Emmanuel Reynaud said it was evolving quickly in essence repudiating this vintage I immediately drank two bottles of this glorious elixir. It does not reveal the over-ripeness of the 1990 bringing to mind a hypothetical blend of the great 1989 and 1978. Deeply-colored and still young with black currant/creme de cassis-like characteristics huge body yet great structure and delineation this is a classic Rayas that is totally different than the 1990. It should continue to improve in the bottle and may merit an even higher score. While it can be drunk now it will be even better with 3-4 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.