Beaucastel has been on a terrific qualitative roll over the last four vintages, and the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape (which Francois Perrin feels is similar to the 1990, although I don't see that as of yet) is a 15,000-case blend of 30% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, 10% Counoise, and the balance split among the other permitted varietals of the appellation. This inky/ruby/purple-colored cuvee offers a classic Beaucastel bouquet of new saddle leather, cigar smoke, roasted herbs, black truffles, underbrush, and blackberry as well as cherry fruit. It is a superb, earthy expression of this Mourvedre-dominated cuvee. Full-bodied and powerful, it will undoubtedly close down over the next several years, not to re-emerge for 7-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025.
96 points – Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #151, Feb 2004)

Earthy, subtly leathery, tobacco, mushroom and rosehip nuances with potpourri and violets, too. This moves more to the soil from the fruit. A pretty red and darker cherry core. Tannins echo late again. Brilliant. Drink now. Aug 2017

Still incredibly youthful and a touch reserved (especially when compared to the ’00), the 2001 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape still needs another 5 years to truly shine. At present, it delivers a dense, pure bouquet of meaty dark fruits, game, ripe herb, and licorice, medium to full -body, brilliant concentration, and a long, classic finish. This gradually opens in the glass so if drinking anytime soon, a short decant or longer double decant is recommended. Sept 2011

At 16, this is really drinking well. Popped and poured, the wine is soft textured with a wild elegance to its sweet kirsch, garrigue, spice and peppery character. The texture continues gaining a silky feeling and the ripe, sweet, fresh, kirsch fruits linger in the finish. If you have been sitting on your bottles waiting for the moment, this is a good time to pop a cork. Tasted Feb 2016

Saturated bright ruby. Brooding, highly complex nose combines dark berries, licorice, minerals, fresh blood, smoked meat, animal fur, truffle and earth. Lush and seamless; an essence of gamey black fruits. A Chateauneuf du Pape with great depth and length. Huge, opulent, lush and utterly suave. A great early showing for this wine. Will be bottled with about 13.5% alcohol, although Perrin noted that some of the grenache approached 16% in both 2001 and 2000, "so that we could get completely ripe tannins."

The 2001 completely out-shines the 2008. At ten years of age it has a lovely wild mushroom bouquet, undergrowth, mulberry and Provencal herbs, the Mourvedre seeming to shout the loudest amongst the thirteen varieties. The palate is medium-bodied with lovely rounded tannins; notes of dark cherry, black olive and white pepper with very fine weight and persistency on the glycerin-tinged finish. Superb. Tasted November 2011.

This has fleshed out nicely, beginning to show secondary notes, with mesquite, incense and black tea now emerging from the fleshy, bundled core of plum sauce, cassis and blackberry preserves flavors. A dark tarry note on the finish is offset nicely by a mouthwatering sanguine hint.—2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape non-blind retrospective (November 2011). JM

Pretty gamey and very dry on the finish. This particular bottle, shown by Justerinis in London, was not showing that well – very dry. (JR)