Still surprisingly dark in the glass, with an enticing, gamey, liquorice, animal nose. More gaminess on the bright-acid palate, with herbal nuances and just-ripe blackberry fruit. Very open and juicy, with enjoyably strict tannins and a fresh, long, ferrous, bloody finish. A vintage that has always had acidity and freshness, according to Jean-Louis Chave.

This under-the-radar vintage of Chave's Hermitage continues to impress every time. The 2001 Hermitage offers ethereal hints of violets and dried spices on the nose, set against a complex backdrop of redcurrants and green olives. Tasted at the domaine, this bottle came across as exceptionally youthful and still somewhat firm, capable of aging well for at least another decade.

Good bright medium ruby. Subtly complex, granitic nose melds cassis, blueberry, smoky gunflint, pepper, tar, bitter chocolate, roast coffee, leather, game and animal fur. Wonderfully juicy but currently rather folded in on itself. But this has brilliant acidity, precision and penetration on the palate. Almost painfully intense and wonderfully long and gripping on the back. Very firm and structured but not at all dry. This will need a good decade of additional cellaring.

Reminding me slightly of a lighter weight 1999, the 2001 Hermitage is another wine just now coming into its prime drink window. Still youthful ruby-hued with little lightening at the rim, it offers complex notes of red and black currants, new saddle leather, spicy herbs and flowers. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, with bright acidity and beautiful balance, drink this classic, regal, complex Hermitage over the coming decade.

The 2001 L'Hermitage has aged gracefully. Vivid iodine, black olive tapenade, dried violet, forest floor, cured meat and wet tea bag all race out of the glass. Medium-bodied and distinctively refreshing, the palate gradually brings out more flavors, revealing dried red and black fruits, game, black pepper and a finely tuned herbal edge. Coming in around 13% alcohol, the 2001 is drinking beautifully now, yet it has plenty of structure and substance to tackle at least five more years.

Tasting through the component parts of the 2001 Hermitage reveals what should be an outstanding wine with a Burgundian-like finesse. The most elegant component emanates from Les Beaumes and Pelia, and the denser, thicker wines from Meal, l'Ermite, and Bessards. The wine will possess a dense ruby/purple color in addition to plenty of sweet cassis fruit, medium body, noticeably high tannin, and gorgeous purity as well as symmetry. It will be built along the lines of the 1996 rather than the 2000 or 1999.

Mid gold. Apricot and peach, but mixed peel and cream too. Certainly complex, and certainly still alive – but the low acidity does leave it a bit flabby. I wouldn’t keep it any longer. (RH)