Honeyed Macadamia nut, almond, marzipan and fresh honeycomb. Almost sweet from the glycerol and alcohol, but so delicious. Touches of citrus and burnt sugar, becoming toasty on the mineral finish. An incredible wine! Equal amounts of Clairette, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc, Picardan, Piquepoul Blanc and Roussanne, all co-fermented in stainless steel, no malo and no oak ageing.

Paul Avril feels that purchasers of the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape should “wait ten years” before drinking it. A blend of 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre, 10% Syrah, and 5% Counoise, all aged in large wood foudres prior to being bottled without filtration, was produced from low yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by a sweet bouquet of figs, raspberries, new saddle leather, autumnal forest floor, and resiny notes. Full-bodied with beautiful purity as well as a strikingly rich mouthfeel, this seriously endowed Chateauneuf admirably conceals its 14.5% alcohol. A structured finish and impressive extract levels suggest considerable longevity. This firmly tannic, intensely concentrated 2001 boasts great aromatic and palate presence, but it remains young and unevolved. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020+.

While the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape shows some bricking at the rim and scents of leather, pepper and soy sauce on first opening, be patient with it. With a bit of time in the glass, it blossoms, transforming into a swirl of pressed flowers and ripe cherries. Full-bodied, rich and still packed with potential at age 20, it finishes silky and long, with echoes of licorice and spice. At least based on this bottle, prospective drinkers will want to consider decanting an hour or so in advance.

(includes 20% mourvedre and 8% syrah) Good full red. Complex, vibrant nose melds raspberry, blood orange, duck confit, tree bark and toasted hazelnut. Dense, sappy and penetrating, with superb inner-mouth energy. Very spicy, sharply delineated wine with an almost Burgundian texture. Finishes with building, sweet flavors of raspberry, cherry and strawberry, a saline suggestion of extract, and terrific persistence. This wine clearly benefitted from the high quality of mourvedre in 2001.

Gorgeous fine red wine that was beautifully poised. Sweet but not heavy. Intensely perfumed. Like an especially rich red burgundy. Such a success! (JR)