2001 Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Papes France. 14% alcohol. Imported by Vieux Vins, Vineburg California. Wine Ventures, $45.
A terrific wine just starting to show well. Deep red color, deep hue, lovely aromas of berries, cherries, smoke and animal notes, full fruit and berry flavors with a sense of sweetness but not at all cloying, bit of earth, smoke, coffee and hints of chocolate; excellent balance with very fine tannins and good acidity; medium to full mouth feel; long, lingering finish with many notes -- fruit, spice, chocolate, smoke, earth and more. Great purity. A wine to savour with roasted vegetables, and a wine to dawdle with for another hour or more. I'm so happy we loaded up with this wine three years ago. 4*+.
Notes: Tanzer was also enthusiastic about this wine; he gives several blends:
-- 80% Grenache, 20% Syrah;
-- 70% Mourvedre and 30% Grenache;
-- 65% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah -- 5% __?__
-- 72% Grenache, 20% Mourvedre and 8% Syrah.
How does he know? And how can the blends vary so much?
Tanzer: "This wine clearly benefited from the high quality of Mourvedre in 2001."
