Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Château de Beaucastel Rouge, Perrin 2001

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.

The profound, inky purple-coloured 2001 CDP is one of the great classic Beaucastels of recent years. It may be even better than its three immediate predecessors. The perrins find the 2001 reminiscent of their 1990, a vintage that is drinking gloriously today. The 2001's sumptuous bouquet of black fruits, saddle leather, underbrush, truffles, roasted herbs, cigar tobacco and earth is followed by a concentrated, full bodied wine with a penetrating intensity yet splendid freshness and vibrancy. This magnificent majestic beaucastel should hit it's peak in a decade, and last 25 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030+