Vinous - Score: 92 (2001 January)

Full bright ruby. Black fruits, cherry, violet and spicy oak on the nose. Silky, sweet and very rich, with surprisingly fresh, sharply defined black fruit, espresso and mineral flavors. Finishes very long, with fine tannins and a note of bitter chocolate. This shows much more Chateauneuf typicity than the '99 version, as there much more material here to support the oak. Very impressive.