2001 Cote Rotie

Saturated medium ruby. Sauvage aromas of dark berries, leather, game, blood sausage, violet and brown spices; this may be objectionable to vegetarians. Dense and sweet but very tightly wound, with distinctly feral flavors of black fruits, pepper, animal fur, leather and roasted game. Tannins are firm but sweet. Not for the faint of heart.

Good full ruby. Wild aromas of black raspberry, fresh blood, game, pepper and spices. Juicy, spicy and firm, with sauvage flavors of primary black fruits, leather and pepper. Finishes fresh and firm, with very good but not outstanding length. The same juice from a new barrique: Saturated ruby. Spicy blackberry, violet, espresso and bitter chocolate on the nose. Intense raspberry and smoked meat flavors are sweetened but not overwhelmed by the new oak. Tannins likewise come across as sweet. From an approximate blend of the final wine (to include 20% new oak): Musky dark berries, smoked meat, fresh blood and pepper on the nose and in the mouth. Gentle if rather wild Cote-Rotie, already showing lovely inner-mouth aromatic quality. Finishes with a note of fresh blood, fine tannins and very good lift.