2001 Haut Marbuzet

One of the finest Haut-Marbuzets produced over recent years, this sleeper of the vintage possesses better integrated oak as well as more texture and flesh on the mid-palate than some of its predecessors (including the 2000). The seductive, smoky, spicy 2001 exhibits copious quantities of jammy red and black fruits intermixed with toasty oak. There is also good density, texture, and plumpness. How nice it is to see this property perform so well. Drink it over the next 7-8 years.

Good saturated ruby-red. Aromas of black fruits, tobacco leaf, licorice and black olive; less oaky than the 2002 today. Juicy, sharply delineated and gripping, with red and black fruit flavors sweetened by roasted nuts and smoky oak. Very classic, firm, fine-grained claret, with precision and grip. A superb showing today.

Deep crimson. Sweet, ambitious nose. A rich start, then a dry finish with lots of substance stuffed in between. Slightly dry tannins, but very worthy. (JR)