2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Tradition

The brilliant 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape should not be overlooked (the 1998 and 2000 are drinking spectacularly well at present). A peppery, leathery, earthy effort with copious quantities of black cherries, this dense, full-bodied 2001 is surprisingly precocious by Usseglio’s standards. Nevertheless, 1-2 years of cellaring is warranted given the size and structure of this big, chewy, 75% Grenache, 10% Mourvedre, 10% Cinsault, and 5% Syrah blend. It was aged in neutral wood foudres for 15-18 months. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2014. Importer: Alain Junguenet, Wines of France, Mountainside, NJ; tel. (908) 654-6173

Deep red. Slightly funky, complex aromas of dark berries, gunflint, smoke and candied ginger. Rich, slightly porty flavors of blackberry and smoke show very good depth and complexity. Still a bit tight on the back end, but intense and persistent.

(even for this cuvee tradition the yield was just 28 hectoliters per hectare, according to Thierry) Bright red-ruby. Superripe, liqueur-like fruit aromas show a distinctly roasted aspect. Creamy-sweet, silky and jammy but somehow maintains its freshness. This offers terrific depth for the estate's basic wine. Very full and rich, with the tannins arriving late. Solid structure gives this wine a sappy quality and excellent grip.