Tasted at The Arches. The ’01 Clos de la Roche has wild berries, raspberry and a hint of seaweed on the nose with fine delineation. The palate displays good depth and more substance than the ’00 tasted alongside. Very pure and harmonious, Morello, crushed strawberry and a touch of sour lemon leading to a very feminine finish with a hint of orange essence. Lovely.

(BH89-91 points) A small notch up in size and weight but there is much more beguiling complexity plus more structure, especially on the earthy, rich, persistent and palate staining finish. I especially like the acid/fruit balance here as there is plenty of mid-palate sap to buffer the linear, precise and intense flavors that are supported by prominent yet ripe tannins. This may be the best vintage of this wine since the lovely 1996.