The outstanding 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Barberini (a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre aged 24 months in 40% small barrels and 60% neutral wood foudres) boasts an inky/ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoke, and truffles. Full-bodied, lush, and expansively flavored, with tremendous purity as well as density, this brilliant 2001 is already starting to strut its stuff.

This dark and still quite gutsy, with mouthfilling notes of roasted fig, apple wood, maduro tobacco, mulled blackberry fruit and licorice root. A nicely grippy, roasted feel continues through the lengthy finish, without becoming tiring.—2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape non-blind retrospective (November 2011). Drink now through 2020. 930 cases made.–JM