M. Chapoutier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Croix de Bois 2001

The 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Croix de Bois is one of Chapoutier's most remarkable achievements for this single-vineyard cuvée (it made its debut in 1998). A deep, saturated ruby/purple color is followed by a gorgeous perfume of black cherries macerated in brandy, intermixed with that Provencal blend of herbs, earth and spices. Hints of Havana tobacco mingle with licorice, roasted meats, and sweet cherry and blackcurrant fruit that flow onto the palate without any sense of heaviness. This cuvée testifies to Chapoutier's expertise in crafting a wine of remarkable depth and complexity from the Croix de Bois vineyard.