Notes:

Wine Advocate #138 (Dec 2001) Robert Parker 95 points Drink 2001-2021
One of the 1998s that performed several points above my in-the-bottle report in issue #131, this was one of the surprises among the more modern-styled Chateauneufs. A small percentage of barriques were used in the aging process, resulting in a dense ruby/purple-colored wine with sweet black currant and cherry notes infused with smoke, pain grille, caramel, and garrigue. Full-bodied and luscious, with moderate tannin, it revealed even greater concentration, texture, and depth than it did last year. It is a sumptuous, sexy Chateauneuf du Pape that can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.

Wine Spectator
A thick, dense and immensely attractive Rhne red.Harmonious from start to finish, with a distinctvanilla, sweet chocolate and spice character plusripe black fruit, roasted game, grilled meat andsmoke notes. Incredibly silky tannin structure.Melts like cream on the focused, cleanfinish. Drink now through 2015. 1,125 cases made.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Jan/Feb '01
Full bright ruby. Black fruits, cherry, violet and spicy oak on the nose. Silky, sweet and very rich, with surprisingly fresh, sharply defined black fruit, espresso and mineral flavors. Finishes very long, with fine tannins and a note of bitter chocolate. This shows much more Chateauneuf typicity than the '99 version, as there much more material here to support the oak. Very impressive. 92 points