The ancient vine (primarily Grenache planted in 1902) cuvee, the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale, displays gorgeous sweetness, a striking minerality, impeccable purity, and a bold, full-bodied, backward, fresh style with abundant concentration, high levels of glycerin, and loads of black cherry fruit intermixed with black currants, raspberries, licorice, and garrigue-like elements. Moderate tannin in the finish suggests patience will be warranted. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016.Importer: Peter Weygandt, Weygandt-Metzler, Unionville, PA; tel. (610) 486-0800

Very sleek and still quite youthful, with dark currant paste, fig sauce and cherry compote notes wound together at the core and pushed by enticing apple wood, spice cake and roasted earth notes. This has depth and power, but stays silky and pure. A textbook version of sandy-soil Grenache.—2001 Chateauneuf-du-Pape non-blind retrospective (November 2011). Drink now through 2021. 250 cases made. -JM