Still drinking nicely, but perhaps just a bit past its peak, the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige shows brick at the rim, with hints of decay impinging on scents of pressed flowers, black cherries and roasted meat. Full-bodied, silky and still long on the finish, it should be consumed in the near future.

Tipping the scales at 14.5-15% alcohol, the old vine, full-bodied 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Prestige is a wine of impressive intensity and thickness. Aromas reminiscent of liqueur of roasted herbs intermixed with meaty, game-like smells, black cherries, ground pepper, beef blood, and garrigue are followed by a wine of noteworthy stature, complexity, and mouthfilling generosity. Serious tannin is largely obscured by the wealth of fruit and extract. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 12-15 years. Importer: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, Charlotte, NC; tel. (704) 358-1565