The mineral, limestone, spice, and pear-scented 2001 Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Pucelle is a sublimely elegant, light to medium-bodied wine. While it lacks the density of fruit required for an outstanding score, it is gorgeously detailed, complex, and pure. Minerals, flowers, and hints of pears are found in its admirably lengthy character. Projected maturity: now-2008. Importers: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, New York, NY; tel. (212) 924-4949; and Bacchus Importers, Baltimore, MD; (800) 525-9699

Revealing a beguiling nose of sweet anise and spiced/poached pears, the Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Pucelle has the potential to be an outstanding wine. It displays a gorgeous core of thickly-textured white fruit immersed in spicy oak. This opulent offering is dense and immensely rich. Projected maturity: now-2004. Importers: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, New York, NY; tel (212) 924-4949, and Bacchus Importers, Baltimore, MD; (800) 525-9699.

The Puligny-Montrachet Clos De La Pucelle has powerful stony, earthy and sauteed mushroom aromas. While I have no doubt this is an outstanding wine, the day of my tasting I found the preceding Folatieres to be more intricate and lively. This is a wide, rich, thick, full-bodied, and velvety wine packed with layer upon layer of minerals, earth and wood notes. It should be at its best between 2000 and 2005. Importers: Eric Solomon, European Cellars, New York, NY; tel (212) 924-4949, and Bacchus Importers, Baltimore, MD; (800) 525-9699.