Made from 80% very old vine Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, and 10% Syrah, with the Grenache aged for 15-20 months in old foudre and small barrels, and the Syrah and Mourvèdre aged in demi-muids, the 2001 Les Cailloux (Lucien et André Brunel) Châteauneuf-duPape Cuvée Centenaire sports a profound, complex bouquet of kirsch, roasted herbs, flowers, meat juice, and licorice that just comes soaring from the glass with serious intensity and richness. This is followed by a full bodied, beautifully balanced wine that oozes concentration and extract through the middle, possesses a silky, light texture, and shows fantastic length and structure on the finish. Still very youthful and primary, this needs another 2-4 years in the cellar, and should drink well through 2026.
Published : 2011-03-28