2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc Clos de Beauvenir

The final blend for the luxury cuvee of white Chateauneuf du Pape, the 2003 Clos de Beauvenir, had not yet been made. However, I retasted the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Clos de Beauvenir, and it is a fabulous wine. A blend of 62% Roussanne and 38% Clairette, it possesses the richness of a Burgundy grand cru as well as a wonderful honeyed complexity, and hints of marmalade, honeysuckle, and ripe tropical fruits nicely dosed with a subtle influence of wood. It is difficult to predict how these wines will evolve and last, but they are splendid to drink in their youth. My best advice is to drink them up. La Nerthe has purchased the Prieure de Montezargues in Tavel. They make only one wine, and the 2003 Tavel Rose is stunning. It is clearly not the season for drinking roses on the East Coast of the United States, but for those in warmer climates, this cuvee will evolve and drink beautifully through summer, 2005. Importer: Clicquot Imports, New York, NY; tel. (212) 888-7575