Overall, I agree with the Lecheneauts that their 2000s are more successful than their 2001s, yet the sweet cherry-scented 2001 Clos de la Roche is an exception. Broad, suave, lush and seamless, it is a superb medium-bodied wine packed with velvety fruit. Spices, hints of toast, and copious quantities of candied cherries are found in its forward, lip-smackingly delicious character. While it doesn’t have the ageworthiness or complexity of this estate’s finest Clos de la Roches from the past, it is an unqualified success for the vintage and a hedonist’s delight. Drink it over the next 6-7 years. The Lecheneaut brothers, Philippe and Vincent, have a distinct preference for the 2000s over the 2001s. According to them, “the acidity levels are higher in 2001 and the tannins had trouble ripening whereas in 2000 we had superb ripeness.” Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083

Overall, I agree with the Lecheneauts that their 2000s are more successful than their 2001s, yet the sweet cherry-scented 2001 Clos de la Roche is an exception. Broad, suave, lush and seamless, it is a superb medium-bodied wine packed with velvety fruit. Spices, hints of toast, and copious quantities of candied cherries are found in its forward, lip-smackingly delicious character. While it doesn’t have the ageworthiness or complexity of this estate’s finest Clos de la Roches from the past, it is an unqualified success for the vintage and a hedonist’s delight. Drink it over the next 6-7 years. The Lecheneaut brothers, Philippe and Vincent, have a distinct preference for the 2000s over the 2001s. According to them, “the acidity levels are higher in 2001 and the tannins had trouble ripening whereas in 2000 we had superb ripeness.”Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083