One cannot forget what is undoubtedly the finest wine to emerge from the appellation of Coteaux d'Aix en Provence. Chapoutier's luxury cuvee called Domaine des Beates Terra d'Or. The 2001 Terra d'Or is dense and sweet, with a provocative perfume of espresso, chocolate, licorice, minerals, and creme de cassis. More delineated and not as powerful as the 2000, Chapoutier told me the alcohol is nearly 15%, which is totally concealed by the wealth of fruit and richness. This wine requires 4-5 years of aging. It will drink well for two decades.Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

One cannot forget what is undoubtedly the finest wine to emerge from the appellation of Coteaux d'Aix en Provence. Chapoutier's luxury cuvee called Domaine des Beates Terra d'Or. The 2000 Terra d'Or is a blend of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah, and 20% Grenache aged in 100% new oak, and bottled with neither fining nor filtration. It is a classy, opaque ruby/purple-colored wine offering up gorgeous aromas of creme de cassis, graphite, kirsch, and smoke. Dense, full-bodied, closed and tannic, with monster concentration as well as incredible purity and a sense of both place and elegance, this cuvee should not be touched for 5-6 years. It will last for 20-25 years. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

The exquisite, opaque purple-colored 1999 Coteaux d'Aix Domaine des Beates Terra d'Or offers a gorgeous nose of mineral and licorice-laced black fruits, huge body, fabulous concentration, and a long, sweet finish with noteworthy levels of creme de cassis, blackberries, and toasty oak. This enormous wine displays perfect equilibrium. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

Aged in 100% new oak, and bottled with neither fining nor filtering, the 1998 Coteaux d'Aix Domaine des Beates Terra d'Or is an astonishing effort. Opaque purple-colored, with an explosive nose of blackberry liqueur intermixed with minerals, flowers, and toast, this massive, concentrated effort fills the mouth with layers of ripe black fruits infused with smoke, minerals, and toast. As the wine sits in the glass, notes of licorice also emerge. A wine of exceptional concentration, purity, and equilibrium, the 1998 Terra d'Or will be at its best between 2003-2020. This wine is highly recommended, but will obviously be difficult to find given the microscopic production and its splendid quality. Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900

The 1997 Domaine des Beates Terra d'Or is an amazing wine, astonishing given the difficult vintage conditions. An opaque purple color is accompanied by stratospheric levels of black currants, Asian spices, incense, cedar, and toasty oak. Full-bodied, flamboyant, and gorgeously concentrated, this large-scaled wine possesses sweet tannin and brilliant length (40+ seconds). In spite of its wealth of fruit, glycerin, and concentration, there is plenty of tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. Bravo! Importer: Paterno Imports, Lake Bluff, IL; tel. (847) 604-8900