Marcel Guigal has produced a superb Chateauneuf du Pape in 2001. Its medium plum/ruby color is accompanied by a lovely bouquet of kirsch liqueur, ground pepper, Provencal herbs, and balsam wood. Full-bodied and lightly tannic, with loads of fruit and glycerin as well as a sumptuous finish, it is similar to the top-flight, seductive 2000. Drink it over the next 10-12 years. Importer: Fred Ek and Patrick Will, Ex Cellars Wine Agencies, Solvang, CA; tel. (805) 686-9153

Smells leathery and a bit overripe, with scents of dried fruit outweighing freshness. The leather and dried-cherry flavors linger enticingly on the finish, but show a trace of alcoholic warmth as well. A solid wine, but a disappointing effort from the Rhone's most famous and reliable negociant.——J.C.(2/1/2005)—— 86