2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Felix

The profound, opaque purple-colored 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee des Felix elicited the following words: "Mama-Mia!" A fabulous offering, it provides a lesson in the flavors of Provence. It is like an open air Provencal marketplace with notes of dried herbs, saddle leather, fennel, licorice, black cherries, cassis, blackberries, and tapenade. With tremendous concentration and purity, as well as powerful, balanced, full-bodied flavors, this stunning effort represents the nectar of old vines planted in the sun-drenched appellation of Chateauneuf du Pape. Although more forward than the 1998, it is equally fragrant. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. Feb 2003, www.robertparker.com

Full medium ruby. Knockout urgent nose offers sappy red and black fruits, espresso and minerals; distinctly surmuri yet magically fresh. Supersweet and highly concentrated; really fills the mouth with red fruit, spice and nut flavors. Perfectly judged extraction of grenache. Has the potential to be among the top wines of the vintage.