2001 Joanin Becot

Deep red. Aromas of roasted plum, coffee and burnished oak. Offers good breadth and stuffing, but the dark berry, licorice and herbal flavors are a bit dry and green. Finishes with peppery, dusty tannins and a slight tart edge. Still, I find this more pliant than the 2002.

Rich and sweet with very deep colour, but a bit lean on the palate. Needs a bit more ripe fruit in the middle. (JR)

A sleeper of the vintage, this sensational wine is fashioned from a vineyard planted with 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Owned by the Becot family, better known for their premier grand cru classe St.-Emilion, Beau-Sejour-Becot, after a 25-day maceration, it was aged 16 months in 60% new French oak and bottled with minimal clarification. An intensely aromatic perfume offers up notes of blueberries, acacia flowers (reminiscent of the Colgin Herb Lamb Cabernet Sauvignon), this dense, medium-bodied wine has a lush, opulent texture, and beautifully pure flavors that border on unctuous. A sleeper of the vintage, this dense ruby/purple-colored wine is best drunk during its first 7-8 years of life. Wine Advocate.June, 2004