2001 Vacqueyras Cuvee Lopy

The sensational 2001 Vacqueyras Cuvee Lopy is a candidate for this appellation’s wine of the vintage. A tour de force in winemaking, this inky/purple-colored 2001 stood out in my blind tasting as the most concentrated and complex. Powerful and rich, with layers of concentration, and a seamless integration of acidity, tannin, and alcohol, this huge, spectacular Vacqueyras is impeccably well-balanced. The acidity should ensure even greater fragrance as the wine matures, but for readers who are fortunate enough to latch on to a few bottles, it requires 1-3 years of cellaring, and should drink well through 2015. Kudos to Proprietor Ferigoule. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524