2001 Domaine Jacques-Frédéric Mugnier Chambolle-Musigny Les Amoureuses 1er Cru

The 2001 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses seemed a touch reduced on the nose, and I have some doubts as to whether it was a representative bottle (as indicated by the "?" by my score), offering up aromas of cookie dough, coffee, ripe cherry fruit and fallen leaves. On the palate, by contrast, the wine was pure seduction: supple, medium to full-bodied and transparent, with an ample chassis of silky tannins. The fruit, however, lacks the energetic, scintillating quality found in Mugnier's greatest hits—such as the stunning 2002 Les Amoureuses.

Very pale ruby. Delicate nose with nuance and lift. Quite muscular and yet refined. This wine comes up from behind and makes its presence felt on the back palate. No hurry to drink this. (JR)

This first-rate effort is approaching its peak with a positively gorgeous nose of spice, mature and highly complex secondary fruit aromas that evidence obvious stone hints that continue onto the elegant, pure and precise medium-bodied flavors that culminate in a silky and strikingly persistent finish. This is a stunning, and entirely classic, Amoureuses that is classy and exceptionally stylish. Note that I have had a fair amount of bottle variation with this wine and while it's never poor, it ranges from very good to what I have described above. Note further that for my taste this has arrived at its peak though it should be capable of holding here for another decade.