2001 Roger Sabon Chateauneuf Secret des Sabon

The 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape le Secret de Sabon—a 100-point wine earlier in its life (albeit from different reviewers)—seems just a little past its apogee. It`s still plenty dark in hue, but shows a touch of bricking at the rim. On the nose, it offers up notes of tar, black cherries, blackberries and cocoa. Full-bodied, rich and velvety on the palate, with a long, elegant finish, it`s enormously enjoyable, and it`s possible that with a bit more time in the decanter, or from another bottle, this wine could still reach 100 points. That said, it`s worth remembering that wines are not immortal, and they are made to be consumed, not hoarded indefinitely. 97 points