La Confession 2001

From the owner of Chambrun and La Croix St.-Georges (Jean-Philippe Janoueix), this is an impressive debut vintage for La Confession. Made from a blend of 40% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc, and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, it enjoyed time in open-top oak fermenters (a la Burgundy), punching of the cap, malolactic in barrel, and lees contact. A dense purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of chocolate, espresso roast, blackberry and cherry liqueur, and new oak. This expansive, full-bodied, surprisingly powerful, dense 2001 is somewhat atypical of the vintage, but it is well-endowed, gorgeously textured, and admirably pure. There is plenty of tannin in the finish, so 2-3 years of cellaring is suggested. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015.