93-96

Stephen Tanzer

Vinous

(based on 80-year-old grenache from the lieu-dit Les Serres, with some syrah, mourvedre and cinsault in the blend; the yield in 2000 was just 18 hectoliters per hectare, according to Usseglio) Saturated ruby. Deeply fruity, superripe aromas of cassis, black cherry, smoked meat, flowers and pepper. Even sweeter and more voluptuous than the regular cuvee; thick, dense and seamless, yet suave and vibrant. Ripe, integrated acidity and big, dusty tannins give the wine plenty of shape and structure. A monumental wine in the making.

97

Jeb Dunnuck

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

One of the more upfront, downright sexy vintages for this cuvee, the 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee de Mon Aieul has been firing on all cylinders for about a decade now. Giving up terrific notes of spice-box, cured meats, garrigue and mature Grenache fruit, this beauty is full-bodied, rich, concentrated and mouth filling, with serious amounts of fruit and texture. Like the '99, it's fully mature, but should hold nicely, although there's no need to delay gratification. In 2000, this incorporated a new parcel of sandy soils from a site just north of Domaine de la Solitude, in the la Crau lieu-dit. This blend was 85% Grenache, the rest Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre raised all in foudre.