93 Points | International Wine Cellar , November/December 2001

($60; a 65/35 blend of grenache and cabernet sauvignon) Full medium ruby. Highly aromatic nose combines black cherry, currant, licorice, menthol and pepper, with hints of mocha and brown spices. Fat but firm, with impressive extract; its strong backbone gives this wine an elegance I've rarely found in past vintages. Finishes with substantial tongue-dusting tannins that avoid dryness. Not quite as ripe as the '98 but perhaps the most polished Erasmus vintage to date. (European Cellars, New York, NY)