Last night Andrew selected lamb loin chops for dinner, so Jean settled
on a bottle of this wine to accompany it.

2001 Domaine Font de Michelle Chateauneuf-du-Pape
nose: classic CNdP nose of kirschwasser cherry with an overlay of
something meaty
palate: fully resolved tannins, medium body, silky smooth, no heat from
the 14% ABV

This is the first of the 2001s we've dipped into but this producer
typically makes a more forward wine than many of the traditionalists
that I favor. Made by the delightful and friendly Gonnet brothers, this
is their cuvée normale and doesn't see much new oak AFAIK. Totally
typique in character, it was really a pointe and unlikely to get much
better IMO. Great match for the lamb, too (but then again, what red wine
doesn't pair well with lamb?)

Mark Lipton