99 pts - Wine Advocate
The practically perfect 2001 Sloan (only the second effort released by Stuart Sloan) is aging magnificently. Made from very young vines planted on the steep hillsides above the Auberge du Soleil in Central Napa Valley, it exhibits a dense purple color with only a slight lightening at the edge as well as a phenomenal nose of burning embers, white chocolate, espresso roast, black currants and graphite. Full-bodied with an expansive, broad, creamy texture as well as a voluptuous finish, the wine has shed a lot of its tannin and is just beginning to hit its plateau of full maturity where it should stay for another 15-25+ years. This is a great terroir and at age ten, the 2001 confirms the accolades I bestowed upon it eight years ago. - WA, RP (6/2011)
92 pts - Vinous
Good deep ruby-red. Ripe aromas of bitter cherry, blueberry, dark chocolate, violet and brown spices. At once ripe and dry, with good energy and firm structure leavened by a truffley sweetness and leather and tobacco leaf notes that reminded me of Bordeaux. A very nicely delineated, juicy, classically styled wine that finishes with firm tannic spine. But hardly an easy style, and in need of a bit of patience. (I much preferred this to the 2 version, which was distinctly more leafy and peppery. With less flesh and depth, this wine's tannins come across as a bit dry and green, in the style of the vintage.)- Stephen Tanzer (5/27)