2001 wines at 20 years of age...

The hail was quite localised. I believe the Pommard Clos des Epeneaux was largely unaffected. Curiously, I gave this very wine blind to David Strange and very impressively he immediately guessed the wine spot on, both wine and vintage, without any clues or prior knowledge whatsoever.
Without checking my notes, Paul, my recollection was that Clos des Epeneaux was an exception because it is on the northern part of Pommard, but Pommard south, Volnay, and northern parts of Meursault were very badly hit across the board. Moreover, the hail was in August so that the grapes had already formed (unlike a spring hail that just reduces the crop), thereby requiring meticulously working in the vineyard to reduce damaged fruit -- and at a time when most people were on or just leaving for vacation.

Other than some Ramonet and Lafon whites, I have no 2001 Côte de Beaune wines in my cellar (I may have at one point had some Savigny that has been drunk), but I have plenty of Côte de Nuits still, and they are very much up my alley. Last year, I had great bottles of Véroilles and Charmes from Barthod (yes, they do come around if you give them sufficient time), a really outstanding Grands-Echézeaux from Mongéard-Mugneret (not a producer I normally buy, but the wine was at such a good price on close-out), and an excellent Nuits-Clos des Porrets Saint-Georges from Gouges (another producer where the wines do come around if you are patient). Plus a Dujac Clos St-Denis that was extremely good but should still improve.
 
Re red Burgundy, I agree that the Cote de Beaune was more problematic, and in fact the only wine I bought EP was the Clos des Epeneaux.

I recall the 2001 Clos des Chenes showed surprisingly well in a Lafarge vertical. I should say "surprisingly well to me" as my expectations were tainted by the hail, and didn't have the benefit of Claude's experience.

Overall, I am seeing the 2001's I bought start to mature. It was very easy to get allocations and as I have mentioned before wines could be bought in whole 12 bottle case quantities (or more) either EP or from brokers later on, without insane mark-ups or tie-ins. In real terms, for the top GC's, look at today's 2019 prices and imagine dividing by 5 or 10 (or even more in some cases).

Some 2001 CdN's are still not ready, but most can be broached. In this respect it is less awkward than 1999, say. For the CdN, I think it is a good, useful vintage, but not a great one.

From the CdN, more or less unqualified successes for me include Roumier (not sure about Amoureuses though and Musigny is still too young), Mugnier (2001 is start of the really good period?), Rousseau, Bachelet (Charmes is vg from bottle, even better from magnum), DRC, Gouges (at least LSG). Drouhin Musigny is very fine. Best value now of this group is clearly Gouges.

I am not quite as sure as I was by Mugneret Gibourg and Fourrier (I need to retaste). Leroy is vg, but a bit too liquoreux for my taste (everyone preferred DRC RSV to Leroy RSV when both were served together a couple of years ago). I sold Cathiard RSV after tasting a bottle someone else opened ... goodish, but not that good.
On the RSV theme, Hudelot-Noellat has shown really well and not so well.
 
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Barthod Beaux-Bruns was absolutely gorgeous both times I've had it (most recently 2019). I have a bottle of the Cras but am going to give that a few more years I think. I've had a few GCs - Jadot Bonnes Mares, Faiveley Latricieres, Potel Echezeaux come to mind, all still quite backward c.4/5 years ago - but the Barthod is the one that really sticks in the memory.

Away from Burgundy Giacosa Santo S and Mascarello Monprivato are both spectacular wines that are more mature than I expected on recent experiences, and I'm looking forward to my couple of bottles of Allemand Chaillots very much indeed.
 
All this tempting talk of 2001 vintage ......

Roughly 18 months ago I tasted an excellent 2001 grand cru,red burgundy namely Clos de Tart which I purchased very well from the wine society some time back.
It is now regarded as one of the better wines made by the domaine.Whilst it was particularly enjoyable at the time of opening, I couldn’t help finding the wine,still unresolved and all wrapped up in a protective cloche, promising better things to come.
My intention is to keep this wine back until 2028 and pair it with the Clos des Lambrays for a head to head duel,winner take all.

My 14 day,clean,dry January ends this weekend where .......thanks to this thread we shall revisit Ch Trotanoy 2001
 
2001 Clos des Papes - Medium to full-bodied in such a superb place with everything ready for top-notch drinking. There is no disappointment here. Elegance/balance/texture/finesse, developed complex aromas in a true classic style. Autumn rolled into a bottle. Superb garrigue scents too and so energetic. Finishes very long. Drink or hold. Not sure if this vintage can be beaten for pure drinking pleasure. Riedel Vinum Syrah/Shiraz glass 14% 95pts
 
Soldera Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2001 was one wonderful bottle with lunch on New Year's Day. Lithe. Morello cherries in a vintage leather jacket, rolling a licorice cigarette. Intriguing whispers of 99 RON and something my wife correctly identified as Henderson's Relish. Carbonnade flamande was a lovely match.

Every time Soldera’s wines are mentioned here they come across as utterly brilliant. I can recall a number of ecstatic tasting notes. A Soldera wine was the best red wine I ever drank. Regrettably they’re even more out of reach financially since that disgruntled employee opened the taps on the vintages maturing in the estates’s cellar, and also Gianfranco Soldera’s subsequent death. I have but one bottle remaining - a 1997 Case Basse Riserva. I hardly dare drink it because I know that when I do, it’ll be the last time I ever drink one of the estate’s wines. I treasure this bottle more than any other that I own, including Bordeaux first growths, Musigny, Chambertin et al.
 
This evening, with food picked-up from local 1* restaurant Alchemilla, this was a great bottle.

N. Potel, Romanee St Vivant 2001
Red core with orange tones at the edge, translucent. Nose superb from first sniff. Intensely savoury, meaty, but lifted, complex and layered with great depth and intensity. There’s still expansive red fruit and a narrow black fruit thread, hint of truffle, compelling depth. Palate has great presence and intensity while also being effortlessly weightless - a very smart trick. Lovely sour red fruit still, good juicy acidity, super-fine tannins, great length. This is really delicious now, and on this showing there’s maybe a little more upside with a few more years.

If I have a better bottle of 2001 Burgundy this year, I’ll be very happy.
 
This evening, with food picked-up from local 1* restaurant Alchemilla, this was a great bottle.

N. Potel, Romanee St Vivant 2001
Red core with orange tones at the edge, translucent. Nose superb from first sniff. Intensely savoury, meaty, but lifted, complex and layered with great depth and intensity. There’s still expansive red fruit and a narrow black fruit thread, hint of truffle, compelling depth. Palate has great presence and intensity while also being effortlessly weightless - a very smart trick. Lovely sour red fruit still, good juicy acidity, super-fine tannins, great length. This is really delicious now, and on this showing there’s maybe a little more upside with a few more years.

If I have a better bottle of 2001 Burgundy this year, I’ll be very happy.
I believe the rumour is that this is DRC cast off RSV. A bottle of 2000 was unexpectedly brilliant a couple of years ago. Still have an 01 in the cellar so thanks for this.
 
Good rumour Ben, thanks, the sort of rumour I’m inclined to enthusiastically embrace!

I remember similar mutterings about Potel’s Gaudichots from around that time but I hadn’t heard it for other wines. These things are never confirmed, but anyone got any more grist for this rumour mill?!
 
I was told that about Potel's Gaudichots (and equally that it certainly wasn't ). It always seemed to me less of an attraction than it might be; one of the reasons for that domaine's excellence is their willingness to discard the substandard.
 
I was told that about Potel's Gaudichots (and equally that it certainly wasn't ). It always seemed to me less of an attraction than it might be; one of the reasons for that domaine's excellence is their willingness to discard the substandard.
I'm glad I hadn't heard the rumour before I tried the wine - the note above is at least untainted by the bias that can creep-in (in either direction) in these circumstances. Whatever the source, it's very classy wine.
 
I think after the unexpected brilliance of the 2000 I had a poke about the internet and found that rumour although I reckon you can find any rumour if you look hard enough.

I am about as far from a Burgundy Insider as it's possible to get so massive pinch of salt required.

Having rooted around in the cellar I found bottles of the 99/01 RSV and one of the 01 Richebourg! Happy to put them up blind against the real thing one day ;)
 
I think after the unexpected brilliance of the 2000 I had a poke about the internet and found that rumour although I reckon you can find any rumour if you look hard enough.

I am about as far from a Burgundy Insider as it's possible to get so massive pinch of salt required.

Having rooted around in the cellar I found bottles of the 99/01 RSV and one of the 01 Richebourg! Happy to put them up blind against the real thing one day ;)

A generous offer, Ben sadly I finished the last of my case of the DRC last weekend... :eek:
 
I have the 2001 Potel Echezeaux, which I had once and thought was excellent without being blown away. I remember the 2007 RSV from the EP tasting (one of the very few I've ever been to) as being utterly extraordinary, and one of the very few things I could make any sense of.
 
I think after the unexpected brilliance of the 2000 I had a poke about the internet and found that rumour although I reckon you can find any rumour if you look hard enough.

I am about as far from a Burgundy Insider as it's possible to get so massive pinch of salt required.

Having rooted around in the cellar I found bottles of the 99/01 RSV and one of the 01 Richebourg! Happy to put them up blind against the real thing one day ;)

2001, later this year?
 
Good rumour Ben, thanks, the sort of rumour I’m inclined to enthusiastically embrace!

I remember similar mutterings about Potel’s Gaudichots from around that time but I hadn’t heard it for other wines. These things are never confirmed, but anyone got any more grist for this rumour mill?!
In a discussion about RSV with Aubert de Villaine some years ago, he confirmed that there was one parcel where the wine had never been selected for the grand vin because the vegetal material was poor. (I don't know if that's still the case -- it may have been replanted since then.)

Re the Gaudichots, I had heard (but can't confirm) that one vintage came from DRC, but even if so, that wasn't the case for the others. I think that's all I can say on this forum about the source, but Potel made outstanding wine from there.
 
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From last nights’ sublime to this tonight....

Bonny Doon, Le Cigare Volant, 2001 (California)
Screwcap. Translucent dark plum colour. Nose has bright red fruit, framboise, a touch of VA, white pepper. Palate also raspberry liqueur, quite sweet, red boiled sweets. Very soft tannins, not enough acidity. A curio, at best.

I had a soft spot for Bonny Doon years ago. I eventually came to the conclusion, which this wine bears out, that Randall Grahm’s genius was for communication, marketing and publicity rather than winemaking. In fairness, looking at my note for the penultimate bottle ten years ago it was clearly a better balanced, fruit-forward quaffer then and further age hasn’t been kind to it.
 
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