Burgundy | 2001 vintage
A great vintage, especially for the Côte de Nuits red wines. The Chardonnay white wines from the Côte d'Or are better than the Chablis. Spring had some beautiful sunny spells. After a cool and rainy July, the summer truly started in August with sometimes scorching heat and lots of sunshine. Violent rain or hail storms caused considerable damage in certain vineyards. Due to a cooler weather and light rain at the beginning of September, the winemakers needed their wits about them when choosing the best date to harvest; the vinifications were long and regular for the white wines and more technical for the red wines in order to obtain the best potential for colouring material and tannins. The white wines are well-balanced with a good concentration and a nicely developed fruitiness enhanced by a pronounced acidity. They are frank and fine. The red wines are brightly-coloured and intense. Their structure is pronounced thanks to firm tannins and a good level of acidity. They are fleshy and their fruitiness is pleasant and expressive. The Gevrey-Chambertin and Vosne-Romanée wines are sublime.