2001 Bordeaux “The Forgotten Vintage”

I received an email from my local wine retailer with the above headline. After looking at Parker's vintage guide, it appears that 2001 was about average compared to 2000 and 2005 (the vintages of the century!)

Knowing nothing about Bordeaux (other than it's location on a map) and wanting to start buying wine for aging, what 2001 would you recommend that I buy? Or would you recommend buying a 2000 and/or 2005 vintages and just skip the 2001?

Thanks,

Dave

2001 Bordeaux
Chateau Beau Sejour Duffau St. Emilion 750ml 49.99
Chateau Beausejour Becot St. Emilion 750ml 49.99*
Chateau Cos d'Estournel St. Estephe 750ml 99.99*
Chateau Du Tertre Margaux 750ml 46.99*
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien 750ml 74.99
Chateau Grand Mayne St. Emilion 750ml 44.99
Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac 750ml 49.99*
Chateau La Couspaude St. Emilion 750ml 39.99*
Chateau La Fleur De Gay Pomerol 750ml 74.99*
Chateau La Mondotte St. Emilion 750ml 199.00
Chateau Latour Pauillac 750ml 359.00
Chateau Magrez Fombrauge St. Emilion 750ml 99.99*
Chateau Monbousquet St. Emilion 750ml 59.99
Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 750ml 329.00
Chateau Pavie Macquin St. Emilion 750ml 54.99
Chateau Pavillon Rouge Margaux 750ml 89.99*
Chateau Peby Faugeres St. Emilion 750ml 89.99*
Chateau Peyroutas St. Emilion 750ml 15.99
Chateau Plus La Fleur Bouard Lalande Pomerol 750ml 79.99
Chateau Quinault L'Enclos St. Emilion 750ml 59.99
Chateau Rol Valentin St. Emilion 750ml 49.99
Chateau Trotte Vieille St. Emilion 750ml 49.99*
Chateau Vieux Ch Certan Pomerol 750ml 129.00
Chateau Doisy Daene Sauternes 750ml 49.99*
Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 750ml 89.99
Chateau Liot Sauternes 750ml 29.99
Chateau Rayne Vigneau Sauternes 375ml 32.99
Chateau Rayne Vigneau Sauternes 750ml 49.99*
Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 375ml 74.99*
Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 750ml 149.00*
Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes 375ml 69.99*

[David M. Bueker]

I love 2001. The Sauternes are the best young versions I have ever tasted, and the reds are much more friendly and drinkable than the norm. I would not suggest missing them as they are already becoming approachable, and to my way of thinking will stay that way for a good 10 years or more.

I don't think those prices are worth backing up the truck for, but I very much like Cos d'Estournel. Some of the others I like (e.g. Grand Mayne) can be had for the same price or less in 2005 which for long term would be preferred.

I agree with David. I saw the same email and was not impressed with the prices, or the wines (for the most part). I personally like the '04's (good value, early drinking), the '03's (a lot of them are becoming available and drinking good now, with a decant), and a lot of good '05's are turning up now that the bottom has fallen out from under just about everything. I have been buy '05 La Tour Carnet ($20) and '05 Camensac ($23)--both classified wines and case prices--but be patient, there will be more "deals" as the wine market softens even more. You have a better list to choose from than we do in South Carolina. But I also picked up a few '05 Cht. Callac, Graves ($15) that was delicious on day 3, and I'm getting ready to buy '05 Cht. Le Giron, Premiere Cote de Bordeaux for a friend's party @ a comfortable $8. I'm sure these are all some kind of close-out, but with the "08's and now the '09's coming, the distributors will be turning loose all of their '04's and '05's, and the '06's are not too shabby either. I am drinking the Le Giron as I type and it is very deep and inviting, no decant required, and a party friendly 12.5% ABV. The '02's are starting to come around now, and they are good values as well. There is a lot to pick from, just not all at one time.

David,

I bought two mixed cases of 2001 great growths as futures, and was pegged as a ninny (for want of a more explicit, but less delicate word) on forums such as this for not dropping any such intention and zeroing in on the 2000s.
However, I have always liked the 2001s, which are more classic Bordeaux, and do not regret my choice.

As has been said above, 2001 Sauternes is fantastic.

It is so ironic: the prices you quote are considerably cheaper than I can find here in Bordeaux!

If I saw those wines, I'd probably buy:

Chateau Cos d'Estournel St. Estephe 750ml 99.99*
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou St. Julien 750ml 74.99
Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste Pauillac 750ml 49.99*
Chateau Latour Pauillac 750ml 359.00
Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 750ml 329.00
Chateau Trotte Vieille St. Emilion 750ml 49.99*
Chateau Vieux Ch Certan Pomerol 750ml 129.00
Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 750ml 89.99

Please realize that the first growths have taken a quantum leap in price since the 2005 vintage.
If you spashed out on the Latour and/or Mouton, fine wines already almost a decade old, you would never regret it.

Best regards,
Alex R.

[David M. Bueker]

Alex,

That makes two ninnys, as I ended up buying close to 5 cases of 2001s not including my substantial Sauternes purchases. I love the wines. My reaction to the prices is mostly due ot the fact that when I bought the wines I paid significantly lower prices (e.g. Latour was $179, Cos was $59.99, halves of Rieussec were $24.99, etc.).

Given what top Bordeaux goes for these days the prices are probably not as bad as they seem.

David,

Bordeaux pricing for the "name" wines these days largely prices me out of the market.

This is why I am grateful for the cellar I have built up over the years (big - 1,000 bottles - but not very big, and neither are all the bottles trophy wines, by any means).
In fact, I'm thinking of getting more into Burgundy because:
- the grands crus are considerably cheaper than (insofar as one can compare) Bordeaux wines of similar standing
- while Burgundy can age beautifully, it is rarely as tight and unyielding as fine Bordeaux, and I imagine most Burgundies being just fine after about 10 years

In any event, getting back to 2001s, I had a 01 Beychevelle on Sunday. It was too young, but delightful.

All the best,
Alex

I'm a firm believer that the market over-reacts to vintage assessments. If you're an investor (or want the pride of being able to serve 'prestige' vintages) then it's fair to chase them. There'll still be value to be had for drinking pleasure (as well as investment!).

There is fine value to be found in off-vintages, though sometimes it's a case of letting the prices drop back over time to a good QPR level (I guess 1997 is a good example of this, but probably true of recent vintages as well - maybe 2007/2008 are the likely candidates, especially when 2009 fever steals the show).

It seems critical opinion see 2001 in Sauternes as anything but an off vintage (e.g. Broadbent pegs it as a 5 star vintage). I don't know what it's like in that vintage, but the modest Ch Liot can be a nice long-distance runner, less luscious and rich as the heavy hitters, but with a strong cellaring track record. Worth checking a few TNs & considering IMO.

regards

Ian

[David M. Bueker]

Critical opinion (and this taster's opinion as well) is that 2001 Sauternes is a modern day (versus modern) classic.

As for the reds - are there really off vintages anymore? The bar has been rasied so high that the wines of 2001 would have been greeted as outstanding in the '70s or '80s IMO.

[James Roscoe]

Dave, I believe I saw that same offering. Still a little steep for a humble school teacher, but the prices are good.

My anniversary year, so I bought quite a few, and have generally been happy (the exception is the Monbousquet on that list, I would avoid unless you really like wood). Those prices don't seem great to me, but I have enough not to be in market, so maybe off.
In general I would give a slight edge in 2001 to Right Bank and Graves over Medoc, but it's not like 96 or 98 where there's a real gap (IMHO). But I think some Right Bankers like Trotanoy, Magdelaine, Pavie-Maquin, and La Conseillante are beautiful.

I like 2001 too but it's always a shock that even in such an under-rated vintage, the wines are still too young to drink. How is the La Conseillante drinking these days? It's the only 2001 I have that is close to being a so-called trophy wine.

Thanks for the information. Something to ponder over the long, snowed in weekend.