WTN: 2001 Chateau Hard Butt

[Jenise]

Actually, 2001 Barde Haut, but if you're my husband who is tone deaf to foreign languages and needs some other association to help remember names, then Hard Butt it is. This St. Emilion is in a great place right now. More secondary than primary, the color and flavor are picking up that bricky hue and character of maturing Bordeaux. Still has some tannins but close to plateau. Should cruise very well from here for a few years.

[David M. Bueker]

2001 is such an enjoyable Bordeaux vintage. I still have quite a bit, but wish I had tons more.

[Jenise]

David, I'm really enjoying the 01's. So glad I bought as many as I did, and like you wish I'd bought more--like the Haut Brion I picked up for around $140. The person I am today would not have bought just one.

David, I'm really enjoying the 01's. So glad I bought as many as I did, and like you wish I'd bought more--like the Haut Brion I picked up for around $140. The person I am today would not have bought just one.

And I bought 3 2001 La Mission Haut Brion for just under $75. I drank one shortly after and I have buried my other 2. I have a whopping 7 bottles from the vintage. Psychologically it is hard to backfill
when I made the decision to purchase sparingly when they were released. Big mistake.

[Jenise]

Psychologically it is hard to backfill
when I made the decision to purchase sparingly when they were released. Big mistake.

I so understand that. I was more fortunate than smart in my approach, and it's mostly because I was target-shooting on Wine Commune at such low prices (Ducru Beaucaillou at around $30, for instance) that I bought as much as I did. I'd see a name I like go by, throw out a bid, and whatever stuck is what I got.

(Ducru Beaucaillou at around $30, for instance) .

A good one. I bought a couple of bottles a few years ago for considerably more, but I have a soft spot for Ducru.

[Jenise]

(Ducru Beaucaillou at around $30, for instance) .

A good one. I bought a couple of bottles a few years ago for considerably more, but I have a soft spot for Ducru.

As do I. A great under-the-radar vintage for them? The '94 for drinking now. Can be had for around $80.