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2001 Vintage Bordeaux Tastingby Dr. Bob Ouellette |
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Following up on our Worcester Wine Tasters yearly visit to Bordeaux wines, we looked
anxiously to this vintage that followed on the heels of what was labeled a "vintage
of the century." Truly, one who had the pleasure of tasting the 2000s would approach
these wines with some apprehension. Fortunately that was not the case. With our
roster of tasters at half empty for unknown reasons, eleven that attended enjoyed one
of the finest tastings that we will have on the schedule for this year.
As per our custom, we presented (don't need "the") first growths (and) lesser wines from the vintage, adding (don't need "as usual") Chateau Cheval Blanc from the other side of the river, St. Emilion. The five top wines cost approximately $159 each, with the Cheval Blanc $250. The six remaining wines were between $12.95 and $70. The results:
Looking at the scores, who would have thought that Cap de Faugeres, coming from the Cotes de Castillon would score as well as those that topped the numbers at 92 points? With the limited attendance, several tasters had the benefit of taking some wines home with them. I had the good fortune of bringing home Lafite and the Faugeres. As per my custom, I vacuvined the bottles, and due to chance I did not taste them until five days had elapsed. At home later, the Lafite was magnificent, truly representative of a Premier Cru with finesse and breed. The surprise though was the Faugeres that astounded me as well as my colleagues at the tasting a few days earlier. Developing smartly during the short repose, the wine presented a lovely bouquet of licorice, cedar, and black fruit. The mouth was now softer, yet gave forth layers of black cherry fruit, cassis, tobacco, and vanilla from the tannins. The whole presented a velvety feeling as the final taste trailed off in the evening. All this for $12.95! Oh, I could go on and describe all the other wines tasted, but this narrative would be too tiring. Suffice it to say, all the wines were equally good and the scores should reaffirm our feeling for the 2001 Bordeaux. |
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