2001 vintage guide for Red Rhone

keep

Red Rhone 2001: Keep

Powerful, juicy wines with concentrated, ripe fruit and silky tannins.

4/5

Weather Conditions

The year is marked by its September, when the north wind and quite fine weather caused the crop to concentrate, notably in the Northern Rhone. Acidity levels are good, and tannins are evident. The summer was dry, and the main challenge was to cut back the excess crop. Sugar ripening preceeded tannin ripening in the south, and it was essential to wait for a complete maturity. All the best wines profited from very correct tannic structures.

Best Appellations

Cote Rotie has integrated early acidities well, and is blossoming to a long-lived, very complete year. Excellent Hermitage and Cornas – full and long-lived. The best St Josephs and Crozes reds will live for 10 years.

Excellent year for Chateauneuf, Gigondas and Vacqueyras – all achieved good ripeness, with plenty of tannic support. May be more complete than the 1998s, making it the best vintage here for a dozen years. Rhone Villages like Seguret, Rasteau, Cairanne, Sablet and Beaunes-de-Venise all did well. 8-10 year wines

Best Producers

Follow the main names, but small domaine growers have generally done well in the appellations mentioned – there’s some really good value if buying at the cellar door.