Burghound (94)

(Outstanding) Assertively complex and spicy black fruit nose introduces seductive, intense, big yet refined flavors that completely coat the mouth and rest so long on the palate that this is frankly almost sensory overload. Tannic, concentrated, deep and weighty yet without a trace of heaviness or lack of balance. As good as the Vignerondes but again, the expression is different - the Boudots is perhaps bigger and more concentrated whereas the Vignerondes is silk and elegance. Either way, it's a very high class problem to choose between them.

Vinous (94+)

Bright ruby-red. Slightly blacker, less exotic nose dominated by dark berries, licorice and minerals. Less lush and more reserved today than the RSV but penetrating, vibrant and gripping. Really folded in on itself and hiding more than it's revealing; less obviously sweet than the RSV. But the long, minerally, very fine finish suggests that this wine will reward a decade or so of bottle aging.

Vinous (94+)

Bright ruby-red. Slightly blacker, less exotic nose dominated by dark berries, licorice and minerals. Less lush and more reserved today than the RSV but penetrating, vibrant and gripping. Really folded in on itself and hiding more than it's revealing; less obviously sweet than the RSV. But the long, minerally, very fine finish suggests that this wine will reward a decade or so of bottle aging.

Vinous (90)

Good deep red. Ripe aromas of black raspberry, smoky oak and earth. Sweet, dense and vinous, with currant and licorice flavors and a solid mineral underpinning. Chewy and rich. Lalou Bize says this began with 13% natural alcohol and was chaptalized less than a degree.

Vinous (93+)

Bright red-ruby. Highly perfumed, expressive aromas of dark fruits, flowers and chocolate. Then less open in the mouth but at least as concentrated as the Brulees; offers a compelling combination of power and perfume. Quite deep and sweet but still holding a good bit in reserve. Even chewier on the finish, with substantial but sweet tannins.

Vinous - Neal Martin (92)

The 2001 Les Forts de Latour is one of many that I had not tasted for a decade. Now at 20 years old, it has a lovely, almost melted bouquet of black fruit laced with tar, cedar and pine, rose petal, occupying that liminal point between primary and secondary stages. The well-balanced palate offers a dash of black pepper on the entry and shows good weight and tension. It’s lively yet classic in style, and fans out wonderfully toward the persistent, saline finish.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2001 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva is the follow-up of the 1995. There is a sense of harmony and elegance, of nuance and subtleness that wasn't quite the same in the Bosconia, as comparing both wines is inevitable. They started picking the red grapes the 15th of October, and the last grapes were picked the 29th of October with good weather. The grapes ripened properly and thoroughly, and the wine has great balance for a long aging in bottle. This is 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo that fermented in their 153-year-old oak vats with indigenous yeasts and matured in used barrels for 10 years. It has 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.4 and 6.4 grams of acidity (tartaric). The nose shows young (tasting it blind, you'd guess a 10-year old wine, not a 20-year-old wine!). It has a nose of sweet spices, underbrush and cigar ash, somewhat balsamic, bramble fruit with perfect ripeness, integrated and young but starting to show some tertiary complexity. The palate is velvety and medium-bodied, with fine-grained, chalky tannins denoting a limestone soil that brings finesse and texture and a sapid, tasty, almost salty finish. This is going to make a beautiful bottle of old Rioja in 30 years' time! 25,000 bottles produced. It was bottled after being fined with egg whites in July 2012.

The Louis Guntrum Niersteiner Oelberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2001 is a noteworthy find for the discerning wine enthusiast. Finely crafted by the respected vintners at Louis Guntrum, a family-owned Rhineland estate with a legacy dating back to 1648, this unique Riesling hails from Germany's esteemed Rheinhessen wine region. Harvested in the Nierstein vineyard overlooking the majestic Rhine River, the Oelberg soil imparts distinct mineral characteristics to the vintage.

This sublime 'Spatlese Trocken' exhibits both the late-harvest 'Spatlese' ripeness and the dry ('Trocken') composition, in harmony. The 2001 vintage is stand-out, boasting a bouquet of aged fruit and honey overtones, counterbalanced with zesty acidity - a testament to its meticulous, traditional vinification process. Savour the Louis Guntrum Niersteiner Oelberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2001 to enjoy the epitome of nurturing German wine artistry.

Wine Advocate (96)

Luciano Sandrone’s 2001 Barolo Le Vigne is fresh, vibrant and totally impeccable. Flowers, mint, minerals and juicy red berries are some of the many nuances that come to life in the 2001 Le Vigne. The wine gains volume and shape with time in the glass. Seemingly endless layers of fruit flesh out on the mid-palate and finish. Hints of leather, spices, licorice and flowers add further complexity on the close. This is a fabulous showing from Luciano Sandrone. Although Sandrone’s Cannubi Boschis gets most of the attention, the reality is that in many vintages Le Vigne is very much its equal. The ability to blend fruit from several parcels, an approach rarely used today, has plenty of merits. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2021.

Indulge in the exquisite beauty of Malmaison 2001, a jewel of France's Bordeaux region. This noteworthy vintage from the renowned house of Château Malmaison is a varietal-blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, imbued with a lavish character.

Malmaison 2001 is meticulously created with organically-cultivated grapes grown in superior gravelly soil, resulting in a deep ruby-red colour. Experienced viticulturists' refined maturation skills give this wine its exceptional aroma and palate - a harmonious balance of black currant, cherry, and subtle spicy hints of oak. The aging in French oak barrels further imbues Malmaison 2001 with delicate tannins and a luxuriously long finish.

Subtly bold and impressively consistent, the legacy of Baron Edmond de Rothschild is beautifully reflected in Malmaison 2001. Its elegance and complexity make it the perfect companion to red meats and aged cheese. Malmaison 2001 is indeed the epitome of timeless refinement, and an outstanding testament to Bordeaux viticulture.

Vinous (92)

Palish bright red. Ripe, highly perfumed nose offers red berries, tobacco, minerals, dried flowers and woodsmoke: a classic example of the vineyard. Sweet, deep and rich but light on its feet, with a texture that's at once silky and utterly mouthfilling. Wonderfully perfumed Barbaresco, finishing with impressive breadth, length and class. I could see the 2004 developing in a similar direction.

Indulge in the exquisitely crafted Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Gaiun Martinenga 2001, a classic exemplar of fine Italian wine. Sourced from the acclaimed Martinenga vineyard, nestled in the heart of the Barbaresco region, this red displays a masterful, harmonious blend of quality and character.

Produced by Marchesi di Gresy, a revered winery with a storied legacy dating back to the eighteenth century, this Barbaresco boasts an intense garnet hue, underlined by complex aromas of ripe fruit, spice and cocoa. The luxuriously long-lasting finish reinforces its high standing amongst oenophiles.

Artisanal techniques are employed, including traditional fermentation in stainless steel tanks, followed by 30 months in French oak barriques. The meticulous care to detail creates a balanced, full-bodied wine with powerful tannins and bold flavours.

The Marchesi di Gresy Barbaresco Gaiun Martinenga 2001 is far more than a beverage—it's an enveloping sensory experience that reflects Italy's fruitful vineyards and centuries-old viniculture traditions.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-93)

Saturated purple ruby. Aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate, mocha and espresso, with a minty nuance. Then lush, pliant and deep, with lovely sweetness and density. Finishes with big, palate-coating, ripe tannins and strong fruit. This wine has been a moving target in its three vintages, as the 1999 was 80% cabernet sauvignon, the 2000 70% merlot and this 2001 roughly a 50/50 blend of the two varieties.

Decanter (100)

Dense garnet in colour, this vintage of Masseto is restrained with a lavish elegance on the nose, displaying mint, milk, wild fennel (typical along the roads in Bolgheri), leather and white truffle. It is vibrant and mineral on the big palate, creamy at first then velvety on the mid-palate and super-ripe on the finish, woven with refreshing acidity and cassis meatiness. One of the greatest Masseto ever, and one of the best wines produced in Bolgheri (alongside Ornellaia 1998 and Sassicaia 1985). Simply, perfect!

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95)

The 2001 Barolo Riserva Vigna Rionda is stunning. It opens with gorgeous aromas of rose petals and sweet ripe cherries that meld seamlessly onto a palate of dark raspberries, cocoa and licorice. It offers superb length and elegant tannins in a style that is incredibly delicate and surprisingly approachable today. This will be a beautiful wine to follow over the following years and decades. 95

Savour the classic elegance of Mongeard-Mugneret Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2001, a product of the renowned Mongeard-Mugneret family winery located in Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy. With documented wine-growing roots dating to 1620, this ancient domaine ensures quality by selectively handpicking Pinot Noir grapes at optimal maturity. The Grand Cru, made from 50-year old vines, boasts a refined complexity in taste, revealing delicately intertwined flavours of red fruits and blackcurrant, harmoniously balanced with a hint of licorice, all enveloped in a soft palate.

Praised in Wine Spectator and Jancis Robinson publications, the Mongeard-Mugneret Grands Echezeaux Grand Cru 2001 is aged traditionally in oak barrels for 18-20 months, preserving its robust, yet refined, character. With its potential to age gracefully, this wine consistently impresses discerning enthusiasts and collectors alike. An embodiment of Burgundian winemaking prowess, it represents an exquisite addition to any fine wine collection.

LaRVF (95)

Incroyable suavité et douceur unique du tanin pour le millésime. Un vin de rêve qui, avec Lafite, apparaît comme le sommet du millésime à Bordeaux. L'expérience montre qu'il va peu à peu perdre cette grâce pour ne la retrouver que dans trente ans, mais cette fois avec tout le prestige des arômes complexes de vieillissement.

LaRVF (95)

Incroyable suavité et douceur unique du tanin pour le millésime. Un vin de rêve qui, avec Lafite, apparaît comme le sommet du millésime à Bordeaux. L'expérience montre qu'il va peu à peu perdre cette grâce pour ne la retrouver que dans trente ans, mais cette fois avec tout le prestige des arômes complexes de vieillissement.

Vinous (92)

The 2001 Opus One bursts from the glass with layers of opulent fruit. Still quite youthful, the 2011 impresses for its elegant, mid-weight personality. Compared to the best wines of this era the 2001 comes across as a bit forward. I imagine the 2001 will drink well for another decade or so, but it won't be super long-lived next to its peers. Still, there is plenty to like here. The 2001 is 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 3% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Wine Advocate (91)

Most of the structure, tannin, and backwardness appears to have found its way into the top cuvee, the 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape La Cote Ronde. A deep ruby color is followed by aromas of spicy new oak, herbes de Provence, earth, pepper, and kirsch liqueur. Pinot Noir-like in the mouth, with moderate tannin in the finish, it will be at its finest between 2005-2013.

Wine Spectator (97)

Some lovely fruit, polished and clean, with all the attributes of a fine terroir--mineral and above all a lot of sweet, ultraripe fruit. Full-bodied, long, with plenty of toasted, smoked bacon and blackberry notes. Easier to appreciate young than many La Chapelles, but what hedonistic pleasure. Best from 2007 through 2015. 4,425 cases made. -PM

Vinous (87+)

Pale gold color. Peach and citrus hints on the nose, with strong oak notes of smoke and vanilla. Chewy with extract but a bit youthfully aggressive; showing less obvious fruit and sweetness today than the Raymond Roure Crozes bottling, or is it simply a bit overwhelmed by its wood element? With aeration, this showed notes of licorice and Thai basil and the dried nut character of classic traditionally styled white Hermitage.

Wine Advocate (96)

A great showing for this wine in the mini-vertical, the 2001 Pavie has a slight lightening at the edge of its dark garnet/plum/purple color and a big, sweet kiss of cedar wood, incense, licorice, blackberry and lead pencil shavings. The wine is dense, very rich, multilayered and finishes with at least a 40- to 45-second aftertaste. This wine seems to be close to full maturity, but should hold there for easily another 15-20 years. It’s a sleeper of the vintage.

Vinous - Neal Martin (97)

The 2001 Petrus has always been winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet’s favourite vintages. It has developed a truly exquisite bouquet that is both svelte and sensual without any sense of being overbearing. It is almost unaware of its beauty. It gradually opens with tinctures of dried blood merging with ebullient and disarmingly pure red fruit with brilliant delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannin, quite forceful red fruit gripping the senses and then letting go, allowing a subtle savory/cooked meat note to flourish towards the finish. Maybe this bottle was a touch more foursquare than previous ones that I have encountered although that will melt away with time. Tasted at the Petrus dinner at the Épure restaurant in Hong Kong.

Vinous - Neal Martin (97)

The 2001 Petrus has always been winemaker Jean-Claude Berrouet’s favourite vintages. It has developed a truly exquisite bouquet that is both svelte and sensual without any sense of being overbearing. It is almost unaware of its beauty. It gradually opens with tinctures of dried blood merging with ebullient and disarmingly pure red fruit with brilliant delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly grainy tannin, quite forceful red fruit gripping the senses and then letting go, allowing a subtle savory/cooked meat note to flourish towards the finish. Maybe this bottle was a touch more foursquare than previous ones that I have encountered although that will melt away with time. Tasted at the Petrus dinner at the Épure restaurant in Hong Kong.

Wine Advocate (97)

The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is deep garnet-purple colored with a gorgeous, meat and yeast extract-laced nose with notions of ceps and truffles over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry compote and star anise plus hints of camphor and potpourri. Medium-bodied, fine, fresh and delicately played with loads of spice and savory layers, it finishes on a compelling perfumed note.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2001 Pichon Baron has less fruit intensity on the nose compared to the 2000, and more red fruit, laced with smoke and blood orange – traits that I have noted on previous bottles. Hints of dried blood emerge with time. The focused palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, fresh and quite minty. Graphite and a sprinkling of white pepper appear toward the finish. This is one occasion on the Left Bank where I find that the 2000 has more authority, although the 2001 has plenty of charm.