Spiced blackberries can be found in the aromatics of the ruby-colored 2001 Nuits-St.-Georges 1er Cru, a wine produced from the young Clos des Forets vines. Light to medium-bodied it reveals appealing depth and black fruit flavors in its firm personality. It should be drunk over the next 3-4 years.
Jean-Pierre de Smet, this estate’s director and winemaker, stated that “2001 was very difficult during the entire growing season. The weather was depressing, cold and rainy, which is really bad for viticulture. At harvest we found everything in the bunches, ripe berries, rot, and green fruit. Severe sorting was paramount.”
Readers hungry for news on the upcoming 2002 vintage will be interested to hear that it was the first time in de Smet’s career where he didn’t chaptalize a single vat. He did say, however, that he was compelled to acidify some lots.
Importers: Diageo Chateau and Estate Wines Company, New York, NY; tel. (212) 572-7725 throughout the US, except for CA & HI (Chambers & Chambers), CA (Old Vine Imports), NJ & NY (Jeroboam Imports), TX (Le Serbet), MA (Ex Cellars), and NY (Burgundy Wine Company)