2001 Richebourg

This is still very primary if no longer truly backward with a nose of Asian spices and predominantly red fruits plus traces of cassis and earth followed by medium weight, austere, extremely dense flavors underpinned by ripe tannins that are completely buffered by the superb palate staining sap. One can't help but be wowed by the concentrated and splendidly intense flavors that deliver absolutely outstanding length and superb acid/fruit/tannin balance. Simply dazzling potential and it honestly would not surprise me if my score were not just a touch conservative, that's just how good this is. I have had one bottle however that was dominated by a vegetal character that rendered the wine borderline unpleasant; otherwise, I have had consistent luck with the '01 Riche.

Medium to dark ruby-colored, the 2001 Richebourg is an intense, deep offering armed with huge concentration and an extraordinarily long finish. Its dense layers of black cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and spices conquer the taster’s palate. This regal wine should be drunk between 2006 and 2015. According to Jean-Nicolas Meo, this estate’s director and winemaker, “2001 is a good vintage, more strict and severe than 1999 and 2000, with more acidity and bite, less fat, and more austere. It has good cellaring potential because the balance of the wines is excellent.” Meo’s 2001s were particularly successful, with fleshy, fruit-filled personalities. For the most part, the firm, rustic tannin found in many of his colleagues’ 2001s (the majority of which are not recommended) was not detected in any of his offerings. That may be because Meo waited longer to harvest (as he states), extracted more delicately, or because he’s one of the few Burgundians to stir the lees of his reds (which builds flesh)... or a combination of the three. Importer: Kermit Lynch Wine Merchant, Berkeley, CA; tel. (510) 524-1524