St Emilion/Pomerol - 2001

Some exceptional succulent Pomerols; finer than 2000.

A supple vintage producing wines that were enjoyable in their youth.

The preceding winter was the wettest since 1982/83, and the season went on to be particularly mild. It meant that the vines responded early, though a short period of frost in mid-April caused damage locally. May and June were dry, so that flowering in June was early, rapid and uniform. Though July started out wet and cool, it ended warm and dry, and August was hot with average rainfall for the month, though alternate heat and rain prevented the grapes from maturing consistently. September was rather cool, with average rainfall for the month. It provided excellent conditions for ripening, and vintners were able to wait for full maturity before picking. Nonetheless, careful monitoring was required and only the most meticulous growers achieved truly first class results. Though there was less rain at vintage time than on the Left Bank and some powerful merlots were made, this is a variable vintage.