Best Wines of 2001

by Fredric Koeppel
The Commercial Appeal

It's that time--time for a look at the best wines of 2001.

One thing this annual foray offers is a chance for me to go back and review a year's worth of columns. I named 34 wines "exceptional" in 2001; those automatically make it onto this list. But the problem is that leaves only 16 more wines to make the 50 I traditionally name, so narrowing down several hundred other wines is made more difficult.

If a cabernet sauvignon wine rates excellent and costs $24 and another rated excellent costs $23, which gets to go on the list? Making fine distinctions isn't easy, and in arriving at these decisions, I have to go back to my notebooks to check my initial sensations. For the past couple years this list has been dominated by the great red wines produced in California in 1997. This year it's the turn of Bordeaux reds from 1998, especially from the Right Bank communes of Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.

I'll mention that Beringer Vineyards and Chateau St. Jean in California and Penfolds in Australia performed in exemplary fashion this year--each shows up on this list three times.

Best Wines of 2001:
(in alphabetical order)

1. Abbotts Cumulo Nimbus 1998, Minervois. About $35. (Ed Sbragia, chief winemaker for Beringer Vineyards, released splendid red wines from vintage 1997 this year, which marked, appropriately, his 25th anniversary at the firm as well as Beringer's 125th anniversary.)

2. Beringer Bancroft Ranch Private Reserve Merlot 1997, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley. About $75.

3. Beringer 125th/25th Anniversary Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, St. Helena Home Vineyard, Napa Valley. About $125.

4. Beringer Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 1997, Napa Valley. About $100.

5. Bridges Golden Mist Botrytis Semillon 1999, Riverina, New South Wales. $19 (half-bottle).

6. David Bruce Pinot Noir 1999, Santa Cruz Mountains. About $30.

7. Cakebread Cellars Three Sisters Cabernet Sauvignon 1998, Napa Valley. About $75.

8. Calera Chardonnay 1997, Mt. Harlan. About $38.

9. Carmenet Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 1999, Edna Valley, Australia. About $18.

10. Chambolle-Musigny "Les Hauts Doix" Premier Cru 1998, Frederic Magnier. About $80.

11. Clos Vougeot Grand Cru 1999, Jean Raphet. About $120.

12. Cote Rotie "Cote Rozier" 1999, Pierre Gaillard. About $69.

13. Chateau St. Jean Belle Terre Vineyard Chardonnay 1999, Alexander Valley. About $24.

14. Chateau St. Jean Cinq Cepages 1998, Sonoma County. About $70.

15. Chateau St. Jean Robert Young Vineyard Chardonnay 1998, Alexander Valley. $25.

16. Echezeaux Grand Cru 1998, Mugneret-Gibourg. About $96.

17. L'Ecole No. 41 Seven Hills Vineyard Merlot 1999, Walla Walla Valley. About $39.

18. Edizione Pennino Zinfandel 1999, Napa Valley. (Made by Niebaum-Coppola Estate.) About $28.

19. Far Niente Chardonnay 1999, Napa Valley. About $52.

20. Chateau Figeac 1998, Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe. About $110.

21. Geyser Peak Reserve Merlot 1998, Alexander Valley. About $40.

22. Livingston Moffett Gemstone Vineyard Red Wine 1998, Napa Valley. About $75.

23. Louis Guntrum Penguin Eiswein Sylvaner 1998, Nierstein, Rhinehessen. $33 (half-bottle).

24. Inniskillin Ice Wine Riesling 1999, Niagara Peninsula. $65 (half-bottle).

25. Kenwood Reserve Olivet Pinot Noir 1999, Russian River Valley. About $30.

26. Kistler Chardonnay 1998, Carneros. About $47.

27. MacRostie Pinot Noir 1999, Carneros. About $24.

28. Marcelina Merlot 1999, Napa Valley. (Made by E. & J. Gallo.) About $30.

29. Merryvale Dutton Ranch Chardonnay 1999, Russian River Valley. About $35.

30. Merryvale Profile 1998, Napa Valley. About $90.

31. Meursault "Les Narvaux" 1998, Yves Boyer-Martenot. About $61.

32. Morey-Saint-Denis "Les Ruchots" Premier Cru 1998, Frederic Magnien. About $78.

33. Mt. Horrocks "Cordon Cut" Riesling 2000, Clare Valley, Australia. About $33 (half-bottle).

34. Nickel & Nickel John's Creek Vineyard Chardonnay 1999, Napa Valley. About $50.

35. Niebaum-Coppola Cask Cabernet 1998, Rutherford, Napa Valley. About $65.

36. Ojai Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2000, Santa Barbara County. About $18.

37. Penfolds Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon 1998, South Australia. About $80.

38. Penfolds Grange 1996. About $250.

39. Penfolds RWT Shiraz 1998, Barossa Valley. About $70.

40. Petaluma "Tiers" Chardonnay 1998, Adelaide Hills, Australia. About $125.

41. Chateau Petrus 1998, Pomerol. About $700 (a bottle).

42. Ridge Dusi Ranch Zinfandel 1999, Paso Robles. About $26.

43. Rombauer Chardonnay 2000, Carneros. About $28.

44. Sancerre "Les Romains" 1997, Domaine Vacheron. About $53.

45. Stags' Leap Ne Cede Malis 1997, Napa Valley. Mainly petite sirah with a blend of Rhone-style grapes. The Latin motto means "Do not give in to evil." About $55.

46. Stags' Leap Viognier 1999, Napa Valley. About $25.

47. Robert Stemmler Cabernet Sauvignon 1998, Sonoma County. About $35.

48. Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Chardonnay 1998, Monterey. About $42.

49. Chateau Trotanoy 1998, Pomerol. About $120.

50. Chateau d'Yquem 1995, Sauternes. About $185.

(E-mail koeppel@gomemphis.com or write The Commercial Appeal, PO Box 134, Memphis, TN 38101.)

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