Please forgive me this week for I will be indulging in my favourite wine subject. Burgundy.

Just before Christmas I received The Wine Society’s Xmas offers leaflet and included in it was a mixed case of 2001 Burgundy reds, half of them from producers I knew and half from producers I didn’t. All of the bottles are from Premier Cru vineyards stretching throughout the famous Cote D’Or and the thought of drinking these wines with 10 years of bottle age was just too much for me to turn down.

2001 is often referred to as a winemakers vintage. The growing conditions were far from perfect and required lots of work in the vineyard, so although 2001 may fall short of being a first class vintage, there is much to enjoy and they certainly appear to be in their perfect drinking window right now.

Also, to give a truly rounded view of the vintage, I also bought a couple of 2001 whites; you know, just to give you a feel for the total picture!

If you feel like spoiling yourself then look at 2001. The prices are much higher I’m sure than most of you usually pay for a bottle but if you want to know what all of the fuss is about then make the investment; you won’t be disappointed.

The Whites

Morey-Blanc Meursault 2001 (£29.00 The Wine Society)
Nuts and peaches jump out of the glass and just a hint of smokey oak and butterscotch. This smells its age and smells expensive. The nuttiness is foremost at first taste and then peaches and grapefruit before a lingering finish of beautifully judged and balanced oak that just goes on and on. Its still so fresh. Magic. 93 points

Moret-Nomine 1er Cru Genevrieres, Meursault 2001 (£42.00 The Wine Society)
Mostly gentle oak aromas with some raisin like fruit. It tastes like a fresh cream slice topped with hazelnuts. There’s a hint of pineapple fruit, its lovely medium bodied and the flavour goes on and on. Possibly just passed its best – I’d like to try a 2005 though! Second glass didn’t quite live up to the first. 89 points

The Reds

Comte Armand 1er Cru Clos des Epeneaux, Pommard 2001 (£48.00 The Wine Society)
Sometimes you open a wine with such anticipation and are very disappointed. Sometimes it exceeds your expectation. This is incredible. The aromas of wild strawberries, raspberries, leather and truffle are truly intoxicating. And then the taste. Those wild strawberries, some black cherry, a lovely black-tar intensity and an amazing damp forest and mushroom complexity. But it isn’t stop there because there is spice. Five spice, because there is a touch of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and some others I can’t quite, fathom. And beautiful silky tannins. I’m in heaven. 96 points

Domaine Hubert de Montille Les Taillepieds 1er Cru, Volnay 2001 (£46.00 The Wine Society)
Oh yes, this is very exciting! Very pale, almost rose look in the glass but the aromas are incredible. Strawberries, raspberries, sweet cherries, mushroom, truffle and undergrowth. Very sweet fruit on the palate with lively acidity and such freshness. Nicely integrated oak, and dashes of leather and sweet vanilla spice. Warm, long, concentrated and sumptuous. Tannins are prominent but silky. This is my kind of wine and wish I could afford to drink it every night! 96 points

Domaine Hubert de Montille Les Pezerolles 1er Cru, Pommard 2001 (£49.00 The Wine Society)
Very light crimson colour for Pommard but the nose is very interesting indeed. Autumnal with lots of musty leather, sweet spice and sweet red fruit. Raspberries and red currants on the palate with a deep smokey, cigar-like finish. Not super-concentrated but very sweet and refined – I was surprised to find this vineyard is on the Beaune side of Pommard as it is actually very reminiscent of Volnay. Was an excellent accompaniment to the partridge but I do wish I had decanted and given the wine a couple of hours to really open up. Top notch stuff indeed. 92 points

Domaine de la Vougeraie 1er Cru Les Cras Vougeot 2001 (£42.00 The Wine Society)
Slightly cloudy in the glass but very old fashioned on the nose. Cherry and raspberry fruit at first, followed by leather, damp leaves and a lovely hint of warming spice. Palate matches up nicely and the finish is very generous. 91 points

Domaine Fourrier 1er Cru Combe Aux Moines, Gevrey Chambertin 2001 (£39.00 The Wine Society)
Fantastic perfumed aromas of ripe plums and sweet spice. The taste is plums and strawberries with a lovely earthiness and just a hint if vanilla. It’s very light bodied but has very marked tannins, making for a long and chewy finish. Great antidote to he snow outside. 91 points