2001 Nuits Saint-Georges Les Damodes 1er Cru

Sugar levels have been very good in most vintages since 1997, consistently in the 12.5% to 13.5% range, says Christophe Drag. In 2001 we had very good acidity and a lower pH, but with more moderate sugars of 11.5% to 12%, which is much more typical of the past.In 2002, sugars went as high as 13.9%, but the level of acidity was correct.'The pHs were around 3.35 in both vintages, says Drag, who added that these are lower than those of his neighbors, especially in vintage 2002.Drag called 2002 the best vintage he has made: better than 1990 or 1999, fresher and more concentrated, and from a lower crop level.' (Rosenthal Wine Merchant, Shekomeko NY

According to Christophe Drag, vintage 2001 brought the lowest sugars of recent years at this domain, with the wines beginning at 11% to 11.5% and chaptalized about a degree and half. But Drag noted that the polyphenols were riper in 2001 than in the previous year. (He also mentioned that 2002 brought grape sugars as high as 13.5%, with pHs freakishly low.) Drag, incidentally, views the '99 vintage as "too generic, without enough typicity," largely due to the very high yields. For his parcels of vines that have never ripened well, Drag is converting his pruning system to cordon royat in an effort to control the vigor of the vines and reduce yields. Chauvenet's 2000s were bottled in May of 2002, perhaps a bit later than was ideal for this style of vintage; at least a couple of these wines seemed a bit advanced in November.