After the lower yielding 2000 vintage, 2001 was large and similar to 1999. Incredibly hot, sunny and stable weather during the flowering in early-mid December gave us the most successful, fastest and most even flowering yet seen. A warm summer but with the heavier crops, harvest started on April 6. Again, due to the large crop we performed a saignee and made a Vin Gris from many of the Pinot Noir fermenters. The wines are elegant and racy with perhaps not the depth that we should normally achieve.