2011 Vintage — A Selective Year, Outstanding for Vintage Port and Sauternes

Buying a 2011 wine means choosing a bottle that is still relatively young in the world of mature wines, yet already interesting as a birthday bottle, a birth-year wine or for long-term cellaring. The 2011 vintage is not homogeneous across all regions: it requires selection, but it produced major successes, especially in Vintage Port, Sauternes, selected Bordeaux, Piedmont, the Northern Rhône and a few leading international producers.

The major international highlight of the vintage is 2011 Vintage Port, widely recognised as one of the great modern years in the Douro. In Bordeaux, red wines are more variable, with successful bottles from the best châteaux, but 2011 Sauternes is a much safer and more prestigious category. In Italy, 2011 Barolo and Barbaresco offer a riper, more accessible and more generous style than the most classical vintages.

The Style of the 2011 Vintage

The 2011 vintage is a contrasted year. Some regions experienced difficult conditions and uneven ripeness, while others produced outstanding age-worthy wines. It is therefore a vintage to approach with discernment: the goal is not to find uniform success, but to identify the appellations and wine styles that truly benefited from the year.

The most convincing 2011 wines are often found in categories able to turn concentration, freshness or selection into a real strength: Vintage Port, Sauternes, great sweet wines, structured wines from rigorous producers and top reds from well-managed terroirs.

Which 2011 Wines Should You Buy First?

• Very high priority: 2011 Vintage Ports, 2011 Sauternes and Barsac from top estates.
• High priority: 2011 Bordeaux from great châteaux, especially Pomerol, Saint-Julien, Pauillac and carefully selected classified growths.
• Medium to high priority: 2011 Barolo, 2011 Barbaresco, Northern Rhône, vintage Champagne and great Italian wines.
• Selective priority: 2011 Burgundy, Napa Valley 2011, Southern Rhône and more modest red wines.

2011 Vintage Port: The Great International Highlight of the Vintage

2011 Vintage Port is one of the major global successes of the vintage. The Douro Valley produced wines that are deep, powerful, fresh, concentrated and built for very long ageing. For a 2011 birthday bottle or a birth-year wine, a great Vintage Port is one of the safest, most prestigious and most durable choices.

The style of great 2011 Ports often combines blackberry, blackcurrant, black plum, violet, liquorice, dark chocolate, spice, stewed dark fruits, minerality and a significant tannic structure. These wines can still seem youthful today, but they have considerable ageing potential.

Examples of great Ports to look for:

• Taylor’s Vintage Port 2011 — A major reference of the vintage, powerful, deep and built for several decades of ageing.
• Fonseca Vintage Port 2011 — Rich, opulent, intense and highly sought after by Port lovers.
• Graham’s Vintage Port 2011 — Generous, broad and harmonious, very interesting for long-term ageing.
• Dow’s Vintage Port 2011 — Firmer, drier and more structured in style, ideal for lovers of long-lived Ports.
• Quinta do Noval 2011 — A great estate Port, rare, deep and highly collectible.
• Quinta do Vesuvio 2011 — Dense, expressive and sought after, best chosen with good provenance.

Buying priority: very high. 2011 Vintage Port is probably the most reliable and prestigious choice of the vintage.

Sauternes 2011: The Great Bordeaux Highlight

In Sauternes and Barsac, 2011 is one of the major Bordeaux successes. While red wines require more selection, the sweet wines benefited from good concentration, fresh acidity and high-quality botrytis at the best estates. Great 2011 Sauternes can offer richness, precision, freshness and ageing potential.

The style of 2011 Sauternes may show apricot, candied orange, honey, mango, roasted pineapple, beeswax, saffron, white flowers, sweet spices and a fresh finish. For a birthday bottle, this is one of the most elegant and reassuring choices of the vintage.

Examples of great wines to look for:

• Château d’Yquem 2011 — A major reference of the vintage, rich, precise and built for ageing.
• Château Climens 2011 — A refined, luminous and highly elegant Barsac.
• Château Coutet 2011 — Fresh, balanced and very interesting for lovers of elegant sweet wines.
• Château Suduiraut 2011 — A broad, generous and classic Sauternes.
• Château Rieussec 2011 — Rich, expressive and structured, best sought in good storage condition.

Buying priority: very high. 2011 Sauternes is far more recommended than 2011 red Bordeaux for an age-worthy bottle.

Red Bordeaux 2011: A Correct but Highly Selective Year

2011 red Bordeaux requires a nuanced reading. The vintage does not have the richness or depth of the great neighbouring years such as 2009 or 2010, but some châteaux produced serious, classical and well-built wines. Estate selection, sorting at harvest and storage quality are decisive.

The best 2011 Bordeaux may show notes of blackcurrant, cedar, tobacco, graphite, ripe red fruit, fine leather, sweet spices and forest floor. The wines are generally less opulent than the great solar vintages, but they may appeal to lovers of fresher, straighter and more classical Bordeaux.

Appellations and styles to favour:

• Pomerol 2011 — One of the most interesting Bordeaux options, especially from leading producers.
• Saint-Julien 2011 — Can offer a balanced, classical and elegant style from the best châteaux.
• Pauillac 2011 — Best sought from classified growths able to manage tannic structure well.
• Saint-Émilion 2011 — Selection is necessary, but good bottles are possible from great terroirs.
• Pessac-Léognan 2011 — Some classical reds and a few interesting dry whites.

Buying priority: medium to high from great châteaux; more cautious for modest crus. In Bordeaux, Sauternes remains the strongest category.

Champagne 2011: A Category to Select with Caution

Champagne 2011 is not regarded as a benchmark vintage comparable to 2008, 2012 or 2013. Some houses nevertheless produced interesting cuvées, especially when selection was rigorous. Buying should therefore focus on recognised houses, prestige cuvées and perfectly stored bottles.

The style can vary by producer: yellow fruits, apple, citrus, brioche, hazelnut, floral notes and lightly toasted evolution. For a birthday bottle, Champagne 2011 can be interesting, but it is generally less of a priority than 2011 Vintage Port or 2011 Sauternes.

• 2011 vintage Champagnes from leading houses — To be considered only with good provenance.
• 2011 prestige cuvées — Possible interest for collectors and lovers of specific houses.
• Magnums of 2011 Champagne — Preferable when available.

Buying priority: medium, only from serious houses and well-preserved bottles.

Burgundy 2011: A Producer-Driven, Fresh and Accessible Year

In Burgundy, 2011 is a producer-driven vintage. The wines can be fresh, supple, elegant and accessible, but quality varies according to domaine, terroir and sorting practices. This is not a year of great power, but the best wines can offer delicate charm and a classical expression of Pinot Noir.

2011 red Burgundies may show red cherry, raspberry, rose, fine spices, light forest floor and a relatively supple structure. White wines can be pleasant from good producers, but should be selected according to bottle condition and storage history.

• Côte de Nuits 2011 — Best chosen from serious domaines and great terroirs.
• Côte de Beaune 2011 — Can offer elegant reds and some interesting whites.
• 2011 grands crus and premiers crus — Worth considering from reliable producers and with clear provenance.

Buying priority: medium. Favour top domaines rather than relying on the general reputation of the vintage alone.

Italy 2011: Ripe, Generous and Accessible Barolo and Barbaresco

In Italy, 2011 is interesting, particularly in Piedmont. 2011 Barolo and 2011 Barbaresco are generally riper, more open and more accessible than those from very classical vintages. The style is often generous, with expressive aromatics and more approachable tannins.

Great 2011 Nebbiolo wines may show notes of black cherry, sour cherry, dried rose, liquorice, leather, spice, tobacco, truffle and ripe fruit. They suit lovers of Barolo and Barbaresco who want a bottle that is already more accessible, without waiting as long as for more austere vintages.

• Barolo 2011 — Interesting from historic producers, with a ripe and generous style.
• Barbaresco 2011 — Attractive for finesse, drinkability and aromatic charm.
• Brunello di Montalcino 2011 — Worth considering from top producers, with selection.
• Super Tuscans 2011 — Interesting from benchmark estates.

Buying priority: medium to high for Barolo and Barbaresco from top producers.

Rhône 2011: Fine Classical Successes, Especially in the Northern Rhône

Rhône 2011 can offer some fine bottles, particularly in the Northern Rhône. Syrah may show a fresher, peppery and more classical style than in very solar vintages. From good producers, the wines have now gained complexity and can be very enjoyable to drink.

The best wines may evoke dark fruits, violet, pepper, black olive, smoke, leather, dried herbs and spice. In the Southern Rhône, results can be interesting but require more selection.

• Côte-Rôtie 2011 — A good option for lovers of elegant, peppery Syrah.
• Hermitage 2011 — Best sought from leading producers and in good storage condition.
• Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2011 — Interesting from reputable estates, but selection is necessary.

Buying priority: medium to high for the Northern Rhône; medium and selective for the Southern Rhône.

Germany, Alsace and Loire 2011: Age-Worthy Whites and Fine Surprises

Great white wines from 2011 can be a strong option, especially from grape varieties naturally suited to ageing. German Rieslings, great Alsace wines and selected Loire Chenin Blanc can offer a fine combination of maturity, freshness, precision and aromatic complexity.

The best wines may develop notes of ripe citrus, yellow apple, peach, light honey, noble petrol, dried flowers, fine spices, wax and minerality. Cuvées with residual sugar, grands crus and historic producers should be favoured.

• German Riesling 2011 — Interesting in Spätlese, Auslese and top sites.
• Alsace 2011 — Best sought from serious domaines, especially Riesling, Pinot Gris and Gewurztraminer.
• Loire 2011 — A good option for Chenin Blanc, especially Vouvray, Montlouis, Savennières and Coteaux du Layon.

Buying priority: medium to high for great whites, leading producers and well-preserved bottles.

California 2011: A Cooler, More Selective Napa Valley Vintage

California 2011, especially Napa Valley, is more delicate than the region’s great sunny vintages. Cooler and sometimes difficult conditions produced variable results. The best producers nevertheless made fresher, less opulent and more classical wines.

Great 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon may interest lovers of less powerful Napa wines, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, graphite, mint, tobacco, spice and fresher dark fruit. Producer selection and storage condition are essential.

• Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2011 — To be chosen only from benchmark producers.
• Great Californian wines 2011 — Possible interest for lovers of cooler-vintage styles.
• Magnums of 2011 Cabernet — Preferable when provenance and storage are impeccable.

Buying priority: selective. California 2011 is mainly for lovers of fresher styles and top producers.

Buying a 2011 Wine: Essential Criteria

When buying a 2011 bottle, the first step is choosing the right category. 2011 Vintage Ports and 2011 Sauternes offer the strongest guarantees of ageing potential and drinking pleasure. Dry red wines should be selected more rigorously according to estate, region and bottle condition.

• Producer: favour houses, estates and châteaux known for their rigour.
• Style: favour age-worthy, sweet, fortified or great-terroir wines.
• Storage: check provenance, storage history, fill level, capsule and overall bottle condition.
• Format: favour magnums and larger formats for red wines and great age-worthy cuvées.
• Drinking window: Ports and Sauternes can continue ageing; more modest reds are often best enjoyed sooner.

Serving Advice for a 2011 Bottle

2011 Vintage Ports generally need to be decanted to separate the sediment and allow the wine to open. They can be paired with dark chocolate, black fruit desserts, nuts, blue cheeses or served alone as contemplative wines.

2011 Sauternes should be served slightly chilled, around 10 to 12°C. Red Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhône or Italian wines should be opened with care: moderate aeration is usually enough, and it is best to taste the wine before any extended decanting.

Summary of the 2011 Vintage

• 2011 Vintage Port — The great international highlight of the vintage, with powerful, deep wines built for ageing.
• Sauternes 2011 — The great Bordeaux highlight, with richness, freshness and excellent ageing potential.
• Red Bordeaux 2011 — Correct but selective vintage, best chosen from top châteaux.
• Champagne 2011 — Category to select carefully, mainly from leading houses.
• Burgundy 2011 — Producer-driven vintage, fresh, elegant and more accessible than powerful.
• Italy 2011 — Ripe, generous Barolo and Barbaresco, more open than in very classical years.
• Rhône 2011 — A fine option in the Northern Rhône, more selective in the Southern Rhône.
• Germany, Alsace and Loire 2011 — Good white wines are possible from serious producers.
• California 2011 — Cooler and more delicate vintage, best reserved for top producers.

2011: A Selective Vintage with Two Great Success Stories

The 2011 vintage is not a uniform year, but it has two major buying strengths: 2011 Vintage Port and 2011 Sauternes. These two categories offer the best guarantees of longevity, complexity and pleasure for a birthday bottle or birth-year wine.

2011 red Bordeaux, Barolo, wines from the Rhône, selected Burgundy and a few major international cuvées can also be interesting, provided benchmark producers and perfectly stored bottles are favoured. Well chosen, a 2011 wine can be a symbolic bottle, still young, but already full of tasting promise.