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Overall impressions: well, it seems that the old adage "3rd time's the charm," may apply here. My first sampling of the 2000 Bordeaux (hereafter called 2kB) revealed many lesser cru that were certifiable bargains. On my second look at the vintage, it seemed as though I found significantly fewer under-$30 wines that merited attention, and an equally surprising number of higher-priced wines that only came across as "above-average." That is to say, I was disappointed. However, this time through I found some excellent, even impressive, offerings - across the spectrum. The upper growths here are predictably excellent - if commensurately expensive. Surprisingly (to me), I still found more than a handful of sub-$30 offerings that were fabulous. Among my favorites, the Figeac, Bellevue, and Pavillon Rouge were excellent. But, it's the Croix du Casse that's the real scene stealer here - followed closely by the Marlatic Lagraviere and three other bargains. On the flip side of things, the Ducru was disappointing. At $114, I expect to be mesmerized by a wine. And though it had an exceptional nose, it didn't seem to pull anywhere near its weight on the palate. |
2000 Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafite - Pessac-Leognan. $39.99. Light-gold color. Light alfalfa, grass and hay aromas. Very tasty mouthfeel, lush, rich flavors - chewy and thick on the palate, nearly perfect balance, toasty long finish. 95% Sauvignon Blance. Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A- 2000
La Fleur de Bouard - Lalande de Pomerol $34.99. Very dark ruby
color. Lush nose of cassis, toast and a touch of stem. Young mouthfeel,
with lots of tasty fruit, and long toasty finish. Really nice nose,
and the wines seems very well made. About 80% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Haut Corbin - Saint-Emilion. $23.99. Very dark
ruby color. Creamy vanilla and black cherry aromas in the nose.
Fleshy mouthfeel, shows just a bit of heat at mid-palate, slightly
chunky on the latter palate, but smooths out through the finish.
65% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Haut Gravet - Saint Emilion. $27.99. Dark ruby
color. Stunning, rich and complex nose of cassis, toast, wood shavings
and touch of vanilla. Slightly soft mouthfeel - though very lush
and chewy. Smooth in texture, plenty of fruit, nice long finish.
Mostly Merlot. 2000
Chateau Carillon de L'Angeles -Saint Emilion. $39.99. Very dark
ruby color. Interesting nose of cassis, singed wood, carrot, and
ash. Obvious ash flavor to the palate, slightly herbaceous, touch
of oak, very nice cassis fruit, excellent balance, and very long
tasty finish. Nearly equal portions of Merlot and Cab Franc. 2000
Chateau Grand-Pontet - Saint Emilion. $34.99. Very dark ruby
color. Dense nose shows obvious oak, with aromas of cassis, mint
and eucalyptus. Big and fleshy mouthfeel, full throttle in mouthfeel
all through mid-palate, but shortens up just a through latter palate
and finish. Really nice wine; seems like a sleeper to me. About
75% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Figeac - Saint Emilion. $79.99. Dark ruby color.
Classic, old school Bordeaux nose - with a touch of oak, mint, musk,
barnyard and cassis/coffee aromas, stemmy and leafy. Fabulous mouthfeel
and flavors - just beautiful! Full, smooth and complex across the
palate, with a beautiful seamless finish. Nearly equal blend of
Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, and Merlot. 2000
Chateau Bellevue - Saint Emilion. $84.99. Very dark ruby color.
Seamless toasty cassis aromas, with a touch of black olive, licorice,
mint and hamburger - wow! Very tasty mouthfeel, excellent balance,
with some grip on the palate, smooth toasty long finish. About 70%
Merlot. 2000
Chateau La Croix du Casse - Pomerol. $27.99. Very dark ruby
color. Killer nose of cassis, ink, charred hardwoods, and prune.
Huge mouthfeel, forward flavors, smooth and rich, with a long slightly
oaky finish. Just beautiful! About 80% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Camensac - Haut Medoc. $17.99. Very dark ruby color.
Nose of ashen cassis, vanilla, and asphalt. Young and somewhat gripping
in mouthfeel, with some obvious oak overtones; seems a little primal
in structure and flavor, and gets a bit thin on the back end. About
60% Cab Sauv. 2000
Chateau Malartic Lagraviere - Pessac-Leognan. $33.99. Very dark
ruby color. Fabulous nose of espresso, cassis, oak, and beef. Good
fruit, chewy mouthfeel, noticable oak throughout, tasty flavors
and very good balance. Slightly drying on the finish. 50% Cab Sauv,
25% each Franc and Merlot. 2000
Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux - Margaux. $59.99. Very dark
ruby color. Classic Bordeaux nose of graphite, toast, cassis, and
a touch of coffee/mocha. Big and chewy mouthfeel, delicious flavors,
slightly sweet/sour through long finish. 75% Cab Sauv. |
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2000
Chateau Rauzan-Segla - Margaux. $84.99.
Dark ruby color. Ripe and slightly sweet nose, with a slight barnyard
note. Off-sweet mouthfeel, toasty and somewhat meaty, very good
balance, and long finish. 61% Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Branaire - Saint Julien. $52.99.
Very dark ruby color. Interesting singed wood aromas, with a touch
of graphite and toasted grain. Initially big mouthfeel, but seems
to thin out a bit from mid to latter palate. 70%
Cab Sauv. 2000
Chateau Beycheville - Saint Julien. $45.99. Very dark ruby
color. Complex and fascinating, the herbaceous nose of espresso,
beet, cassis, and chalk is something of a knockout. Off-sweet mouthfeel,
if a bit to the sour side, good balance, and long finish. 60% Cab
Sauv, 28% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou - Saint Julien. $114.99. Very dark
ruby garnet color. Ripe nose of cassis, black cherry, chocolate,
and vanilla. Somewhat soft and neutral in flavors and texture. Great
nose, but where's the beef? 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Gruaud Larose - Saint Julien. $89.99. Very, very dark
ruby color. Fabulous nose of espresso, dried herbs, and black cherry.
Big and full-throttle all across the palate. This is a gutsy wine
that just keeps delivering with in-your-face fruit, and long tannic
finish. 57% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Lynch Moussas - Pauillac. $21.99. Dark ruby color. Ripe
nose, with dark cherry scents and a light minty quality. Ripe on
the palate, with just a hint of prune and raisin. Nice wine, just
a bit over-ripe. 65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot. 2000
Chateau La Tourette - Pauillac. $28.99. Black ruby color. Beautiful
nose of tar, licorice, cassis and toast. A bit narrowly focussed
on the palate - extracted as all get-out, but the oak seems overriding
at the moment. Mostly Cab Sauv. 2000
Chateau d'Armaillac - Pauillac. $29.99. Dark ruby color. Masses
of espresso and roasted coffee in the nose. A bit dry on the palate,
and seems a touch thin throughout. 50% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot. 2000
Chateau Clerc Milon - Pauillac. $46.99. Dark ruby color. Nose
is a combination of old school Bordeaux and new world Cab. Nice
touch of toast and espresso. Very nice texture and flavors on the
palate, tasty, with very good balance and long finish. 70% Cab Sauv,
20% Merlot. |
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No original material may be reproduced without written consent Mail & Comments - Eric Anderson |