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Overall impressions: this is the fifth in a series of 2000 Bordeaux tastings. The first tasting was of many of the lesser cru - that ended up being fabulous bargains. I found far fewer under-$30 stand-outs during the second tasting of the vintage, as well as a surprising number of higher-priced wines that only came across as "above-average."
However, at the third tasting, I found some excellent, even impressive, offerings - all across the board. The fourth tasting also produced a bounty of very nice wines, including a few from previous vintages that are still available. On this fifth time through, the Gruaud Larose was my overall favorite in the flight, yet the Moulin St. Georges is also a fabulous wine, and, it's $40 less expensive. There are also several other wines here that represent bargains, and should not be missed. In the under-$20 category, wines like the Chateau de Francs, Franc Grace-Dieu, and Lannesan. But possibly the best deal going here is the Chateau Lousteauneuf from the Medoc. At $9.99, it's a steal! And finally, there are still a few '99s around that merit attention. One such wine is the '99 Haut Bergy, at under $20. |
1998 Chateau Laborde - Lalande de Pomerol. $15.99. Medium dark ruby color. Lots of obvious oak in the dried cherry and vanilla nose. Tannic and slightly oaky in mouthfeel, good cassis fruit, very long finish. Fairly raw in style right now, this might mature into something nice with time. Aroma score: B Taste score: B Overall score: B 1999
Chateau Coutet - Saint Emilion. $14.99. Dark ruby color. Bright
cherry nose, with light touch of oak and cranberry. Nice cherry
and strawberry fruit on the palate, the mouthfeel gets a little
sour on the back end, and through the long finish. 1999
Chateau Haut Bergy - Pessac Leognan. $19.99. Dark ruby
color. Lots of roasted coffee, espresso and herb in the nose. Off
sweet cassis fruit, somewhat chewy mouthfeel, gobs of fruit, and
a very nice smooth long finish. 2001
Chateau Joanin Becot - Cotes de Castillon. $15.99. Very
dark ruby color. Dense, macerated nose of red fruit, vanilla and
mint. Full on the palate, though the fruit seems a bit dilute from
mid to latter palate, and it picks up an odd heat spike on the medium-long
finish. 2000
Chateau de Camarsac - Bordeaux. $7.99. Very dark ruby color.
Dusty cherry nose, with a touch of cedar, chalk and ash. Moderate
off-sweet mouthfeel, very nice core of fruit through mid palate;
appears to thin out a bit on the otherwise long finish. 2000
Chateau Lousteauneuf - Medoc. $9.99. Dark ruby garnet color.
Nose of roasted coffee, herbs, hardwood shavings, and dusty cherry.
Off-sweet mouthfeel, lots of cherry and black cherry fruit, long
sweet-sour finish. 2000
Chateau de Francs - Cote de Francs. $17.99. Very dark
ruby color. Rich and dense nose of crushed fruit and roasted coffee.
Huge chewy mouthfeel, excellent balance, big and rich on the palate,
off-sweet dusty finish. 2000
Chateau La Vieille Cure - Fronsac. $22.99. Very dark ruby color.
Nice nose of coffee, toffee, and black cherry. Lots of chewy sweet-sour
fruit, smooth tannins, rich long finish. 2000
Chateau Franc Grace-Dieu - St. Emilion. $15.99. Very dark ruby
color. Nose of sweet roasted coffee, cherry, vanilla and herbs.
Lots of off-sweet fruit, obvious oak, and long finish. 2000
Chateau Grand
Pontet
- St. Emilion. $39.99. Very dark ruby color. Nose of brandied
cherries and a touch of chocolate. Full mouthfeel, tasty black cherry
and bittersweet chocolate, with lots of coffee and herb flavors,
and long finish. A stronger finish would have really completed the
package. 2000
Chateau Moulin St. Georges -
St. Emilion. $49.99.
Very dark ruby color. Dense, somewhat brandied cherry aromas, sweet
oak, coffee, spices, and a hint of black pepper. Very rich mouthfeel,
chewy fruit, excellent balance, very smooth tannins, and solid long
finish. Amazing! 2000
Clos de la Vieille Eglise - Pomerol. $27.99.
Very dark ruby color. Nose
of black forest cake and Kirsch. Off-sweet-sour mouthfeel, that
seems to get a bit more sour than sweet by mid-palate and through
the massively long oak-influenced finish. The mouthfeel here will
undoubtedly come around with time. But for now, it's all about nose. 2000
Blaison de l'Evangile - Pomerol. $34.99. Dark ruby garnet color.
Nose of coffee, black cherry, and toast. Chunky mouthfeel, flavors
of dried cherry and tobacco, the fruit seems a bit dilute from mid-palate
to back end. |
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2000
Chateau La Grave a Pomerol - Pomerol. $45.99. Dark ruby garnet
color. Nose of sweet black cherry, herbs, cedar, and eucalyptus.
Off-sweet mouthfeel, chewy macerated fruit, with slightly bitter
flavors appearing during the long finish. 2000
Chateau Lannesan - Haut Medoc. $17.99. Very dark ruby color.
Nose of black cherry, chocolate, and coffee. Off-sweet-sour fruit,
gripping and somewhat tannic mouthfeel, and long finish. 2000
Clos Margalaine - Margaux. $32.99. Very dark ruby color. Nose
of chocolate, cherries, and a touch of vanilla. Off-sweet mouthfeel,
gets a bit oaky at mid-palate, and the fruit becomes a bit more
sour toward finish. 1999
Chateau Gloria - Saint Julien. $22.99. Very dark ruby color.
Corked bottle! (A member of the pouring staff did agree that the
wine was "...slightly [corked]," yet did not offer to
open another bottle. Considering this was not an expensive wine,
I can only assume that the staff received no other complaints from
patrons, and thus considered the TCA taint to be at an acceptable
level.) 2000
Chateau Gloria - Saint Julien. $32.99. Very dark ruby color.
Beautiful nose of black cherry, chocolate, and spice. Off-sweet
fruit, chewy delicious mouthfeel, very good balance and gets even
more toasty on the very, very long tasty finish. 1995
Chateau Gruaud Larose - Saint Julien. $44.99. Dark ruby color.
Initially, the nose was very funky, with lots of sewer aromas. This
blew off in a matter of minutes, revealing roasted coffee and black
cherry, and a touch of herbaceousness. Off-sweet black cherry fruit,
with some herbs and tobacco through the long finish. 2000
Chateau Gruaud Larose - Saint Julien. $89.99. Very dark ruby
color. Beautiful roasted and toasty nose of coffee, herbs, spices,
black cherry and chocolate. Lots of macerated sweet-sour black cherry
fruit on the palate, chewy and rich mouthfeel, and a very long finish.
Killer! 2001
Chateau de Myrat - Sauternes. $32.99. Light amber color. Nose
of spiced pear and white peach, with a twist of lemon. Light coarseness
to the aroma and palate. Flavors of apple, pear, and crabapples.
Very nice balance, and long tasty finish. 2001
Chateau La Tour Blanche - Sauternes. $44.99. Medium gold color.
Somewhat reserved in the nose, with scents of apple flan and pear.
Smooth and succulent - almost delicate - all across the palate,
excellent balance and very long smooth finish. |
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No original material may be reproduced without written consent Mail & Comments - Eric Anderson |