| | Thursday "school-night" wine tasting. 21 bottles tasted single blind. Most decanted at least 2 hours. Left Bank - 2000 Château Rauzan-Ségla - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
We had this in magnum. It is still tight, but some earth on the nose and nice fruit showing through. Will improve in the cellar. (92 pts.)
- 2000 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Softer style than I would have expected. It is a beauty. Still a bit closed. I think this would have benefited from a longer decant or more time in the cellar. (92 pts.)
- 2000 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Weak and closed at first, but was opening up in the glass. Very nice fruit showing through. Will be a beauty. (92 pts.)
- 2000 Les Forts de Latour - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Nice young Bordeaux. powerful. (93 pts.)
- 2000 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Tasty, earthy. Really liked this. Opened up nicely even at this young age after two hour decant. (96 pts.)
- 2000 Château Malescot St. Exupéry - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
This was our Wine of the Night of the 13 we tried from the Left bank in this flight. Aromatic, and drinking well now. (97 pts.)
- 2000 Château Talbot - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
A little austere at this stage, but nice. (91 pts.)
- 2000 Château Cantenac Brown - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Quite tannic. Hasn't fully integrated, but has potential I think. (91 pts.)
- 2000 Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
A little heat on this one. Earth notes, bright fruit, acidity. (91 pts.)
- 1995 Château Léoville Las Cases - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
A wild card outside the 2000 vintage theme. Young, powerful. Earthy nose, depth, dark fruit, long finish. Really good. (95 pts.)
- 1999 Château Latour Grand Vin - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Another wildcard outside our 2000 vintage theme. A stunner. powerful, earthy, tobacco, chocolate. Just great and goes the distance. (96 pts.)
- 2000 Château Calon-Ségur - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
Balanced, fruit forward, smooth and silky. Just great. (97 pts.)
- 2000 Château Haut-Brion - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Beautiful, soft, elegant. Everything in perfect balance. Three hour decant. This was voted second place for Wine of the Night. (96 pts.)
Right Bank - 2000 Château Pavie - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
A little tight still, but showing beautiful ripe fruit, depth, structure. Two hour decant. This was our Wine of the Night from the Right Bank flight. (96 pts.)
- 2000 Château L'Evangile - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Pretty tight after two hour decant. Soft tannins. Very nice. (93 pts.)
- 2000 Château Le Bon Pasteur - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
Very enjoyable. Fruit forward, modern style. (94 pts.)
- 2000 Pierdon - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Puisseguin-St. Émilion
Tight, but drinking well. Potential to age further. (93 pts.)
- 2000 Château Pavie Decesse - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Austere and closed, in my view. I didn't get much from it. However, many in our group loved it. I tasted it early, so it must have really opened up. Voted second place for Wine of the Night from the Right Bank. (94 pts.)
- 2000 Château Angélus - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Would have benefited from a few hours decanting. Tasted twice over the evening. It was definitely opening up. Aromatic floral nose, red and black fruit, balanced. Very nice. (95 pts.)
- 2000 Château Monbousquet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Very nice, smooth and balanced. Modern style. Ripe fruit and good structure. (95 pts.)
- 1998 Château Le Moulin - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
A wildcard outside the 2000 vintage theme. Nice, easy to drink. In a good place now. (92 pts.)
The wine quality was consistent and impressive. Our group felt that the Left had more standouts, but the Right had some beauties as well. Not surprisingly, most of these wines benefit from decanting for a few hours and should continue to improve in the cellar. |
