April 13, 2024 - Medium red color with a touch of mahogany. Fragrant licorice, mineral, tobacco, cassis and smoke aromatics. Still has a little grip and tannins. Very concentrated for this property. Enjoyable now. Long aftertaste. Should continue to improve for at least 3 more years. Unusually powerful for this property.
Outperformed my 2020 note.
March 29, 2024 - Bordeaux night: Guessed this as a traditional, good left-bank producer from a classic vintage like 2001. Smooth, sensual texture with refined tannins that made it rather Burgundian, especially with the pretty, dark red fruit. Some tobacco and mocha notes that brought you back to Bordeaux. A beautifully balanced wine that harked back to an era when DDC were producing good wines.
December 30, 2023 - A wine of elegance, harmony and persistence. The nose points in the direction of flowers and herbs, with a slight leathery element too. Very satisfying wine that is clearly outstanding. I'm deflationary in my scores, so this is an outlier. (Decanted about two hours)
December 28, 2023 - Dark, earthy and expressive aromas with tobacco and leather. Developed, rich and masculine on the palate.
October 31, 2023 - Bordeaux 2000 & 2001 Horizontal (Piccolino, Exchange Square, London): Charming cool greenness to the nose here as well and some dark fruits and a little tobacco. With some air there are some Bakewell notes and a redder character to the fruits. Palate is tight on pouring but soon opens out and perhaps one of the most ready to go wines of the evening. Perfect DdC structure and lightness of touch. Fabulous.
October 31, 2023 - Neil's 2000 & 2001 Bordeauxs (Piccolino, London): Served single blind alongside the 2001, and correctly called. Dark red, with a sweet and succulent nose that includes bell pepper, cocoa, soaring cassis. The fruit stands out as juicy as well as a bit chewy, very moreish, largely cassis but I get some extra sweetness from some red fruit elements that raises the level here. This is beautiful wine that is singing this evening and in a perfect spot, simply lovely. Another WOTN candidate? Yes - I think this just pips it.
October 31, 2023 - Neil’s 2000/01 Bordeaux @ Piccolino: Single blind. Dense ruby. Very smooth and balanced. Classic mature Graves. Harmonious and long without scaring the horses. Quietly lovely. Very lovely. ?2000 ****1/2
October 27, 2023 - This bottle shows a little tightness and a bit closed! But remain smooth and fine in texture, just a little shy!
September 4, 2023 - Very Old School. Maybe a bit much. Finishes quite light and a little flat
August 3, 2023 - A great classic! In fine texture and full of flavours, still young in my view, with more than one decade of life left!