Pop n Poured from a 375ml and consumed over a 90 minute period. More similar to my most recent 2021 note. This might be fading a bit. Fully mature, silky, smooth, and resolved tannin. True to its St Julien roots. Drink up!
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, graphite, tobacco and cedar. Blackberry, currant, cedar, graphite, anise and tobacco notes are well integrated on the palate. A very long finish with elegant balance. Medium to full bodied. Drinking beautifully. Served with reverse seared filet mignon and hollandaise.
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Popped and poured, classic Margaux softness in a St-Julien where tannins have completed melted akin to silk. Deep colored no bricking yet on the light to medium body style. Evolved notes of tobacco, earth and some berries with a decent finish. Not the most profound. At peak where it should be enjoyed by 2030. Well made for the price at the time.
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Well cellared since purchase as a future. Decanted before serving. Classic Bordeaux nose of cassis, cedar, and tobacco. The taste is smooth as silk. But the finish is short. Drink up!
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Elegant, still has fruit and wonderful nose; however, the fruit drops and the wine becomes austere after a day probably due to its age. Recommend drinking with friends/significant others in one sitting.
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Dark ruby red, not a hint of brown at the rim. Dusty hints of eucalyptus and cedar, not much detectable fruit. Smooth as all get-out, medium-bodied, simultaneously mellow and tensile. Absolutely perfect with grilled lamb loin chops—surprisingly we were able to grill in early December in New England!
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The nose is still a little reductive to start but this blows off with a few minutes in the glass. This is still surprisingly a bit early on its arc of maturity and expands on the palate, offering a delectable, supple, sumptuous yet elegant raspberry, wild strawberry, and rose profile, buttressed by a little cedar. With tannins that are already civilized and a relatively short finish, it seems sensible to think about starting in on these in earnest in about 2-5 years and drinking them over the following 20 or so.
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Nice, elegant and refined. Last bottle of a case of 12, and probably the best. A bit tart when it was young, this wine is now fresh, not fatigued, and soft.
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Top class and elegant Saint Julien. Really hits the Bordeaux mark with lots of depth in a quiet way. Earth, night flowers, subtle licorice. Really pretty. Drink
Nez profond, cassis, encre, poivron rouge, pointe grillée. Bouche assez droite, avec de la structure, tanins de qualité, finale un peu stricte, cassis, fumée. Beau vin classique, manque un peu d'éclat.
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This showed relatively well at first, but sort of fell into the boring red Bordeaux category after the others (P-C, Armaihlac, Leoville) caught fire. Not a bad wine at all but very down the middle IMHO, quite tannic, and not interesting unless you're having it with skirt steak. Still youthful. EWG Bacari Silverlake
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In a great spot with everything you want in a 20+ year old Bordeaux. Dark fruit, tar, pencil, leather and still some tannin all in a nice balance with medium finish and some acidity to keep it together. Really well done.
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Dark red cherry fruit, with notes of pencil lead. Initial thought is that it is still young. Somewhat acidic on the palate and a bit simple. Frankly I was expecting more from this wine and vintage. Will it flesh out, or is this it?
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Old Bordeaux (10 years or older) (Capital Grille - Minneapolis): Another 2000 St. Julian wine drinking well....also still has plenty of fruit, but not quite at the level of the Talbot. Fruit seemed slightly baked and some alcohol on the palate...not sure if bottle variation or if this is heading downhill....still 90-91 points. Advice on drinking window reserved.
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Another 15 months since my last bottle and this is just as impressive. Wonderful typical left-bank aromas and palate. Enjoying this on its own but would certainly benefit form some fine food. Interesting to see my original tasting note from 12 years ago.
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Purple in color. 13% ABV. Soaring nose of red and black fruits, cigar box, graphite and wet earth. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity and balance. Soft and supple on the palate with nice balance. Currants, black cherries, tobacco and saline on the palate. The finish is long with prominent fine grained tannins. Really well made Bordeaux from a classic vintage. Best over the next 4-6 years.
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Pure classical left bank Bordeaux. Perfect condition, ripe purple fruit, moderate secondaries. Not particularly long or complex but satisfying. Drink or hold.
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Dark, intense ripe ruby red colour. Komplex nose, fine, elegant. The taste is great. Saint-Julien at prime for drinking. Intense Cabernet Sauvignon driven cassis, elegant, intense. Great wine. This wine is on this phantastic level since 2016. I would recoment to drink it now or till 2025. It is a Bordeaux on a high level. Enjoy it.
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Pronounced on the nose with black currant, black cherry, raspberry, mint, graphite, cedar, vanilla, smoke, clove, wet leaves, dried black currant, leather, earth and tobacco. Fully developed.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. High acidity, high fine grained tannins, medium plus body, medium alcohol, medium plus finish.
Can drink now but has potential for further aging. Lovely, elegant wine with more freshness than other 2000s from same tasting.
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Fully mature, medium-bodied, energetic, floral, and fresh, the red fruits express a spicy nuance that meshes perfectly its currant, wet earth, cedar, and cigar box, elegant character. Drink from 2022-2035.
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Dark magenta with bricking around the rim. Plenty of cedar, cigar box, reddish black berries and savory black olive on the nose. A medium-bodied palate shows crushed sweet-savory crushed red fruits, tobacco, medium acidity, gentle tannins and a medium cedar, floral tinged finish. Quite elegant and drinking well now.
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Decanted for 90 minutes. Blackberry, currant, tobacco, graphite, fennel, leather and some graphite. Development is mostly secondary, though, and it would be my preference to put off drinking other bottles until more tertiary characteristics showed up around 2030. Acidity is good, and so are the tannins. If one has the time to wait it out, this has the stuffing.
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Now firmly in it's drinking window this is a very pleasant wine from a great vintage. The nose is deep with blackcurrant and leather and is first rate. The palate is a little light and slightly vegetal, but well balanced and quite complex. The finish is excellent pushing 30 seconds.
From 375: Drinking at peak, but will hold. well balanced,but it's the lovely acidity that stands out. Finish goes on and on. Great wine in a great vintage.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of violet, blackberry, currant, tobacco leaf, graphite, anise and dried herbs. Black and red fruit, leather, graphite, anise and dried herbs on the palate. Very long, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with reverse seared Picanha and a red wine sauce,
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Pleasant wine, a bit shy, nose is complex but restrained, delicate palate, on the verge of being thin. good freshness, ok length. this is more intellectual than hedonistic. no hurry to drink.
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Nice fruity nose with some leather. My initial reaction was that I opened this wine too early because it was well balanced with nice fruit tannins and leather. Then the barnyard crept in and it started becoming acidic, then it mellowed, and 30 minutes later it was not good. So a great wine that you need to drink quickly.
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3rd time I have had this wine (the last being in 2012). The cepage is 70% Cab Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Purchased on futures for $28. Not decanted. The cork came out in one piece. Moderately sedimented. Very nicely aged Bordeaux at 23 years old. Notes of kirsch, tar and tobacco. Smooth tannins. Rich body and a lengthy finish. 93 points
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Interesting to read my 2 previous tasting notes from over 10 years ago. The decade has certainly helped the development of this wine and its a really lovely claret from nose to finish! Lovely cedar/cigar-box aromas - a swirl of the glass reveals some mature red fruits and some cooked cream (as daft as that sounds). It’s a beautifully classic Bordeaux nose! The mouthfeel has developed and is now quite silky. Tannin is very much still there but dusty and nicely resolved. Lovely long partially stewed fruit palate but still has some freshness. Blackcurrant but also I get a slight Black Forest Gateau element here (or am I mad?!?). This is great on its own but I think will be fabulous with food. Steak or Lamb would be the best but we have a nice roast chicken and I think this would go very well! It’s taken 20 years but I think it’s been well worth the wait!
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Opened and poured. Cork was in great shape. Hints of cedar, underbrush and mushrooms on the nose. Closed when first tasted but gradually evolved with understated ripe fruit and soft tannins. Pleasant finish. In the latter stages of its drinking window.
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Decanted about 30 minutes, plus slow O another couple hours. Pretty on the nose, with herbs and some green bell pepper/pyrazines. Very classic wine. Lean on the palate, without a lot of fruit, but at the same time this doesn't have any trace of iron, suggesting it has plenty of time left. Definitely a food wine. I enjoyed this.
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Clearly, this has entered its prime-time drinking window. Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, and refined, with a nice shot of red currants, black cherry, forest floor, cigar box, cedar, and mocha, the graceful finish feels just great.
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Very similar to my 5/2/2020 TN. Excellent cork. Decanted 90 minutes. Still took the fruit another 30 minutes to emerge from the cedar and tannins in the background, Still a lovely mature Bordeaux
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Our last half bottle and a very pretty one, especially after a good 30min decanting. Classic, leather , good healthy fruit and full of an old school charm. Very good and a very happy 90-91. Drinks at peak now for classic bdx lovers
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Bordeaux 2000 - 20 Years On - 48 Reds: All tasted blind, not decanted. Observations: 1) It´s a good vintage but not on par with more recent great vintages like 09/10/15/16. Why? A smaller group of top wines reaching lower highs and in general a tad less depth, purity and finesse. 2) Right bank is ready, the left bank still needs time to integrate and open up. 3) Not much tertiary aromas yet - peak drinking window at least 10 years away for most wines. 4) 2000 is a bit a cooler vintage which is great for the right bank (not too much ripeness). 5) Winners? Pomerol with the highest ratings. Le Pin (97+ pts) leading the pack for me (narrowly beating the consensus winner Pavie (97 pts).
More information, top and worst 10 lists, appellation rankings, out- and underperformer from five participants in the story link. As always, in such tastings (lots of wines, not a lot of time per wine, not decanted) the ranking of wines/appellations might be more informative than the scores.
TN: This bottle was its path to death. Others liked it a bit better but for me it was too extracted, with drying tannins and a lot of soy and broth notes masking everything else that might have been there (once).
Group average: 89.6 pts Group rank: 47th out of 48
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Grand Bordeaux 2000 horizontal tasting; 6/20/2021-6/21/2021: Grand Bordeaux 2000 tasting with ~60 wines from the vintage hosted by a private collector. All wines were poured directly from the bottle with no decant and served in flights of 4. As general observations I would highlight: 1/ Today the 2000 is, without a doubt, a right bank vintage with Pomerol the star, 2/ the vast majority of wines are still going strong with hardly any past their peak 3/ On the left bank, St Estèphe was most ready to drink with a lot of wines in a closed stage right now, 4/ On the left bank, 2nd to 4th growths were generally more open for business than the 1st growths which almost all closed, only hinting at their full potential. 5/ If you must open a left bank bottle, Margaux is the safest place to look. Complete scoring overview and additional commentary included in the tasting story.
Tasting note: Very ripe and borderline over-extracted fruit. Leather and wet earth and a bit of liquorice candy. Lacking balance with a greenish finish. There was not much to like here unfortunately.
Lots of iron, some sweet lush fruit, mineral, dried herbs, tannic, wood. This is pretty tight, but the fruit is softening. A well mature bdx, I wish it was more integrated, feels like the fruit is aging and the structure is still pretty young. Perhaps it will develop further. A bracing, rare steak wine.
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Double decanted an hour before dinner. Deep garnet core, with minimal bricking. A bit restrained on the bouquet, with scents of cassis, campfire, briar patch and earth; hints of black truffle, roasted herbs and cigar box. Medium bodied, firm but ripe tannins, with good depth. Long and focused finish. This bottle would have benefited from another hour in the decanter, or five more years in the cellar.
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My prior tasting of this wine in the past 15 months showed much better than it did tonight. Maybe bottle variation? Maybe I decanted it for too long (3 hours)? I smelled it right after I pulled the cork and the nose was glorious. Therefore, I wonder if I killed some of the fruit and quality by letting it aerate too long? Nevertheless, it was very good, but didn't hold a candle to the 2004 Montrose tasted a few wines before.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, cassis, anise, tobacco, graphite and spice. Black and red fruit, tobacco, graphite and spice on the palate. Long finish. Medium to full bodied. Drinking well. Served with grilled strip steaks and a horseradish cream sauce.
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Boom! This wine is delicious, fully mature, and was drinking fantastic after a 1 hour decant. This reminded more of a Pauillac than a St. Julien because it had some fat on it. Very similar to my tasting note posted on 12/31/19.
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Let it breathe in the bottle for 90 minutes. Beautiful bouquet of damp earth, dark fruit, & leather. Nice balance, elegant palate, firm structure. Flavors of black cherry and currant on a base of vanilla and gravel. Medium-full body and long finish with plenty of red fruit. Smooth tannins will keep this drinkable for at least another 2 years, probably more. I always love the red wine from this chateau.
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- Straight from the bottle, without decanting (the evening was thirsty as usual!). - Nose: Wow, that's a mature and jumping nose! Dark fruit in the core surrounded by tertiary aromas: foliage, forest soil and leather. Totally deep with pithy gravel notes as if you were standing on the fresh rainy terroir. After an hour in the glass, fir cones and sweet roasted coffee blend together. Also Cabernet spice and some ketchup become clearer and clearer. - Mouth: What a sexy melt (!), which again clearly emphasises the readiness of the 2000 vintage. Very beautiful, elegant body and the whole is driven by a complex aroma spectrum, a super acidity and a depth. Still present tannins, very little greenish but all in all super integrated. - Despite 20 years this stuff is still very fresh and great. This is a singing Bordeaux from the Left Bank (St. Julien).
95+P
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From 375:Mature claret drinking at peak. Some sediment thrown. Forthcoming nose leads to a palate redolent with cabernet and related fruit. good finish.
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Feminine and introspective, this wine exhibits the qualities of St Julien. Aged characteristics dominate including the aroma of band aids which is more consistent with scotch whisky. In the background, primary flavours of blackcurrant can be sensed. Slightly unbalanced with too much acid. 1/2 bottle. Riedel Bordeaux glasses. Drunk at 17 degC. At its best and estimated to stay so till 2040.
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super left bank spot on - still very young and vibrant - well integrated and long finish - gets even better with air - the nose is complex and dark fruit driven - the palate is not as "strong" as the nose - great wine, but will keep well for many more years to come
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This is reflecting the general trend of the good left bank wines from 2000 and is improving with every annual tasting. I feel it has finally moved into the beginning of its prime drinking window, but is still in a slow development and continues to improve. The hype of the year in general is really starting to be vindicated and I'm glad I had the patience to wait a couple of decades, and indeed there are a number of estates I will not venture to try for at least another 5 years. The nose is deep and expressive with blackcurrant, blackberry, and cedar prominent. It is still a little youthful and perhaps the palate is still over fruited, but it is an excellent drink easy on the mouth and with smooth tannin. The finish is lengthy and with decent depth. Even at this earlier stage the balance stands out as exceptional. I puzzle over reviews reflecting that this needs to be drunk now as it is in decline; to be honest I cannot see myself expressing this opinion for another couple of decades.
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Neither as interesting as the ‘05 or as boring as the ‘01 recently tasted. True, typical Saint Julien. Will drink for a few years. Solid but not special. (90)
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Decanted briefly and served. Lovely integrated palate of savory acid, dried herbs, oiled leather, and light tobacco with tannins quite biting and drying still. Enjoyable if you can get past the tannins and not sure it will improve from here.
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This is what mature Bordeaux is all about. Opened two hours, then decanted (lots of sludge) for another two hours. Dark but no brown edges. Whiffs of fine cedar, spicy cassis and some leather emanate from the glass. A little thick initially on the palate with lots of black currants, dried herbs and a bit of earth. Long, refined finish with melted tannins. Definitely at peak now! 91-92
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From 375: . Very ready to drink,but will last several more years. One sip and you know it's Bordeaux.Perfect with lamb steaks. Subtle,well balanced wine. Some sediment throwin but plenty of tannin left Good fruit and acidity. Pleasant fruity finish.
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I coravined the first two glasses last week, then opened the remaining 1/2 bottle yesterday for a glass, and gassed before drinking the last two glasses tonight. Notes are from tonight's glass. This is drinking very smoothly right now, with red current, cranberry, tobacco leaf and hints of sandalwood, lithe juicy acidity and smooth tannins. An elegant, restrained style of claret, that continued to develop complexity with air, where the tannins also clamp down on the finish. I think this needs another 5-10 years to peak, but I am not sure this will ever be a great wine.
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GVMQS le 21 Février 2020. Nez clairement Bordelais. Le vin est puissant et fin en même temps, bel équilibre, fait très jeune encore, bien aimé. Mon 3e favori mais de près avec le Mascarello et le Rougeard.
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Love this producer!! 30+ minute decant. Dark red color. One of the best noses out there. First Growth like. Wine is full of dark cherries, tar, earth, smoke, and that classic French terroir. Finish was medium and wine could have used more depth, but I’m nitpicking! Phenomenal!!
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With age, this wine had become very elegant, more Margaux than Pauillac so to speak. It is soft, fragrant, but still with a slight tartness/astringence. Would have expected more body in this "vintage of the century" - as it was considered at release. Still, a good wine. Three left.
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Sweet spot! Right now! I’ve had this in my cellar since release and it is drinking beautifully right now. Decanted for 1 hour and it kept getting better in the glass over time. I love fully mature Bordeaux. Tons of black licorice, sweet Virginia tobacco, red currant, spices and stuffed with goodness. Tannin has completely resolved and this is a silky smooth and lovely lady at the moment.
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Recent bottles have all been stunning! The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; popped poured and consumed over the course of 2 hours. A deep garnet with no bricking. Notes of blackberry, cassis, crushed stones, and hints of spice box. Medium bodied, seamless, with good concentration, a silky texture, and good grip on the long finish.
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Another great showing, with notes of dried cassis, blackberry, and earth, with hints of campfire. Medium bodied, silky texture, great depth, and a long, savory and focused finish.
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I have cellared these since release. This first day after a filtering and a 2 hour decant, cool fruit and medium body TIGHT with some fine tannin. Never opened, so I took it home and put it in the freezer. 2 weeks later I let it defrost and served it 3 hours later. It was still tight. The last glass was finally partially open and drinking great....This was torture. I can't open these for another 2-3 years.
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In a medium frame, classy and elegant, yet somewhat lush for a 2000. Good length too! Probably the best Branaire I've had. This is in its perfect drinking window and ready to go! Drink
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Another absolutely beautiful bottle of this wine... virtually identical tasting note to my last one of 2018, just tonight it was singing even more, with notes of barnyard, horse saddle, dark fruit, blue fruit, flowers, sweet spices and the full monty.... silky tannin and beautiful overall balance. The best bottle of my case so far. Love it.
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Tasted blind. Wow! Beautiful nose of blue fruit, earthy and animalic notes, texbook mature Medoc. Very polished palate, I was guessing Pomerol. Really competent wine, feels so youthful. Great showing of 2000, shows that this vintage really needed 20 years to come around.
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Decanted for one hour. Aromatic nose of violets, blackberry, blueberry, currant, graphite, cedar and forest floor. Black and blue fruit, graphite, cedar, licorice, forest floor and fine tannins on the palate. Very long, soft dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Drinking very well. Served with grilled Delmonico steaks and chimichurri sauce.
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Classic St. Julien example, spicy lots of cedar, cigar box, thymn, wood well integrated, at its peak but can go strong for another decade, no sign of over the top. Requires decanting, there was not a lot of sediment, airation of 4 hours is necassary to bring out the best, it keeps lingering on....
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30 minute plus decant. Dark cherry color. Classic Bordeaux nose filled with earth, smoke, and tar. Velvet on the palate with nice smoke. Could be deeper, but a tremendous wine!
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It is 2 years since my last tasting, and this has moved forward considerably and is starting to display secondary characteristics. However, contrary to some other reviews, I personally think that this has a development ahead of it and it will not hit its peak for at least another couple of years. It possesses a beautifully fresh nose of blackcurrant, blackberry, and cedar, which has a maturity in the aromas. The palate showcases the mature fruit, and the tannin is firm and well balanced. The finish is on the shorter side, and a little unbalanced and lacking depth at this stage. It needs a few hours of aeration; and also try to pour an hour before consuming, as it really comes to life in the glass with time.
Has really hit its balance since last year and is a complete joy. Rich and opulent, savoury, with a fine line of acidity to nurse things through to fine tannins. Length is perhaps a little short in context but this is a fabulous Claret
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initial glass before decanting and definitely tasting like older Bdx, acidic and almost sour. Poured rest into decanter and seemed to get much better although I got little of it as my friends sucked it all down. Wish one of them had a decent cellar for a change
Insane! Finally back to some proper wine after a holiday in Cornwall!
Just like my original review but I got a much better price! I popped and poured this one, but it should be decanted over an hour for both sediment and flavor. I was just in a rush due to bath night. I’ll definitely be buying more!
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From half bottle and probably the best one we have had so far ( Best so far Papies 90) No decanting and really a PnP. Pretty nose, classic with still a lot of fruit albeit the secondary phase of this wine has kicked in for some time. Soft leathery side, cedar and of course white pepper. very good. 91 and drink at will.
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The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; popped poured and consumed over the course of 3 hours. A deep garnet with no bricking. Notes of blackberry, cassis, crushed stones, and hints of spice box. Medium bodied, seamless, with good concentration, a silky texture, and good grip on the long finish. Much much better than a rather advanced bottle tasted a few weeks ago!
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The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine. Pale to medium garnet; bricking at the rim. Notes of dried plums, aged tobacco, forest floor; hints of soy and mushroom. Medium bodied, soft tannins, fully mature. This bottle seemed considerably more advanced than a previous bottle consumed 6 months ago.
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Slight bricking. Nose of dark fruits, tobacco and cedar. Tannins almost completely resolved. Dinner with Kathleen with need bourgignone. Perfect pairing. This is a perfect example of an aged Bordeaux but with little in the way of tertiary elements. Still have 9 left of a case I bought on futures at some ridiculously low price. No reason to hold but also no rush to drink.
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I originally thought I over paid @ £140, and probably did versus the market, but it was so worth it.
Very similar to Chateau Haut Brion. 45+ minute decant. Nose was balanced between French terroir and deep cherry fruit. Very rustic. Wine was complex with awesome texture. Deep fruit but coated the palate and was very gentle. Long finish capped it off.
Truly amazing!!!
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Mineral & iron. Tight red fruit. Chalky tannins and lemony acid. Styled toward the old school, classic side. Dried herbs. This still seems a bit young, could open up. I'll give it another few years before I try another.
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Half bottle and definitely needed a good 30 minutes to open up. We have had a few of these bottles and unfort quite a few had heat damage (our fault) but the good ones are now at peak post some decanting. Good old classic claret. 89-91 range
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Direkt vor dem Probieren geöffnet - Farbe: Schwarzrot. Konzentriert. Noch kein Braun. - Typische B Frucht. Intensiv. Auch noch kräftige Tannine. Säure etwas zu dominierend. Schöner Nachhall. Für ein ganz großen Wein fehlt Schmelz und noch längerer Nachhall. - Schön zu trinken. Könnte aber sicherlich auch noch ein paar Jahre liegen
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Popped, poured and consumed over the course of 3 hours. Purple-ruby core, turning to ruby at the rim. An expressive and complex bouquet, offering up scents of plums, blackberry, cigar box, black truffle, and bramble. Medium bodied, with a velvety texture, good depth and focus, with a long finish.
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Interestingly after only about 30 minutes of air we're into a very balanced and approachable wine. I'm thinking this is solidly into the drinking window, decent nose, good mid, with depth and acid to clean up the finish. Still plenty of stuffing for at least 10 years, but not sure what else would develop by waiting longer.
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Consumed over the course of two night, side by side with the 2001 Leoville Las Cases, this showed great class and poise, albeit in a slightly fleshier style than the Las Cases. Ripe red and black fruit led the way, and after some substantial air were joined by emerging tones of earth, seared cedar and dark spice. There are no signs of truly mature notes (e.g. old tobacco), but the wine is well balanced to head in that direction in several more years. This is in an early maturity window, where it makes for fabulous drinking, but is not yet up to intellectual contemplation. Give it five or more years to be ready for civilized conversation.
From memory: This took a little while to open, but when it did, it showed a complex mix of plum-skin toned fruit, spice, flora and damp earth with some crimson underpinnings. Impeccably balanced with resolved tannins and a lifted acidity; fruit profile is mid-life with no signs of wear. Broad-shouldered and straight-laced; this bears an open and honest view into everything it has to offer. While this is drinking remarkably well at the moment, there’s no harm in waiting another five years to access this.
Very Good to Excellent
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Second to last bottle of a case purchased EP. decanted just before dinner. Helenachuck’s note below is simply perfect, I have little to add. This is an elegant, well balanced wine with pleasing complexity and fine fruit. Plenty of life left, but no reason to wait unless you really like tertiary development; for my tastes, drinking beautifully now.
Deep ruby red color, opaque center, very clear and bright. Early nose is plums, currant, lead pencil, black licorice and complex spice. Clean and very appealing. The palate is deep and ripe fruit - plum and black current, sweet black cherry, hints of vanilla, floral notes. I am surprised by how young and lively this wine seems. It is in a great window, but has much more evolution to go. I drank others too soon evidently! After air, the wine tightens up and leans out a little bit. Really nice St. Julien in a good drinking space.
Consistent with last bottle 12 months ago. Decent but disappointing for a 2000. Poured into decanter and drank over 2h. Lacks stuffing IMHO. Elevated acidity, dark fruit. Medium (-) body. Short to medium finish. 90-91.
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Decanted for two hours under the first flight. This came after a Mouton Rothschild 1988 and held very much it's own in sense of firmness and structure. Very well done.
Very very dark berries, blackcurrant, cherries and cassis. This was almost a block of cassis, wow! Very much alive tannins. After an hour (now three hours open) it gave way to meat and tobacco but not much else (no autumn forest floor and moist leaves). This is a pure monster.
Drink now with atleast five hours in decanter or hold for 10 years.
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Our bottle was in lovely condition (we were married in 2000 and our marriage is in lovely condition). Rich in traditional Bordeaux tastes, with sturdy body and pleasant bouquet. Surprisingly little sediment. A perfect compliment to my foie gras. The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
From half bottle. Decanted for a good hour and highly advisable. This wine we feel will be a 90-91 for the next few years depending on bottle and mood. Very much the classic st julien we bought from a good vintage, no surprises here positive or negative, good fruit, good character and true to its style. Very pretty. 90-91
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The fruit is that of cassis, black currant, and black cherry. Has some savory herbs, olive tapenade, leather, cedar oak, forest floor, and subtle cigar and tobacco notes. Smooth tannins at this point, decent finish. Good but not great.
From half bottle. Decanted and served. This is now at a very good spot in its drinking window. Classic, old school, riper dark fruit with that St Julien juicy side, touch herbs and showing a few secondary touches. This was really pretty and a great intro into our case of 24 halves. more to follow! Very enjoyable 91
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Started humming after about 10-15 min in a large decanter, exhibiting classic St Julian notes of dark red fruit, some forest floor & tobacco and hints of graphite. Well rounded with smooth silky tannins and a very easy drink-ability factor. Really impressed with the over achieving showing considering the modest price. While i don't see this fading in the next half decade I am guessing that it's into the prime drinking window.
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Still very young tasting after several hours of decanting. A very lightweight wine with bright dark cherry hues. The perfume is subtle, but the most enjoyable element of this wine. Light tobacco, violets, and graphite on nose and a tartness on the finish. Probably could use another 10 years to soften and release more perfume.
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Un vin avec encore beaucoup de vie. Une très belle évolution à partir de l'ouverture. Différente saveur tertiaire avant de revenir sur des odeurs et des saveurs de murs et de réglisse.
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Popped and poured. This a medium-red wine with some minor sediment at the end of the bottle. On the nose, I get sweet red fruit, dark woods, blueberries, and hard wet granite. The mouth is mid-weight and balanced, with good fruit and a lush yet serious overtone, all culminating in a finish of dark fruit. Overall, this is nice. Yet it is somewhat reserved — the nose and wine generally opens beautifully with about an hour of air. So I would recommend decanting and observe that there are some good years left in this wine. For now, it is an enjoyable 2000 that does Saint-Julien proud. 91 points.
Pretty deep garnet/purple color. Needs a little bit of time to open up in the glass. Notes of barnyard, horse saddle, also some elegant dark fruit of cassis/black currant and black cherries, graphite, tobacco leaf, also some sweet spices and a touch of crushed flowers. It‘s medium+ bodied, dense but very elegant, has nice medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity adding nice freshness. Very good length. A beautifully ages Branaire that combines the classicism of the vintage with the perfume and elegance of the house-style. Still early in the drinking window but it‘s really beautiful right now.
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brooding colour-suspended in time from this great year complex with classic St julien blackcurrant, tapenade, herbs and cedary oak, touch of cigar box now imposing itself on the primary fruit lovely palate, dense tannins, rich mid, long savoury finish 20+ if cork holds
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Dark red in the glass, muted fruit nose. Well integrated tannins and fruit. Black and red fruit well represented but well blended in with just an end note of mild tartness to the berries. Doesn't quite have the feathery finesse, the cedar or the implied fruit power of the '90 Pape from earlier in the meal, but nonetheless a very nice wine. Should have a little time to run yet.
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Finesse rather than power. Wait and see for one or two years more, as there is still some tannin and a little tartness in the finish. Otherwise fine but not great.
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Wonderfully complex mix of dark berries and earthiness on nose, not overwhelming. Beautiful subtle cases with some vanilla and maybe just a touch of floral to my palate. Just a bit of tartness which just adds to complexity. Long finish. Not much experience with great older vintages, one to remember in my book.
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Deep, dark ruby color, red rim clear. Nose is varietal cab fruit, graphite, leather, hints of meat and anise, bottle age. Palate is cassis fruit, chalk, fruit leather, plum skin. The wine is taut, still a bit tart; good fruit but lean rather than rich, good cleansing finish. A good, classic style Bordeaux.
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Popped about an hour before pouring at a restaurant. Best bottle of this so far, wonderful complexity on nose and palate, beautifully balanced, fine, lingering finish. On its drinking plateau, but no hurry. P96.
A fine Bordeaux from a great year.
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Tilgjengelig rett fra åpning. Markant tobakkspreg, samt sedertre, i tillegg til flott moden solbærfrukt. Fast og harmonisk i munnen, med faste men modne tanniner. Solbær, tobakk, grafitt, sedertre og eksotisk krydder. Tåler fint noen år til.
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Mature, delicious! Tannins fully integrated with a 30 minute decant. Perfect color and clarity. Make sure you decant as there was enough there to ruin a glass or two. Very well balanced, on the feminine side in a good way. A touch of leather on the tongue. You could sip this all night or enjoy it with a meal.
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Still relatively young, this will improve with a little more time in the bottle. However, still approachable with time in the decanter, it possesses aromas of blackcurrent and cedar. The tannin is still a little coarse and on the palate the wine is herbacious. At present it is lacking depth and the finish is a little clipped. I will be interested to taste this again in a year's time as it clearly has good potential.
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Decanted for one hour. Nose of violets, currant, blackberry, graphite, tobacco, cedar and forest floor. Black and red fruit, graphite, coffee, leather and ripe tannins on the palate. Finishes with good length. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled pork tenderloin.
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Dark cassis fruits, cedar, sandalwood herbs, medium to full bodied flavors, firm structure and fine grained tannins. Chocolaty finish. Very good quality here.
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Decanted for about 45 min. A balanced but not big wine. Slightly elevated acidity. Medium body at best with dark fruit and some earthy notes. A 2004 Leoville Barton that followed had clearly more fruit. Would drink over the next years as this will not improve in my eyes.
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Medium red colour; the palate is elegant, with nicely mature fruit, somewhat light but with good length. Lacks a little concentration, but is otherwise very good.
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Solid wine but lacking fireworks. Typical deep 2000 garnet color. Nose has plum and black current fruit mixed with graphite and a touch of sandalwood. The palate is true medium weight Bordeaux. It lacks the depth and flavor saturation I would have expected. In addition, it's a bit simple and easy to read. Delicious but not singular. Very good for sure but I come away just a bit disappointed. Drink over the next 10 or 15 years. (90)
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Love this wine, love this vintage, love that I bought at futures for $29.66, sad that I am drinking my last bottle. Could not keep my hands off this bodacious beauty whose fleshy, rich and textured fruit just envelops the senses- ripe cherry and blackberry fruit, cassis, sweet smelling cedar and leather, milk chocolate, and clove spice and wonderfully balanced tannins that caress the mouth feel
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Quite primary, has the fruit and color of a 10 year old wine. Incredible nose, mostly fruit driven, hint of oak, just starting to mature. Palate is fleshy red fruit, dark cherry, raspberry, moderate complexity. Mid to full bodied, nice acidity and still fair but well integrated tannin. Good now, would suggest 5 more years. Got better over 2 days. Very good.
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tis bttl is somehow rather still on the primary side.pretty structure.long finishing,nice depth,lovely acidity support.on it has deep n complex nose.luv the elegance n integration of this bttl.i believe this bttl still able to develop more complexity in yrs to cm.most likely 6-8 yrs time.
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Bordeaux-themed Night (La Fleur Petrus) (Extra Space): Tasted blind. Poured into decanter and drank over 3 hours. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of sweet black cherries, blackberries, sweet spice, dark chocolate, smoke. Developing. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (13%), velvety fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of silky plush blackberry fruit, ripe black cherries, dark chocolate, sweet spices, red capsicums. Very long finish. Very very good quality. Balanced. Silky velvety elegance. Showing extremely well now. In drinking window and will go on to develop nicely over the next 5 years. Many of us were guessing this was the La Fleur Petrus (which was frankly a bit disappointing given the expectations).
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The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like espresso, light toast, meaty and prune. It tastes like lead pencil and meaty. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long.
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From 375: Deep nose gives way to a well balanced fruity palate with tannins still a little dominant. Very enjoyable now, but will repay further cellaring in spades! Big upside potential. 2000 is indeed a great vintage in Bordeaux.
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This is moving along a smooth path to maturity, acting in a very well-mannered way, as expected of Branaire. It displays little evolution in color, and the aromatics are still quite primary, except that the fruit is mellowed, though not muted. It has certainly emerged from the closed period, but other than a touch of cedar it shows little mature complexity. It's polished and moving slowly towards its apex. It is delicious with food (steak in my case), but if seeking the mature Bordeaux experience there is still a long time to wait.
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, graphite, anise, cocoa and spice. Black and red fruit, graphite, cedar and leather on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled sirloin steaks.
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Tad bit of oxidation on the nose. Some leather and lead pencil. Medium body in the mouth. A tiny bit astringent. Medium tannins. Round ... Needs a bit more acid. Short finish. Good but nothing special
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Deep color with a nice brownish rim. Broad nose filled with vanilla, horse, smoke and ceder. Medium to full body. The wine fills the mouth with pleaseure of a harmony and exclusivity. I was extreamly surprised. This bottle was totally diffeent from the other 5 drunk from the same case. I have been disappointed up to now, but this was great.
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Interesting wine. Very rich and deep on the attack, much more so than the average Branaire, but with a lightness to the second wave that bestows grace and elegance but which also prevents it from reaching loftier heights. Towards the end of the evening, tannins also became noticeable as the fruit faded. It's good, but not quite as good as I had expected it would be. The 02 is actually better at the moment, incredibly enough - and at half the price.
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Classic St. Julien, better than I expected. Initially tight, then got really good after about an hour decant, then started to fade a little with the tannins taking over. Went great with beef roast. Have another bottle and will try in a couple years.
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Takes a few hours decanting to show the cedar, herb, dark currants on the nose, palate is silky smooth at this point, though quite still primary in flavour tannins are well integrated at this point, medium finish quite enjoyable went great with a coq au vin
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Tasted next to the 2005. Open on the nose showing notes of cassis, liquorice, spices, eucalyptus. Fresh on the palate, good fruit, quite open. Nice tannic bite towards the finish. Generous and very well balanced. Not very long or intense finish, especially compared to 2010 and 2005. Drink or hold. 91-93
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So much improvement in 3 years. Bottle aroma on decant huge, but nose is not particularly strong. Balance is excellent, good fruit, long finish. Still plenty of tannin, not disturbing, but based on how well holding up give another 4 years before next bottle. Doing very fine for $33 bottle.
Upped review, with 5 hours open drinking really well even right now.
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Dark fruit, ink, herbs, pencil shaving and sous bois on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with mostly black fruit, mushroom and ink. A bit disappointing for this great vintage. It would benefit from a 2 hour decant.
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Sublime aujourd'hui ! Nez complexe en bouche il évolue par vagues successive d'une impressionnante longueur ! Pourquoi ai-je bu les autres bouteilles si vite ??��
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I suppose that the score may inch up once this wine is ready to strut all of its more elegantly defined plumes, but it is pleasant,very St Julien but a bit unbalanced at the moment. A hint of blueberry added to the wood, dark cherry, moist earth and admirably confined outlines , with a fairly lush mid palate feel and that woody, less expressive nose. Even after enough decanting, the wine did not move up to, for example, a Beychevelle level of sophistication, and I missed that extra St Julien artistry.
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Tasted next to 2000 Canon La Gaffeliere and 2000 Haut Bailly. Lovely nose, not as rich and succulent as CLG, more restrained and "classic". Red fruit, herbs, spices, tobacco. On the palate again less ripeness and generosity. Lots of structure and grip, slightly chewy. Fresh with good length. Drink or hold. 90-92
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Dark, nearly impenetrable cherry red. An intense nose dominated by fresh, ripe black currant and pencil shavings; forward, but delicious. Medium body, nicely concentrated; sinewy with velvety tannins. Great length. Not a complex wine, but extremely pleasing and in the best sense classic.
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Very tightly wound, big branaire. Black berry, lead pencil, forest cedar and flowers. Nice balance between tannins and sweet fruit. A little reticent on the nose but nice Long finish. Probably will peak in five to ten years.
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A fairly deep colour, with some maturity (brick colour); initially, this was elegant and stylish, with silky blackcurrant fruit and a creamy note; as the wine, developed, some earthy tannin became evident and it seemed to turn a bit rustic. Certainly very good.
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Popped and poured at restaurant. Ready to drink, though still on the upswing; no hurry to drink up. Nicely balanced, classic Bordeaux. Not a blockbuster, but an excellent wine for the dinner table.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose seemed oh so slightly corked to me. Barely showing some berries behind that mustiness. Took a taste on a flyer and was simple berries, linear, definitely not showing well compared to previous bottles. No rating as a result.
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Elegance, freshness, ripe fruits and soft, silky tannins bring this right where it needs to be at 16 years of age. With its classic Left Bank Bordeaux personality, the wine is filled with cedar, tobacco, blackberry and cassis, ending with a nice refined quality to the dark red fruits. This wine will easily remain at this level for another 10 or perhaps 20 more years.
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Green pepper and onion on the nose. Earth, leather, tobacco, some spruce, green pepper, some cinnamon and clove on the finish, with still good acidity and astringency. Will last for a while longer.
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PnP, perfect cork. Powerful nose, delicious if not complex. Wonderful pairing with Beautiful Wife's slow-cooked pot roast. Had me thinking merlot, more than cab, however.
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Opened for 2 hours, not decanted. Dark red & sombre. Full-throttle nose (classic Bordeaux, pencil lead, red fruit), taste a little closed, medium-length powerfull finish, a tad dryish. Drank with wild boar stew. Let this one sit yet some more, maybe two-three years.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, mocha, tobacco, graphite and spice. A black and red fruit core with integrated graphite, leather, spice and mineral notes on the palate. Leads to a long, soft finish. Medium to full bodied. Drinking well, but no rush. Paired with prime rib.
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Popped and poured. Initially disjointed but came together with 10 minutes in the glass (they were very nice glasses, I might add). Solid medium body, opaque, dark fruit flavors and just a touch of tannin. Excellent!
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Fairly dark colour; an elegant, mid-weight wine, with ripe blackcurrant and plum fruit, some fine-grained soft tannin and a harmonious structure. A slight lack of intensity towards the finish, but otherwise very good.
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A rather disappointing bottle as, although there is ripe fruit, the wine seems rather disjointed, with a somewhat hollow middle and a rather short finish. This is not typical: other bottles have been much better.
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Dark red; very lovely nice open nose, lots of fruit; power, a bit austere, very approachable, good tannins / grip; nice but limited complexity / variation, one-dimensional; nice long warm aftertaste
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Stunning wine - ready to go with 20 minutes of air. Fruit, earth, mineral and plenty of acidity to keep it fresh. Drying tannins so will go quite a bit longer but very, very good now.
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Slight signs of discolouration around the rim. Open and expressive on the nose with notes of cedar, spices, cassis fruit. Nicely textured on the palate with round tannins, good acidity, ripe and concentrated fruit. Savoury finish with very good length. Drink or hold. 91-93
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Darkish red/purple. The branaire 2000 is full of lively and vibrant young berry fruits. Dark raspberry, blackberry and cherry leaps forward on the expressive nose immediately after opening. Palate is flavorful yet weigthless displaying the essence of St. Julien, the effortless balance between power and elegance, between ripe fruit and acidic bite. Damn delicious but despite its youthfull flavors, there is no agressive backbone left and it seems quite smooth and not as long on the finish as i would ahve thought.
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Still pretty deep garnet/purple color. Aged nose of barnyard, horse saddle, dark berries (cassis, black currant), some flowers and a touch of tobacco. On the palate there are similar notes. It's medium-full bodied with still medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Long finish. This is still surprisingly young like many of the 2000s, very classic in structure and aromatics. A very pretty Bordeaux at the beginning of it's drinking window. I will probably give my additional bottles 2-3 years more in the cellar... (93+)
Just ordered two more of these and decided to check in, didn't enjoy as much as previous experience, takes about 2 hours for the toned currant, cigar, cedar and earth notes to really show, similar palate with nice acidity and smooth silky tannins, though there was a slight hint of heat on the finish
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Pencil lead and cedar on nose with hint of almond On palate, tannins are almost fully integrated with bright red fruit. Double decanted 3-4 hours before drinking Very little sediment other than on side of bottle
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Just a little young. Lots of iron and mineral, dark fruit with coffee and earth. Smoky with fine tannins. A nice dense Bordeaux, chewy with depth, classy but not special.
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Fairly deep colour; quite elegant, with smooth, polished fruit; youthful but quite approachable. The finish is somewhat restrained. Good, but not outstanding, and may be better in a year or two.
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Bottom line, this needs another year or two in the cellar, like other classified 2000s. Nice purple color. After decanting and swirling, nice, complex nose of leather and red fruit. Palate is a bit clenched. Patience is required and I think will be rewarded.
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Half bottle laid down for some 18 months in wine fridge finally popped it to end the weekend. Like the leoville from about 2 weeks back, starts imperceptibly. No nose, no fruit on the palate. Slight ash and gravel. About 45 mins later reawakens to dark cherry, tinderbox, leather, smoke, tar and blackberry, ending with that signature mineral streak and medium finish. Mid palate tannins very enticing. Still has time and possibly will drink even better in 2020.
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Finely crafted, strict St Julien restraint, yielding a warmer and potentially more complex wine in the next year or two. Solid mature oak, medium cherry, ash, earthy but elegant soil, and a sophisticated but not complex example of 2000 elegance and terroir.
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Bordeaux Tasting (Home): First accessed with the Coravin in May. At that time, I had been drinking mostly Pinots, and this Bordeaux blew me away with its contrast. On accessing again, all of the oaky vanilla notes were gone, the fruit was weak. Maybe I just didn't notice it as much since I've been drinking a lot of Bordeaux lately, or maybe 5 months of sitting in an argon bath ruined it. Still, it was the weakest of the 5 bottles in this tasting.
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Quite a deep colour; ripe, mature, blackcurrant and plum fruit; quite elegant on the palate, but not the most intense wine; a good, medium weight claret, which is probably at its peak now but should still keep well.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Nose of blackberry, blueberry, currant, pencil lead, licorice and leather. A dark fruit core combines with leather, graphite and gripping tannins on the palate. Leads to a medium to long, dusty, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Paired with filet béarnaise.
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Popped and poured, did not decant, perhaps I should have (noted that 5 years ago, bummed I didn't). Drank the bottle over 3 hours. Great color, some browning on the edges. This is consistent with last year, the wine has a really reticent nose, saddle leather, preserved blackberries and pepper. Was still much more tannic than I expected, and this is a 15 year old wine! I'm not opening another bottle for a few more years. Overall, quite consistent with my earlier notes. I really can't rate this wine higher than 88, and that's off from the Cellar-Tracker consensus. It's not provenance, I've held this wine since release in my own cellar.
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At a tasting with Pontet Canet 2001, 2004 and Léoville Barton 2001, 2003. Did not show too well compared to the other Chateaux. Lacking complexity, not great balance, medium length. It's not mediocre but I don't really see this getting much better.
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I'm sure this has more time to go but damn, it was drinking great when I popped it (last week). High toned, with incredible acid - this couldn't be further from California "meritage" or what have you. Impeccable balance, in a great spot right now (or at least my bottel was...).
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Bouquet of blackberry, black currant, blueberry, dried herbs, pencil lead, licorice, tobacco leaf and cedar. A soft, black fruit core with integrated notes of leather, black licorice and fine tannins on the palate. Leads to a dusty, dry finish with good persistence. Medium to full bodied and well balanced. Nice wine.
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It gave a very youthful appearance in the decanter. Lovely aromatics of dark fruits and hints of florals. Nicely evolved from my bottle of five years ago, it showed meaty and savory qualities, tobacco, with dark cherries becoming more pronounced after more time in the decanter. There are underlying tannins, but they are mildly noticeable, and there are cedar notes on the finish. Acidity is interwoven and created layers and freshness. Not a flashy wine, but a lovely lunch or dinner wine.
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Presents nicely. Dark blood red with good legs. Falls just a hair short of opaque. Only sign of age is barely noticeable lightening at the rim. Nose is mostly dried fruit and leather. Forest floor. Tannins have melted away nicely, leaving chocolatey fruit as the most identifiable taste component. Oak also in evidence, but not in a bad way. Very smooth and sleek, especially on the finish. In no danger of cracking up any time soon. I will rate this tomorrow, after it has had a chance to air a bit more in bottle.
Update: The wine has now been open nearly 24 hours. Nose showing coffee and melted chocolate now. A bit monolithic. This has really mellowed out on the palate. Still-strong flavors, but now even sleeker, sexier and more polished. I don't see this getting much better, but I don't believe it is in any danger of imminent decline. A very nice wine that should continue to be a good drinker for many years. 4-11-17-8: 90/100
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very dark almost black, red, without edge whitening. On the nose, cedar, leather, smoke, bacon, Cuban tobacco, a little paint in the background blackberries and cassis. On the palate: leather, tobacco, blackberries, a very elgante and balanced structure. Has a very harmonious despite the still strong but abraded tannins. Very good acidity which blends beautifully with the fruit.
Long finish of black berries, leather and cedar.
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Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas and flavors of currant, graphite, mocha, blackberry, blueberry and spice box. Leads to a long, velvety smooth, dry finish. Medium bodied. A very pretty wine that's drinking well. Paired with filet mignon and a red wine, boursin cheese sauce.
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Bordeaux Tasting (Private Residence (Miami, FL)): Medium body red with bricking on the edges. Bouquet of evolved dried red currants, sweet dough, good dose of pencil shavings, spice box. Palate echoes the bouquet with the addition of some oak and well integrated tannins. This wine is ready to drink and is a nice balanced and well crafted Claret.
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Nez grossier sur la cassonade et le bois brûlé. La bouche est moins unique, plus subtil que le nez le laisse penser, mais le tout manque de longueur et de corps. Décevant pour un vin de ce millésime.
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A nice bottle with lots more life ahead. Not quite as complexe as hoped. It came last out of 10 bottles in a blind tasting. However, the quality of wines tasted was quite high.
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Textbook claret: well structured, contains all the expected elements with no noticeable faults, but ultimately leaves one rather disinterested. It needs something to bring it alive. Time?
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Just a great bottle of Bordeaux, stunning. Nose of graphite, pencil shavings all around a dark fruit core, palate has a great mix of dark fruit, spice and mineral notes, relatively smooth palate with slight drying tannins only showing themselves at the very end still got 10+ years left
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Crustacean: complex spice, clove, dusty cinnamon, black fruits, leather, soft, aging well but a little light in mid-palate; should hold for 5 years+ but drinking well now. 91-92
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Magenta in color. 13% ABV. Soaring nose of blackberry, currant and just a hint of vitamin. Pencil, cedar, violets, cherry and earth on the palate. Great fruit, ripe tannins, integrated acids and an exceptional finish. Exceptional now and should show well for another 10 years.
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Dark red,perfect cork, drank over three hours. Blackberry,stones and cedar on the nose that continues on the palate. Tannins are soft and ready to go. Still has complex fruit and a moderately long finish. Good balance, and still has a long life ahead of it.
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Nice inky color, not getting much of a nose. I think there is enough fruit and middle to let this go a bit longer. Tannins are certainly still here, but not dominant. Finish is pretty long.
Just came back to the bottle after what 5 minutes, and now a very strong and pronounced vegetable/barnyard nose. This is the most what I would call bottle stink I have ever experienced. Will be interesting to see what comes in 2 hours or so.
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Wonderful, complex, deep, earthy - everything I look for in a Grand Cru. No sign of over-aging at 13 years (if only all our older French vintages had held up this well!)
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My wine of the night though it took 2 hours of air time in the bottle and an additional hour in the glass to showcase itself; therefore, still not really entering its drinking window yet; overall, 92-93 points for now; another 5 years of cellar time recommended.
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La Commanderie de Bordeaux: Les Cinq (Five Sails - Vancouver, BC): Once again a very pure expression of fruit on the nose showing plenty of ripe red cherry, coffee beans, and some vitamin C notes. This leans more towards the red fruit side of the spectrum with some lead pencil hiding in the background along with rich black currants. Plenty more lead pencil on the palate with lots of red cherries, black currants, as well as some spice and more vitamin notes. Tightly wound with drying tannins and in need of plenty of time in the cellar, although I'm not convinced of a great future by this showing. Very fresh and pure, but not much too it and not really my style at all. This fleshed out and gained some interest as it sat in the glass, but never fully came around to show much excitement. Very good-
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Beautiful dark ruby red, with charming nose of lead pencil, earth, purple fruits, licorice, and touches of cigar and oak. Needed a bit of time to open up. When hitting the palate, there's funky black fruits, chocolate, burned vanilla, spice and minerals. Tannins are noticeable, but very fine and sweet. Medium length finish with sweet plum, tobacco leaf and spice. Classic, rich mouthfeel. Solid structure, great balance and very smooth.
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I found this wine closed, with a green vegetable side taste, a long finish, but off center into a slightly acidic direction. Despite some efforts, I could not taste the balance and elegance described by other tasters, appart from Soyhead who seems to have shared my experience.
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Drinking really well now. Perfumed nose of purple flowers and saddle leather. Palate explodes with energetic blue and black fruit, nice tension and resolved tannins. Going to be hard to keep my hands off my remaining bottles.
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Misc Bordeaux (Frederiksberg): Restrained black currant fruit on the nose which remains sharp and clean. Watery black currant fruit flavors with a slightly too dry aftertaste but still a solid wine.
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Violets, vanillla, blueberry jam and creamy raspberry pie. This wine is in its prime -- wonderfully smooth tannins, lush and oppulent. This wine screamed blueberry jam, but in sort of a sexy, smooth way. I suspect that those that didn't find it "very open" or fruity didn't decant long enough. I loved it....
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Lighter fruit, earthy and ashy but still smooth with no bite, drinking well. This wine finished 3rd in a 5 person blind tasting of 5 other aged Bordeaux. 1st 2003 Croix de Labrie, 2nd 2004 Ponte Canet, 3rd 2000 Branaire Ducru, 4th 2000 Haut Bailly, 5th 1999 Lynch Bages and 6th 2000 Gazin.
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Offline with Hawaii Wine-O's; 11/9/2012-11/10/2012 (Haggis Home- Honolulu): Opened at the Hawaii offline. 2nd time I have had this wine. Last time was in 2003 and it was better than before. Lead pencil shaving aromas. Mocha, berry and cedar notes. Solid tannins. Smooth and long finish. Starting to really come into it's own. 93-94 points.
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Translucent crimson. Pure blackcurrant nose well-complemented by a honey element. But flat, short, and monochromatic in the mouth. I'm not sure where the structure went here.
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Vibrant red and black fruit explode from the glass suggesting this bottle was not 12 years old. The terrior of bordeaux is present, and the quality of the 2000 vintage is evident. Everything is here and in the right place.
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Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of potpourri, perfume, spice and mixed dark fruits. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and plums. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air (had roughly 90 minutes by the time I got to it) or continue to hold. No rush on this wine.
This wine was definitely drinking about its' pay grade this evening. I might even go WIML94.
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This is drinking quite well, but there is still some tannin on the finish so it may improve further. Even so, it has fine, well balanced and elegant fruit; soft and velvety. A fine claret by any standard.
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The old adage about only being great bottles of wine is proven by this bottle. Had same wine from same purchase a few months earlier and it was ok but not great. This one was truly delightful. Dark red, viscous, sweet expression of fruit on nose. Palate was superbly balanced, lovely fruit, soft tannins, integrated acids, rewarding finish. A lovely Bordeaux.
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Decanted and drank over 5 hours. Young, fairly tight nose of dark fruit, tobacco and leather. The palate was very primary with deep dark fruit, earth and some tannin. Silky and round in the mouth and a medium finish. This is nice and believe it needs more time.
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I have normally found this better than Ch Clerc Milon 2000, drunk recently, but not on this occasion. There is certainly depth and concentration to the wine, but also a slightly green, woody edge to it, although this did diminish with time. Very good, but we have had better bottles.
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Truffle, tobacco, smoke, cigar box and cassis are found in the nose. Polished, round and filled with juicy, red and black fruits, with ripe tannins, give this another few years and enjoy it for at least 15-20 more years.
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The fill was into the neck and the cork was sound; opened about an hour before dinner and consumed over the following two hours. A youthful appearance with no obvious signs of age. An expressive bouquet, but still on the primary end of the spectrum, with notes of ripe dark fruits (cassis and a bit of plum) flower, and hints of gravel. Medium-bodied with a lovely texture, good balance and depth, and a long and structured finish. I think this will develop more complexity over the next decade or so.
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Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for 2.5 hours. Nose is a beautiful blend of blackberry, black currant, leather, and violets. Tart dark fruit, silky tannins, and minerals lead to a dry, smooth finish. Medium bodied with a medium-to-long finish. Well made and well balanced. I'm interested to see how this matures, and if it will gain some body. Paired well with Greek tenderloin.
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Decanted for about 1 hour, but it did not need that much airtime. Intoxicating nose of cassis, earth, minerals, leather, forest floor and oak. Medium bodied with a silky smooth texture, excellent balance with no sharp edges and a nice medium +, fruity finish. While not a blockbuster, this is a very good, textbook example of a mature St. Julien. 92-93
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Subdued red fruits, leather, the tannins have melted and the acid structure is intact for medium body and smooth and fairly long finish. With the edgy tannins out of the way, the question is the direction. Will this pick up some weight, or has the fruit has already begun to fade? I'll check back in 5 years or so, but I'm really wondering if it will last much longer than that. I drank this alongside a 2000 La Croix St Georges, which was fuller and more fleshed out.
Very well-made, with a focused nose displaying cassis, wet earth, a hint of tobacco and leather. The palate is smooth, with ripe tannins and no hard edges. But the wine seems to me to be a good 4-5 years before its prime and deserves more cellaring to build more of its secondary aromas. Drink from 2015.
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Fine blackcurrant fruit, discreet oak, with hints of spice and coffee; fairly intense and elegant, with good balance. We recently had also Ch Clerc Milon 2000, and this is a step up.
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Thought I'd give this wine another run out and must say the same level of disapointment as previously. Just don't get it!....heralded vintage, OK not so much now in light of 05, 09, 10 but having enjoyed other less heralded ones, I thought this would be a good bet....or at least show signs of it. This is just a pretty weak claret with no charm. Got 4 bottles left and on this showing I am tempted to sell them on........I think the 07 is actually more enjoyable at present!!!
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Mature St Julian, soft background cedar, violets, fragrant, sweet cassias and earth/mushrooms. Nice tartness, tannins are silky. Good 30 sec finish. Would say drinking well now and this bottle had more life in it.
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D: Varmare/sötare doft än övriga viner i provningen. Mörk frukt och fat. S: Kraftiga, torra tanniner, hög syra. Känns ung. Doft och smak är verkligen olika!
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Pnp then decanted and consumed over 3 hours. Lovely if reticent nose of black cherry and oak. Full and immediately powerful on the front palate, plum with depth, red/black cherry on the midpalate as a very coy green(slightly vegetal?) note moves through quite nicely, with mild oak omnipresent. Slightly drying tannins that are well hidden. And the finish, oh my. Long gripping finish of dried cherry, dried strawberry, with florality, that lingers, even after a drink of water. Unfortunately this wine could not stand up to food of any kind, acid laid bare the alcohol while sweetness of any kind flattened the wine squeezing any life out of it. If you can't enjoy St. Julien with duck and blackberry gastrique, well, something is wrong. On it's own this wine is solid A material. Due to balance issues, B+/A-. Will continue to improve though.
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My bottles have been stored at 54F since they were released to me. The tannins have receded significantly, but this bottle showed lots of acid and it is nowhere near ready to drink IMO. The '95 Smith Haute Lafitte drank yesterday as well, was drinking great !
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Vibrant purple color with slight ruby hue on the rim. Very attractive nose, floral with an abundance of blackberry, black currant, ripe blue berry, lavendar, vanilla chocolate and cedar aromas and a bouquet of spice, almond and cigar box. Full body. On the attack, blue berry and sour cherry show up very well with lots of blackberry and currant. Still young, needs time to open up more. Acidity is a bit high, which throws the wine a little off-balance on the middle palate. A solid backbone along with some ripe tannins. Medium finish. Acid dominates the finish with some soft tannins and fruits opening up showing cherry and plum components. Solid effort from Branaire but falls a little below my initial expectation with some really high critical acclaim. 91 points.
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this had an odd smell upon opening, however it softened as it sat in the decanter. all around very light but with a long finish with raspberry and licorice.
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The younger end of a smallish vertical tasting of Branaire Ducru started with the 2000. Didn't take specific notes but overall impressions were of a closed wine with primary fruit and unresolved tannins. Reinforces that my palate preference in Bdx is wines with plenty of age on them. Also, I was somewhat surprised by the monolith that was all of the Branaire vintages from 00-05, even lesser years like 02 and 04. I felt hard pressed to distinguish significant differences among them. The 03 is probably most approachable (02?). The 00 and 05 should sleep for another decade.
Very dense and primary, perhaps slightly closed right now showing some deep cassis and black cherry fruit around a spine of firm tannins. There's a sense of real power and weight here and the balance is very impressive, but it's not yielding much right now.
Still young. Elegant and very typical St Julien. Nose was slightly open and well integrated with terroir-palate had blackberries and elegant fruit. I am hesitant to give it a full rating until the promise of the 2000 vintage delivers. I would wait until 2012 or more.
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There was nothing in the two 2000 Bordeauxs we had with dinner this evening that dissuaded me from my belief that the 2000 Bordeaux vintage may be the best overall vintage I have experienced in my lifetime. I've been saying that now for some time and the 2000 Branaire and Pontet Canet confirmed that viewpoint this evening. The Branaire was stunning. Talk about the velvet glove, the combination of elegance and power. Drinking so wonderfully now, but it has many, many more years ahead of it... at least another two decades. It was seamless, with no rough edges from the moment it was popped and poured. I know many things changed between 1982 and 2000, but, damn it, this reminded me of the 1982 Branaire I've had a couple times. I refuse to get into any sort of over-analysis as to whether this wine was modernized, parkerized, internationalized, etc.... All I know is what my senses told me, that this black-berried, black-cherry beauty was just pure velvety, quintessential St. Julien. What a lovely wine! Beautify ruby color that provided a lovely contrast with the deep purple of the more rugged Pontet Canet. They are making a good product here, but that is not earth-shattering news. So, to answer blanquito's question from a couple days ago: In my opinion, Branaire is no fluke, they truly are reaching to that next level of quality in Bordeaux. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. A very classy wine.
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Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of talc, potpourri, black cherries and black berries. Flavors of black cherries, black berries, plums and a hint of currant. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold into the medium term easily.
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Very dark black purple red no fading. Nose closed (wine was a little cool at cellar temp.) Nice plummy fruit with toasty oak and buttressed with soft tannins. Lovely wine that still needs 5+ more years to open up.
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Popped and poured a half glass and then decided it needed to be decanted. Lovely aromas and flavors of cassis, graphite, earth and oak. Creamy, rich, medium-bodied mouthfeel with excellent balance, sweet fruits and a fruity persistent finish. Still rather young with firm tannins and bracing acidity. This is going to improve with cellar time, but is a very tasty bottle of wine right now.
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Great aromatics; one of the most vivid expressions of graphite I've ever smelled in a wine with cassis, cigar smoke and cedary accents. Right in my zone as far as young Bordeaux goes with a great combination of fruit and other savoury graphite, tobacco and earthy flavours on a frame that's medium bodied, nicely structured with a spine of grainy tannins and bright acids and really well balanced.
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Dark red. Complex aromas of roasted cherry, minerals, oak, smoke, and black fruits. Super ripe fruit but boarding on over ripeness. Soft and elegant. A classic style structure with accessible tannins. Long smooth and satisfying finish.
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Eldon Dumps His Bordeaux (Wine Cellar Club, Irvine, CA): Young somewhat tight nose showing violets, beef blood and chocolate. Tight with young fruit and feeling a bit disjointed. Thick tannins. Really in need of time and air. Hard to read today.
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A first taste of one of my favourite wines from a highly rated vintage. I must say I am a bit disappointed!....I am sure this will be a great wine one day but it is un-balanced and un-resolved at present. Having drunk the 1999, 1997 and 2003 before I was hoping for the elegance of the 90's bottles with a bit more of the body of the 2003. This is a tad light at present and the core of the fruit missing a little bit of sweetness.....starting to come together a bit after 6-hours of breathing . I daresay this will be great but going to leave my 5 remaining bottles a few years!!
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Bordeaux 2000 - blind tasting: This took a while to come around but gained momentum toward the end of the night. Brawnier than the other 4 (see Bordeaux 2000-blind tasting), rich nose of dark fruit minerals, smoke and hint of oak. Still lots of tannins-great steak wine right now. 93 My #2, Groups #5.
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Immature but with potential. Opened 3 hours and poured out one glass. Did not open up all night. Tannins are softening and some excellent background taste of graphite and fruit but we will not see it for 5 plus years. Little sediment in bottle. Put it away and forget it.
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I should know better than to drink this wine too young. This wine had incredible fruit as an infant - it is now morphing into a more mature wine but what seems to be a glacial pace. There is plenty of fruit still but it is lurking - the tannin is ever present and gives a persistent long finish. Ok, this wine is not a LLC nor even a Ducru Beaucaillou - but it has the St. Julien pedigree and it simply needs more time to really show its full potential. I need to hide what I have left for another 5 years plus....
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after 2 hours airing this was beautifully fragrant with red berries,sweetness and lift-it had a full attack with smooth silky tannins and some pepper with an elegant 30 second finish.This is drinking beautifully now but with many years left ahead of it-fantastic!
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This bottle was incredible. We decanted for about 1.5 - 2 hours. This is definitely at the beginning of its drinking window. Berries, earth and some tobacco on the nose. Plenty of complex fruit...blueberries and blackberries. Nice subtle earthiness and soft tannins. Full mouthfeel but not over powering. Long finish. Fantastic wine.
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Bordeaux red; nose: Leather, pencil; well structured, round, full-bodied but not heavy, perhaps a bit flat lacking excitement; still quite some tannin; good long aftertaste. Quite good
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Dark ruby, with scents of fresh tobacco leaves, cοcοa powder, and wild cherries. Med to full on the palate, with flavors of berries, dark chocolate, espresso coffee, oaky vanilla and spices (esp. clove). Still very young and promising, with high level of acidity and vibrant tannins. Very long aftertaste. A very nice St. Julien to drink absolutely!
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Bottle was open for about 1.5 hours before we started drinking it, but I did not decant, perhaps I should have. Great color, but an elusive nose, was more tannic than I expected. Will wait a couple more years before opening the rest.
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2-hr double decant. As compared to prior bottles this seemed tired or muted, or possibly it just couldn't stand up to a side-by-side with the 2003 Cuvee du Vatican CdP Sixtine.
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Took a taste, thought about decanting and decided not to. It was delicious with everything I love about Bordeaux. A smoky, tobacco filled nose, dark fruit on the palate with a finish that never ended. Excellent choice with filet mignon and sauteed hen of the woods on Mother's Day.
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3-hr decant. A dark purple wine. Copper, flowers, wintergreen, and dark fruits on the nose. A food-friendly palate of medium-weight, pure berries and tart cassis, finishing with a chorus of fresh fruit. Perfect pairing with grilled lamb chops and a mint garlic yogurt sauce; it's like it was made for the fat of that lamb.
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2-hr decant. Still very purple, with a great bouquet of blackberry, redwood, cedar, and coffee. Not quite full-bodied, but certainly established, the flavors mirror the nose, plus currant and chocolate, ending with a breath of bubblegum. Each element expresses itself well in its place.
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Wonderfully balanced fleshy smooth red and black fruited beauty. All the best characteristics of Saint Julien promising nose of vanilla this seamless classic is luscious in the mouth and has a long lingering velvet finish.
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Decanted for 2+ hours and never really opened up. You could tell some good things were brewing below the surface, but this wine never showed it's personality this night. It followed a 03 Loire cab franc that was superb, so that didn't help.
Tried rest of bottle (1/2 glass) 2 nights later and it has really blossomed into a full bodied, hedonistic bordeaux. This wine should last a long time in cellar. I guess we didn't decant long enough on night 1.
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Decanted for 1 1/2 hours. Somewhat muted, mellow nose. Berry, plum, other red fruit on the pallet. Firm, unobtrusive tannins are well integrated. Nice special occasion wine to pair with french cooking. Paired beautifully with crusted rack of lamb.
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Expansive aromas of blackberry, black plum, cassis. Firm tannins, and a finish that goes on and on. Just beginning to come around I think, and it needs time to integrate. Showing some wild blackberry, plum flavors, but it is holding back. Try again in 5-10 years.
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Once again I agree with Parker’s description and rating of this wine. It is early in its life and will continue to improve for many years. Wait at least 5 years before trying it again.
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The easy to find aromatics offer chocolate covered, black fruit and spice. Similar in weight to the 03, but different in style, this finesse filled St. Julien needs a few more years until its ready for prime time drinking.
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Closed at first this wine opened nicely with decanting. The nose shows dark red fruits with notes of licorice, spice and bakeshop. The palate has ripe, round fruit that is in great balance with the sweet, firm tannins. Should be a repeat of the '82.
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Dinner with friends at Vin Perdu. This was opened and decanted about an hour and a half before pouring. Started initially with lots of tannins and black coffee notes, but after a few minutes in the glass the black fruit began to shine through. Still needs time in the bottle or a long decant if tasted now. Upside potential.
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This is not ready by any means come back in 5-7 years and should last for another 10. Nose is extremely attractive. Mid-palate has substance and layering while finish stays in the throat. Needs about 2-3 hours of air time right now 'wake' it up. Just needs time.
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Consumed a bottle with Jared. Needed an hour to open. Dense raspberries on the nose. Lots of structure and a fair bit of tannin. Quite ripe. Will be very nice in the future. This was more closed down than the first bottle.
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Tasted at the Union des Grand Crus trade tasting. Has alot going for it: fine tannins, nice balance, silky texture. The fruit is just a bit on the sour/tart side. Could certainly smooth out with time and become really special. Excellent value at $29.
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Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux (2000 Vintage) (Intercontinental Hotel Chicago): The cepage is 70% Cab Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Nice dark red color. This had a sweet candied fruit nose with rasberries predominant. On the palate I noted tobacco, plum and anise. This was a well integrated wine with a long finish. 91-93 points.
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4/21/2024 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Pop n Poured from a 375ml and consumed over a 90 minute period. More similar to my most recent 2021 note. This might be fading a bit. Fully mature, silky, smooth, and resolved tannin. True to its St Julien roots. Drink up!
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3/2/2024 - hoservin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, currant, graphite, tobacco and cedar. Blackberry, currant, cedar, graphite, anise and tobacco notes are well integrated on the palate. A very long finish with elegant balance. Medium to full bodied. Drinking beautifully. Served with reverse seared filet mignon and hollandaise.
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2/25/2024 - Ara Kafafian Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured, classic Margaux softness in a St-Julien where tannins have completed melted akin to silk. Deep colored no bricking yet on the light to medium body style. Evolved notes of tobacco, earth and some berries with a decent finish. Not the most profound. At peak where it should be enjoyed by 2030. Well made for the price at the time.
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2/21/2024 - Winer1956 wrote: 90 Points
Well cellared since purchase as a future. Decanted before serving. Classic Bordeaux nose of cassis, cedar, and tobacco. The taste is smooth as silk. But the finish is short. Drink up!
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1/3/2024 - K&J Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant, still has fruit and wonderful nose; however, the fruit drops and the wine becomes austere after a day probably due to its age. Recommend drinking with friends/significant others in one sitting.
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12/2/2023 - Twowinechicks Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby red, not a hint of brown at the rim. Dusty hints of eucalyptus and cedar, not much detectable fruit. Smooth as all get-out, medium-bodied, simultaneously mellow and tensile. Absolutely perfect with grilled lamb loin chops—surprisingly we were able to grill in early December in New England!
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10/8/2023 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
The nose is still a little reductive to start but this blows off with a few minutes in the glass. This is still surprisingly a bit early on its arc of maturity and expands on the palate, offering a delectable, supple, sumptuous yet elegant raspberry, wild strawberry, and rose profile, buttressed by a little cedar. With tannins that are already civilized and a relatively short finish, it seems sensible to think about starting in on these in earnest in about 2-5 years and drinking them over the following 20 or so.
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8/26/2023 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice, elegant and refined. Last bottle of a case of 12, and probably the best. A bit tart when it was young, this wine is now fresh, not fatigued, and soft.
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5/18/2023 - Purple Tooth wrote: 93 Points
Top class and elegant Saint Julien. Really hits the Bordeaux mark with lots of depth in a quiet way. Earth, night flowers, subtle licorice. Really pretty. Drink
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5/16/2023 - steko78 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nez profond, cassis, encre, poivron rouge, pointe grillée. Bouche assez droite, avec de la structure, tanins de qualité, finale un peu stricte, cassis, fumée. Beau vin classique, manque un peu d'éclat.
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5/7/2023 - peternelson Likes this wine: 90 Points
This showed relatively well at first, but sort of fell into the boring red Bordeaux category after the others (P-C, Armaihlac, Leoville) caught fire. Not a bad wine at all but very down the middle IMHO, quite tannic, and not interesting unless you're having it with skirt steak. Still youthful. EWG Bacari Silverlake
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5/6/2023 - Sperls Likes this wine: 93 Points
In a great spot with everything you want in a 20+ year old Bordeaux. Dark fruit, tar, pencil, leather and still some tannin all in a nice balance with medium finish and some acidity to keep it together. Really well done.
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4/30/2023 - JCGuthrie wrote: 91 Points
Dark red cherry fruit, with notes of pencil lead. Initial thought is that it is still young. Somewhat acidic on the palate and a bit simple. Frankly I was expecting more from this wine and vintage. Will it flesh out, or is this it?
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4/30/2023 - I'd Rather Be Drinking Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Old Bordeaux (10 years or older) (Capital Grille - Minneapolis): Another 2000 St. Julian wine drinking well....also still has plenty of fruit, but not quite at the level of the Talbot. Fruit seemed slightly baked and some alcohol on the palate...not sure if bottle variation or if this is heading downhill....still 90-91 points. Advice on drinking window reserved.
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4/30/2023 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux 2013 and Older (Capitalle Grille, Mpls, MN): Very dark red plus color. Unknown prep; drank a small glass over an hour plus. High toned palate, blackberry liqueur, dense, woodsy, sharp, tobacco leaf, firm tannins with some heat noted. Where's it going? Not sure.
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4/13/2023 - darrenhe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another 15 months since my last bottle and this is just as impressive. Wonderful typical left-bank aromas and palate. Enjoying this on its own but would certainly benefit form some fine food. Interesting to see my original tasting note from 12 years ago.
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3/31/2023 - edjBoca Does not like this wine:
stewed fruit ....doesn't smell or taste like bordeaux.
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3/28/2023 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pop and pour. Delicious saddle leather and earth. Going strong.
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3/24/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: flawed
Oxidized.
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3/12/2023 - Tree512 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Great wine in a great place. Loads of fruit, great balance, big but resolving tannins, classic left bank Bordeaux.
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2/17/2023 - Ash in Hermosa Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still needs time. Mid tannins. Recommend 1hr. breathe.
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1/30/2023 - tomlee wrote: 92 Points
Purple in color. 13% ABV. Soaring nose of red and black fruits, cigar box, graphite and wet earth. Medium to full bodied with perfect acidity and balance. Soft and supple on the palate with nice balance. Currants, black cherries, tobacco and saline on the palate. The finish is long with prominent fine grained tannins. Really well made Bordeaux from a classic vintage. Best over the next 4-6 years.
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1/25/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 92 Points
Branaire Ducru Vertical (The Market Brasserie at the Intercontinental at the O2, London): Obviously a year or two younger than the 1996 it was served with. There is a little sweet / tart lift that reminds me of a peeled tomato alongside the tobacco and sandalwood. With time there is a little lime zest lift and a tiny spot of marzipan on the finish.
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1/7/2023 - Tree512 wrote: 91 Points
Pure classical left bank Bordeaux. Perfect condition, ripe purple fruit, moderate secondaries. Not particularly long or complex but satisfying. Drink or hold.
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12/27/2022 - Flatrate Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark, intense ripe ruby red colour. Komplex nose, fine, elegant. The taste is great. Saint-Julien at prime for drinking. Intense Cabernet Sauvignon driven cassis, elegant, intense. Great wine. This wine is on this phantastic level since 2016.
I would recoment to drink it now or till 2025. It is a Bordeaux on a high level. Enjoy it.
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11/1/2022 - Irish_Wine wrote: 94 Points
Deep garnet.
Pronounced on the nose with black currant, black cherry, raspberry, mint, graphite, cedar, vanilla, smoke, clove, wet leaves, dried black currant, leather, earth and tobacco. Fully developed.
Pronounced and dry on the palate. High acidity, high fine grained tannins, medium plus body, medium alcohol, medium plus finish.
Can drink now but has potential for further aging. Lovely, elegant wine with more freshness than other 2000s from same tasting.
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11/1/2022 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Fully mature, medium-bodied, energetic, floral, and fresh, the red fruits express a spicy nuance that meshes perfectly its currant, wet earth, cedar, and cigar box, elegant character. Drink from 2022-2035.
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9/12/2022 - Collector1855 wrote: flawed
Crumbly cork, oxidized
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7/13/2022 - devraj Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dark magenta with bricking around the rim. Plenty of cedar, cigar box, reddish black berries and savory black olive on the nose. A medium-bodied palate shows crushed sweet-savory crushed red fruits, tobacco, medium acidity, gentle tannins and a medium cedar, floral tinged finish. Quite elegant and drinking well now.
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6/4/2022 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Decanted for 90 minutes. Blackberry, currant, tobacco, graphite, fennel, leather and some graphite. Development is mostly secondary, though, and it would be my preference to put off drinking other bottles until more tertiary characteristics showed up around 2030. Acidity is good, and so are the tannins. If one has the time to wait it out, this has the stuffing.
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5/13/2022 - djhammond Likes this wine: 93 Points
Now firmly in it's drinking window this is a very pleasant wine from a great vintage. The nose is deep with blackcurrant and leather and is first rate. The palate is a little light and slightly vegetal, but well balanced and quite complex. The finish is excellent pushing 30 seconds.
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5/8/2022 - melzar wrote: 93 Points
From 375: Drinking at peak, but will hold. well balanced,but it's the lovely acidity that stands out. Finish goes on and on. Great wine in a great vintage.
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4/30/2022 - hoservin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of violet, blackberry, currant, tobacco leaf, graphite, anise and dried herbs. Black and red fruit, leather, graphite, anise and dried herbs on the palate. Very long, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with reverse seared Picanha and a red wine sauce,
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4/25/2022 - NickNYC Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pleasant wine, a bit shy, nose is complex but restrained, delicate palate, on the verge of being thin. good freshness, ok length. this is more intellectual than hedonistic. no hurry to drink.
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4/6/2022 - Jmac56 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice fruity nose with some leather. My initial reaction was that I opened this wine too early because it was well balanced with nice fruit tannins and leather. Then the barnyard crept in and it started becoming acidic, then it mellowed, and 30 minutes later it was not good. So a great wine that you need to drink quickly.
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2/11/2022 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
3rd time I have had this wine (the last being in 2012). The cepage is 70% Cab Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Purchased on futures for $28. Not decanted. The cork came out in one piece. Moderately sedimented. Very nicely aged Bordeaux at 23 years old. Notes of kirsch, tar and tobacco. Smooth tannins. Rich body and a lengthy finish. 93 points
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2/5/2022 - fizz wrote:
Bright. No bricking at all. Cedar, black fruits. Medium bodied, with resolved tannins. Just a tad short. Lovely drinking.
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1/30/2022 - darrenhe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Interesting to read my 2 previous tasting notes from over 10 years ago. The decade has certainly helped the development of this wine and its a really lovely claret from nose to finish! Lovely cedar/cigar-box aromas - a swirl of the glass reveals some mature red fruits and some cooked cream (as daft as that sounds). It’s a beautifully classic Bordeaux nose!
The mouthfeel has developed and is now quite silky. Tannin is very much still there but dusty and nicely resolved. Lovely long partially stewed fruit palate but still has some freshness. Blackcurrant but also I get a slight Black Forest Gateau element here (or am I mad?!?). This is great on its own but I think will be fabulous with food. Steak or Lamb would be the best but we have a nice roast chicken and I think this would go very well! It’s taken 20 years but I think it’s been well worth the wait!
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1/29/2022 - knelsfk wrote: 88 Points
Opened and poured. Cork was in great shape. Hints of cedar, underbrush and mushrooms on the nose. Closed when first tasted but gradually evolved with understated ripe fruit and soft tannins. Pleasant finish. In the latter stages of its drinking window.
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12/25/2021 - Sookin1 Likes this wine: 89 Points
21 year old Bordeaux. Should have been drunk earlier. Less powerful but still on the nose and flavours
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12/14/2021 - JCGuthrie wrote:
Decanted about 30 minutes, plus slow O another couple hours. Pretty on the nose, with herbs and some green bell pepper/pyrazines. Very classic wine. Lean on the palate, without a lot of fruit, but at the same time this doesn't have any trace of iron, suggesting it has plenty of time left. Definitely a food wine. I enjoyed this.
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12/6/2021 - Jim siewert Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice easy drink…no wow comment needed, just good red wine.
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11/28/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Clearly, this has entered its prime-time drinking window. Medium-bodied, elegant, soft, and refined, with a nice shot of red currants, black cherry, forest floor, cigar box, cedar, and mocha, the graceful finish feels just great.
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11/13/2021 - BHRH Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very similar to my 5/2/2020 TN. Excellent cork. Decanted 90 minutes. Still took the fruit another 30 minutes to emerge from the cedar and tannins in the background, Still a lovely mature Bordeaux
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7/29/2021 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Our last half bottle and a very pretty one, especially after a good 30min decanting.
Classic, leather , good healthy fruit and full of an old school charm. Very good and a very happy 90-91. Drinks at peak now for classic bdx lovers
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7/14/2021 - Cailles wrote: 84 Points
Bordeaux 2000 - 20 Years On - 48 Reds: All tasted blind, not decanted. Observations: 1) It´s a good vintage but not on par with more recent great vintages like 09/10/15/16. Why? A smaller group of top wines reaching lower highs and in general a tad less depth, purity and finesse. 2) Right bank is ready, the left bank still needs time to integrate and open up. 3) Not much tertiary aromas yet - peak drinking window at least 10 years away for most wines. 4) 2000 is a bit a cooler vintage which is great for the right bank (not too much ripeness). 5) Winners? Pomerol with the highest ratings. Le Pin (97+ pts) leading the pack for me (narrowly beating the consensus winner Pavie (97 pts).
More information, top and worst 10 lists, appellation rankings, out- and underperformer from five participants in the story link. As always, in such tastings (lots of wines, not a lot of time per wine, not decanted) the ranking of wines/appellations might be more informative than the scores.
TN: This bottle was its path to death. Others liked it a bit better but for me it was too extracted, with drying tannins and a lot of soy and broth notes masking everything else that might have been there (once).
Group average: 89.6 pts
Group rank: 47th out of 48
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6/21/2021 - sirpat00 Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Grand Bordeaux 2000 horizontal tasting; 6/20/2021-6/21/2021: Grand Bordeaux 2000 tasting with ~60 wines from the vintage hosted by a private collector. All wines were poured directly from the bottle with no decant and served in flights of 4. As general observations I would highlight: 1/ Today the 2000 is, without a doubt, a right bank vintage with Pomerol the star, 2/ the vast majority of wines are still going strong with hardly any past their peak 3/ On the left bank, St Estèphe was most ready to drink with a lot of wines in a closed stage right now, 4/ On the left bank, 2nd to 4th growths were generally more open for business than the 1st growths which almost all closed, only hinting at their full potential. 5/ If you must open a left bank bottle, Margaux is the safest place to look. Complete scoring overview and additional commentary included in the tasting story.
Tasting note:
Very ripe and borderline over-extracted fruit. Leather and wet earth and a bit of liquorice candy. Lacking balance with a greenish finish. There was not much to like here unfortunately.
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4/25/2021 - MRichman wrote:
Lots of iron, some sweet lush fruit, mineral, dried herbs, tannic, wood. This is pretty tight, but the fruit is softening. A well mature bdx, I wish it was more integrated, feels like the fruit is aging and the structure is still pretty young. Perhaps it will develop further. A bracing, rare steak wine.
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4/23/2021 - tbabes wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted an hour before dinner. Deep garnet core, with minimal bricking. A bit restrained on the bouquet, with scents of cassis, campfire, briar patch and earth; hints of black truffle, roasted herbs and cigar box. Medium bodied, firm but ripe tannins, with good depth. Long and focused finish. This bottle would have benefited from another hour in the decanter, or five more years in the cellar.
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3/16/2021 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
My prior tasting of this wine in the past 15 months showed much better than it did tonight. Maybe bottle variation? Maybe I decanted it for too long (3 hours)? I smelled it right after I pulled the cork and the nose was glorious. Therefore, I wonder if I killed some of the fruit and quality by letting it aerate too long? Nevertheless, it was very good, but didn't hold a candle to the 2004 Montrose tasted a few wines before.
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2/27/2021 - PolarBear22 wrote: 92 Points
Aging wonderfully. Still good fruit on the nose. Smooth tannins. Needs filtering.
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2/6/2021 - hoservin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of blackberry, cassis, anise, tobacco, graphite and spice. Black and red fruit, tobacco, graphite and spice on the palate. Long finish. Medium to full bodied. Drinking well. Served with grilled strip steaks and a horseradish cream sauce.
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1/13/2021 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Boom! This wine is delicious, fully mature, and was drinking fantastic after a 1 hour decant. This reminded more of a Pauillac than a St. Julien because it had some fat on it. Very similar to my tasting note posted on 12/31/19.
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12/24/2020 - Carrh1802 Likes this wine:
Yum!
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12/19/2020 - coal9 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Let it breathe in the bottle for 90 minutes. Beautiful bouquet of damp earth, dark fruit, & leather. Nice balance, elegant palate, firm structure. Flavors of black cherry and currant on a base of vanilla and gravel. Medium-full body and long finish with plenty of red fruit. Smooth tannins will keep this drinkable for at least another 2 years, probably more. I always love the red wine from this chateau.
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11/30/2020 - J_H wrote: 95 Points
- Straight from the bottle, without decanting (the evening was thirsty as usual!).
- Nose: Wow, that's a mature and jumping nose! Dark fruit in the core surrounded by tertiary aromas: foliage, forest soil and leather. Totally deep with pithy gravel notes as if you were standing on the fresh rainy terroir. After an hour in the glass, fir cones and sweet roasted coffee blend together. Also Cabernet spice and some ketchup become clearer and clearer.
- Mouth: What a sexy melt (!), which again clearly emphasises the readiness of the 2000 vintage. Very beautiful, elegant body and the whole is driven by a complex aroma spectrum, a super acidity and a depth. Still present tannins, very little greenish but all in all super integrated.
- Despite 20 years this stuff is still very fresh and great. This is a singing Bordeaux from the Left Bank (St. Julien).
95+P
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10/26/2020 - melzar wrote: 93 Points
From 375:Mature claret drinking at peak. Some sediment thrown. Forthcoming nose leads to a palate redolent with cabernet and related fruit. good finish.
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10/4/2020 - Indran Rajendra wrote: 95 Points
Feminine and introspective, this wine exhibits the qualities of St Julien. Aged characteristics dominate including the aroma of band aids which is more consistent with scotch whisky. In the background, primary flavours of blackcurrant can be sensed. Slightly unbalanced with too much acid. 1/2 bottle. Riedel Bordeaux glasses. Drunk at 17 degC. At its best and estimated to stay so till 2040.
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9/10/2020 - JHSP Likes this wine: 91 Points
super left bank spot on - still very young and vibrant - well integrated and long finish - gets even better with air - the nose is complex and dark fruit driven - the palate is not as "strong" as the nose - great wine, but will keep well for many more years to come
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7/19/2020 - Ydaucourt wrote: 93 Points
Juste un petit ton en dessous de la dégustation de 2016, mais toujours magnifique. Long et complexe
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7/16/2020 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
This is reflecting the general trend of the good left bank wines from 2000 and is improving with every annual tasting. I feel it has finally moved into the beginning of its prime drinking window, but is still in a slow development and continues to improve. The hype of the year in general is really starting to be vindicated and I'm glad I had the patience to wait a couple of decades, and indeed there are a number of estates I will not venture to try for at least another 5 years. The nose is deep and expressive with blackcurrant, blackberry, and cedar prominent. It is still a little youthful and perhaps the palate is still over fruited, but it is an excellent drink easy on the mouth and with smooth tannin. The finish is lengthy and with decent depth. Even at this earlier stage the balance stands out as exceptional. I puzzle over reviews reflecting that this needs to be drunk now as it is in decline; to be honest I cannot see myself expressing this opinion for another couple of decades.
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7/14/2020 - eddie100 wrote: 97 Points
Drink drink
Soft elegant. Realy enjoyable
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6/25/2020 - dbkitc wrote: 90 Points
Neither as interesting as the ‘05 or as boring as the ‘01 recently tasted. True, typical Saint Julien. Will drink for a few years. Solid but not special. (90)
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6/22/2020 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted briefly and served. Lovely integrated palate of savory acid, dried herbs, oiled leather, and light tobacco with tannins quite biting and drying still. Enjoyable if you can get past the tannins and not sure it will improve from here.
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5/25/2020 - davergny Likes this wine: 91 Points
Fairly typical St. Julien claret. Elegant, soft, not a whole lot of depth. Enjoyable but not amazing. Seems to be in pime drinking window.
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5/8/2020 - Wino from Michigan wrote: 89 Points
It is good but too mellowed out and little mineraliness left. Good sipping but cannot stand up to red meat -- needs a chicken dish.
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5/2/2020 - BHRH Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is what mature Bordeaux is all about. Opened two hours, then decanted (lots of sludge) for another two hours. Dark but no brown edges. Whiffs of fine cedar, spicy cassis and some leather emanate from the glass. A little thick initially on the palate with lots of black currants, dried herbs and a bit of earth. Long, refined finish with melted tannins. Definitely at peak now! 91-92
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4/28/2020 - ualbogeyman wrote: 88 Points
Very good, probably has peaked, not a huge body even relative to St. Julien, smooth, still good
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4/26/2020 - nytiger wrote: 93 Points
Fine old Bordeaux
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3/27/2020 - edgar Likes this wine: 91 Points
Solid, typical St. Julien. cedar/sandalwood and tobacco tannins well integrated.
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3/20/2020 - melzar wrote: 93 Points
From 375: . Very ready to drink,but will last several more years. One sip and you know it's Bordeaux.Perfect with lamb steaks. Subtle,well balanced wine. Some sediment throwin but plenty of tannin left Good fruit and acidity. Pleasant fruity finish.
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3/16/2020 - GrapeScott wrote: 91 Points
I coravined the first two glasses last week, then opened the remaining 1/2 bottle yesterday for a glass, and gassed before drinking the last two glasses tonight. Notes are from tonight's glass. This is drinking very smoothly right now, with red current, cranberry, tobacco leaf and hints of sandalwood, lithe juicy acidity and smooth tannins. An elegant, restrained style of claret, that continued to develop complexity with air, where the tannins also clamp down on the finish. I think this needs another 5-10 years to peak, but I am not sure this will ever be a great wine.
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2/24/2020 - Mario17 Likes this wine:
GVMQS le 21 Février 2020. Nez clairement Bordelais. Le vin est puissant et fin en même temps, bel équilibre, fait très jeune encore, bien aimé. Mon 3e favori mais de près avec le Mascarello et le Rougeard.
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2/14/2020 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Happy Valentines Day!!
Love this producer!! 30+ minute decant. Dark red color. One of the best noses out there. First Growth like. Wine is full of dark cherries, tar, earth, smoke, and that classic French terroir. Finish was medium and wine could have used more depth, but I’m nitpicking! Phenomenal!!
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1/19/2020 - tbabes wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured after we consumed the '82 Branaire Ducru, which was the vastly superior wine on this night.
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1/1/2020 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
With age, this wine had become very elegant, more Margaux than Pauillac so to speak. It is soft, fragrant, but still with a slight tartness/astringence. Would have expected more body in this "vintage of the century" - as it was considered at release. Still, a good wine. Three left.
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12/31/2019 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sweet spot! Right now! I’ve had this in my cellar since release and it is drinking beautifully right now. Decanted for 1 hour and it kept getting better in the glass over time. I love fully mature Bordeaux. Tons of black licorice, sweet Virginia tobacco, red currant, spices and stuffed with goodness. Tannin has completely resolved and this is a silky smooth and lovely lady at the moment.
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12/27/2019 - Beachfan Likes this wine: 94 Points
In a great place. 1/2 hour decant
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12/21/2019 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
Recent bottles have all been stunning! The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; popped poured and consumed over the course of 2 hours. A deep garnet with no bricking. Notes of blackberry, cassis, crushed stones, and hints of spice box. Medium bodied, seamless, with good concentration, a silky texture, and good grip on the long finish.
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12/13/2019 - ANWW89 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark fruit mixed with some early tertiary flavours. very pretty, deep, complex and well balanced. long life ahead
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11/30/2019 - jsebiri wrote:
Very nice, slight charred barrel, fruit, well done. Tried again after 2 days vac'd up, more elegant, more fruit , less charred.
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11/15/2019 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 95 Points
At peak. Nice earth. Fruit is still there. grilling herbs
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11/5/2019 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
Another great showing, with notes of dried cassis, blackberry, and earth, with hints of campfire. Medium bodied, silky texture, great depth, and a long, savory and focused finish.
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10/25/2019 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 92 Points
I have cellared these since release. This first day after a filtering and a 2 hour decant, cool fruit and medium body TIGHT with some fine tannin. Never opened, so I took it home and put it in the freezer. 2 weeks later I let it defrost and served it 3 hours later. It was still tight. The last glass was finally partially open and drinking great....This was torture. I can't open these for another 2-3 years.
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10/16/2019 - Purple Tooth wrote: 93 Points
In a medium frame, classy and elegant, yet somewhat lush for a 2000. Good length too! Probably the best Branaire I've had. This is in its perfect drinking window and ready to go! Drink
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10/10/2019 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Another absolutely beautiful bottle of this wine... virtually identical tasting note to my last one of 2018, just tonight it was singing even more, with notes of barnyard, horse saddle, dark fruit, blue fruit, flowers, sweet spices and the full monty.... silky tannin and beautiful overall balance. The best bottle of my case so far. Love it.
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10/10/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
Tasted blind. Wow! Beautiful nose of blue fruit, earthy and animalic notes, texbook mature Medoc. Very polished palate, I was guessing Pomerol. Really competent wine, feels so youthful. Great showing of 2000, shows that this vintage really needed 20 years to come around.
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9/28/2019 - hoservin Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for one hour. Aromatic nose of violets, blackberry, blueberry, currant, graphite, cedar and forest floor. Black and blue fruit, graphite, cedar, licorice, forest floor and fine tannins on the palate. Very long, soft dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Drinking very well. Served with grilled Delmonico steaks and chimichurri sauce.
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9/28/2019 - Winnje Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic St. Julien example, spicy lots of cedar, cigar box, thymn, wood well integrated, at its peak but can go strong for another decade, no sign of over the top. Requires decanting, there was not a lot of sediment, airation of 4 hours is necassary to bring out the best, it keeps lingering on....
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9/26/2019 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 97 Points
I continue to love this!
30 minute plus decant. Dark cherry color. Classic Bordeaux nose filled with earth, smoke, and tar. Velvet on the palate with nice smoke. Could be deeper, but a tremendous wine!
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8/21/2019 - djhammond Likes this wine: 94 Points
It is 2 years since my last tasting, and this has moved forward considerably and is starting to display secondary characteristics. However, contrary to some other reviews, I personally think that this has a development ahead of it and it will not hit its peak for at least another couple of years. It possesses a beautifully fresh nose of blackcurrant, blackberry, and cedar, which has a maturity in the aromas. The palate showcases the mature fruit, and the tannin is firm and well balanced. The finish is on the shorter side, and a little unbalanced and lacking depth at this stage. It needs a few hours of aeration; and also try to pour an hour before consuming, as it really comes to life in the glass with time.
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8/11/2019 - chibaken wrote: 94 Points
Has really hit its balance since last year and is a complete joy. Rich and opulent, savoury, with a fine line of acidity to nurse things through to fine tannins. Length is perhaps a little short in context but this is a fabulous Claret
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8/10/2019 - CES911 wrote: 91 Points
Did not decant. Opened and drank. Rich, velvet, long finish, still power to the wine, not as complex as hoped but delicious all the same.
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7/22/2019 - twither Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic nose, medium body, red fruit with some tartness, mature. Very good.
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7/18/2019 - Mr T wrote:
initial glass before decanting and definitely tasting like older Bdx, acidic and almost sour. Poured rest into decanter and seemed to get much better although I got little of it as my friends sucked it all down. Wish one of them had a decent cellar for a change
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7/3/2019 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 98 Points
Insane! Finally back to some proper wine after a holiday in Cornwall!
Just like my original review but I got a much better price! I popped and poured this one, but it should be decanted over an hour for both sediment and flavor. I was just in a rush due to bath night. I’ll definitely be buying more!
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6/20/2019 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
From half bottle and probably the best one we have had so far ( Best so far Papies 90)
No decanting and really a PnP. Pretty nose, classic with still a lot of fruit albeit the secondary phase of this wine has kicked in for some time. Soft leathery side, cedar and of course white pepper. very good. 91 and drink at will.
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6/18/2019 - tbabes wrote: 95 Points
The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine; popped poured and consumed over the course of 3 hours. A deep garnet with no bricking. Notes of blackberry, cassis, crushed stones, and hints of spice box. Medium bodied, seamless, with good concentration, a silky texture, and good grip on the long finish. Much much better than a rather advanced bottle tasted a few weeks ago!
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6/5/2019 - tbabes wrote: 89 Points
The fill was into the neck and the cork was pristine. Pale to medium garnet; bricking at the rim. Notes of dried plums, aged tobacco, forest floor; hints of soy and mushroom. Medium bodied, soft tannins, fully mature. This bottle seemed considerably more advanced than a previous bottle consumed 6 months ago.
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6/2/2019 - Plabella Likes this wine: 94 Points
I don't understand why this wine is not rated higher!
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5/26/2019 - PolarBear22 wrote: 90 Points
Still drinking marvelously well. Decanted an hour.
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4/7/2019 - Cmainardi wrote: 91 Points
Slight bricking. Nose of dark fruits, tobacco and cedar. Tannins almost completely resolved. Dinner with Kathleen with need bourgignone. Perfect pairing. This is a perfect example of an aged Bordeaux but with little in the way of tertiary elements. Still have 9 left of a case I bought on futures at some ridiculously low price. No reason to hold but also no rush to drink.
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3/30/2019 - PMJak11 Likes this wine: 99 Points
The 2nd best wine I’ve ever had!!
I originally thought I over paid @ £140, and probably did versus the market, but it was so worth it.
Very similar to Chateau Haut Brion. 45+ minute decant. Nose was balanced between French terroir and deep cherry fruit. Very rustic. Wine was complex with awesome texture. Deep fruit but coated the palate and was very gentle. Long finish capped it off.
Truly amazing!!!
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3/8/2019 - MRichman wrote:
Mineral & iron. Tight red fruit. Chalky tannins and lemony acid. Styled toward the old school, classic side. Dried herbs. This still seems a bit young, could open up. I'll give it another few years before I try another.
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1/18/2019 - Papies wrote: 90 Points
Half bottle and definitely needed a good 30 minutes to open up. We have had a few of these bottles and unfort quite a few had heat damage (our fault) but the good ones are now at peak post some decanting. Good old classic claret. 89-91 range
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1/18/2019 - Papies wrote: flawed
Maderised.
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12/24/2018 - s******n Likes this wine: 91 Points
Direkt vor dem Probieren geöffnet
- Farbe: Schwarzrot. Konzentriert. Noch kein Braun.
- Typische B Frucht. Intensiv. Auch noch kräftige Tannine. Säure etwas zu dominierend. Schöner Nachhall. Für ein ganz großen Wein fehlt Schmelz und noch längerer Nachhall.
- Schön zu trinken. Könnte aber sicherlich auch noch ein paar Jahre liegen
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12/13/2018 - tbabes wrote: 95 Points
Popped, poured and consumed over the course of 3 hours. Purple-ruby core, turning to ruby at the rim. An expressive and complex bouquet, offering up scents of plums, blackberry, cigar box, black truffle, and bramble. Medium bodied, with a velvety texture, good depth and focus, with a long finish.
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11/16/2018 - Ibetian wrote:
Last bottle of a case purchased EP. As always, elegant and beautifully balanced, a fine, classic Bordeaux.
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11/8/2018 - petenich Likes this wine: 92 Points
Interestingly after only about 30 minutes of air we're into a very balanced and approachable wine. I'm thinking this is solidly into the drinking window, decent nose, good mid, with depth and acid to clean up the finish. Still plenty of stuffing for at least 10 years, but not sure what else would develop by waiting longer.
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10/10/2018 - Rieslingfan wrote:
Consumed over the course of two night, side by side with the 2001 Leoville Las Cases, this showed great class and poise, albeit in a slightly fleshier style than the Las Cases. Ripe red and black fruit led the way, and after some substantial air were joined by emerging tones of earth, seared cedar and dark spice. There are no signs of truly mature notes (e.g. old tobacco), but the wine is well balanced to head in that direction in several more years. This is in an early maturity window, where it makes for fabulous drinking, but is not yet up to intellectual contemplation. Give it five or more years to be ready for civilized conversation.
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10/10/2018 - WMWG Likes this wine:
From memory: This took a little while to open, but when it did, it showed a complex mix of plum-skin toned fruit, spice, flora and damp earth with some crimson underpinnings. Impeccably balanced with resolved tannins and a lifted acidity; fruit profile is mid-life with no signs of wear. Broad-shouldered and straight-laced; this bears an open and honest view into everything it has to offer. While this is drinking remarkably well at the moment, there’s no harm in waiting another five years to access this.
Very Good to Excellent
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10/7/2018 - Plabella Likes this wine: 95 Points
I believe all the experts under rate this beautiful wine. It is balanced, delicate and has great dark fruit. Down to my last 4 bottles.
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9/20/2018 - Ibetian wrote: 93 Points
Second to last bottle of a case purchased EP. decanted just before dinner. Helenachuck’s note below is simply perfect, I have little to add. This is an elegant, well balanced wine with pleasing complexity and fine fruit. Plenty of life left, but no reason to wait unless you really like tertiary development; for my tastes, drinking beautifully now.
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9/19/2018 - Helenachuck wrote: 93 Points
Deep ruby red color, opaque center, very clear and bright. Early nose is plums, currant, lead pencil, black licorice and complex spice. Clean and very appealing. The palate is deep and ripe fruit - plum and black current, sweet black cherry, hints of vanilla, floral notes. I am surprised by how young and lively this wine seems. It is in a great window, but has much more evolution to go. I drank others too soon evidently! After air, the wine tightens up and leans out a little bit. Really nice St. Julien in a good drinking space.
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8/27/2018 - chibaken wrote: 92 Points
Evolving nicely, with the tannins resolving, still fresh, nice thread of acidity. Could go longer. Best showing from a case that's 7 bottles down now
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8/19/2018 - Plabella Likes this wine: 95 Points
This wine gets better with age. Dark fruit mild tannins great mouth feel.
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7/29/2018 - pavel_p wrote: 91 Points
Consistent with last bottle 12 months ago. Decent but disappointing for a 2000. Poured into decanter and drank over 2h. Lacks stuffing IMHO. Elevated acidity, dark fruit. Medium (-) body. Short to medium finish. 90-91.
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7/29/2018 - Fred_Bo Likes this wine: 92 Points
So youthful and NOWHERE near ready!
Decanted for two hours under the first flight. This came after a Mouton Rothschild 1988 and held very much it's own in sense of firmness and structure. Very well done.
Very very dark berries, blackcurrant, cherries and cassis. This was almost a block of cassis, wow! Very much alive tannins. After an hour (now three hours open) it gave way to meat and tobacco but not much else (no autumn forest floor and moist leaves). This is a pure monster.
Drink now with atleast five hours in decanter or hold for 10 years.
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7/22/2018 - PrimitivoUSA wrote: 91 Points
Our bottle was in lovely condition (we were married in 2000 and our marriage is in lovely condition). Rich in traditional Bordeaux tastes, with sturdy body and pleasant bouquet. Surprisingly little sediment. A perfect compliment to my foie gras.
The wine looks purple colored. The legs are medium. There is no sediment in the bottle.
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7/9/2018 - Papies wrote: flawed
Heat damage here.
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6/17/2018 - Papies wrote: 90 Points
From half bottle. Decanted for a good hour and highly advisable.
This wine we feel will be a 90-91 for the next few years depending on bottle and mood. Very much the classic st julien we bought from a good vintage, no surprises here positive or negative, good fruit, good character and true to its style. Very pretty. 90-91
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6/2/2018 - brianofthevine wrote: 91 Points
The fruit is that of cassis, black currant, and black cherry. Has some savory herbs, olive tapenade, leather, cedar oak, forest floor, and subtle cigar and tobacco notes. Smooth tannins at this point, decent finish. Good but not great.
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5/26/2018 - Kavine wrote: 90 Points
Found it dry on the back and lacked strength...
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5/25/2018 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
From half bottle. Decanted and served.
This is now at a very good spot in its drinking window. Classic, old school, riper dark fruit with that St Julien juicy side, touch herbs and showing a few secondary touches. This was really pretty and a great intro into our case of 24 halves. more to follow! Very enjoyable 91
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5/4/2018 - bon vivant wrote: 93 Points
Started humming after about 10-15 min in a large decanter, exhibiting classic St Julian notes of dark red fruit, some forest floor & tobacco and hints of graphite. Well rounded with smooth silky tannins and a very easy drink-ability factor. Really impressed with the over achieving showing considering the modest price. While i don't see this fading in the next half decade I am guessing that it's into the prime drinking window.
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4/20/2018 - kstoddard wrote: flawed
Corked
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4/7/2018 - JEP007 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Still very young tasting after several hours of decanting. A very lightweight wine with bright dark cherry hues. The perfume is subtle, but the most enjoyable element of this wine. Light tobacco, violets, and graphite on nose and a tartness on the finish. Probably could use another 10 years to soften and release more perfume.
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3/22/2018 - Morrisson Likes this wine: 91 Points
Un vin avec encore beaucoup de vie. Une très belle évolution à partir de l'ouverture. Différente saveur tertiaire avant de revenir sur des odeurs et des saveurs de murs et de réglisse.
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3/10/2018 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine: 91 Points
Popped and poured. This a medium-red wine with some minor sediment at the end of the bottle. On the nose, I get sweet red fruit, dark woods, blueberries, and hard wet granite. The mouth is mid-weight and balanced, with good fruit and a lush yet serious overtone, all culminating in a finish of dark fruit. Overall, this is nice. Yet it is somewhat reserved — the nose and wine generally opens beautifully with about an hour of air. So I would recommend decanting and observe that there are some good years left in this wine. For now, it is an enjoyable 2000 that does Saint-Julien proud. 91 points.
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2/10/2018 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 94 Points
Pretty deep garnet/purple color. Needs a little bit of time to open up in the glass. Notes of barnyard, horse saddle, also some elegant dark fruit of cassis/black currant and black cherries, graphite, tobacco leaf, also some sweet spices and a touch of crushed flowers. It‘s medium+ bodied, dense but very elegant, has nice medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity adding nice freshness. Very good length. A beautifully ages Branaire that combines the classicism of the vintage with the perfume and elegance of the house-style. Still early in the drinking window but it‘s really beautiful right now.
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2/6/2018 - PJL100 wrote: 91 Points
brooding colour-suspended in time from this great year
complex with classic St julien blackcurrant, tapenade, herbs and cedary oak, touch of cigar box now imposing itself on the primary fruit
lovely palate, dense tannins, rich mid, long savoury finish
20+ if cork holds
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2/4/2018 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red in the glass, muted fruit nose. Well integrated tannins and fruit. Black and red fruit well represented but well blended in with just an end note of mild tartness to the berries. Doesn't quite have the feathery finesse, the cedar or the implied fruit power of the '90 Pape from earlier in the meal, but nonetheless a very nice wine. Should have a little time to run yet.
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1/28/2018 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Finesse rather than power. Wait and see for one or two years more, as there is still some tannin and a little tartness in the finish. Otherwise fine but not great.
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1/17/2018 - ralstenm Likes this wine: 95 Points
Wonderfully complex mix of dark berries and earthiness on nose, not overwhelming. Beautiful subtle cases with some vanilla and maybe just a touch of floral to my palate. Just a bit of tartness which just adds to complexity. Long finish. Not much experience with great older vintages, one to remember in my book.
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1/14/2018 - Ibetian wrote: flawed
Slightly corked
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12/23/2017 - Helenachuck Likes this wine: 90 Points
Deep, dark ruby color, red rim clear. Nose is varietal cab fruit, graphite, leather, hints of meat and anise, bottle age. Palate is cassis fruit, chalk, fruit leather, plum skin. The wine is taut, still a bit tart; good fruit but lean rather than rich, good cleansing finish. A good, classic style Bordeaux.
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12/17/2017 - Bborger@borger.ca Likes this wine: 97 Points
Well balanced with a satin finish that is delightful
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11/10/2017 - Ibetian wrote: 94 Points
Popped about an hour before pouring at a restaurant. Best bottle of this so far, wonderful complexity on nose and palate, beautifully balanced, fine, lingering finish. On its drinking plateau, but no hurry. P96.
A fine Bordeaux from a great year.
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10/22/2017 - HTVinmann Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tilgjengelig rett fra åpning. Markant tobakkspreg, samt sedertre, i tillegg til flott moden solbærfrukt. Fast og harmonisk i munnen, med faste men modne tanniner. Solbær, tobakk, grafitt, sedertre og eksotisk krydder. Tåler fint noen år til.
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10/17/2017 - Highlander wrote:
Mature, delicious! Tannins fully integrated with a 30 minute decant. Perfect color and clarity. Make sure you decant as there was enough there to ruin a glass or two. Very well balanced, on the feminine side in a good way. A touch of leather on the tongue. You could sip this all night or enjoy it with a meal.
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10/5/2017 - djhammond Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still relatively young, this will improve with a little more time in the bottle. However, still approachable with time in the decanter, it possesses aromas of blackcurrent and cedar. The tannin is still a little coarse and on the palate the wine is herbacious. At present it is lacking depth and the finish is a little clipped. I will be interested to taste this again in a year's time as it clearly has good potential.
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8/27/2017 - hoservin wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for one hour. Nose of violets, currant, blackberry, graphite, tobacco, cedar and forest floor. Black and red fruit, graphite, coffee, leather and ripe tannins on the palate. Finishes with good length. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled pork tenderloin.
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8/14/2017 - Plabella Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very nice wine on a beautiful evening in Fenwick. Smooth, dark fruit well balenced.
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8/12/2017 - Wardyn wrote: 91 Points
Dark cassis fruits, cedar, sandalwood herbs, medium to full bodied flavors, firm structure and fine grained tannins. Chocolaty finish. Very good quality here.
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8/8/2017 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for about 45 min. A balanced but not big wine. Slightly elevated acidity. Medium body at best with dark fruit and some earthy notes. A 2004 Leoville Barton that followed had clearly more fruit. Would drink over the next years as this will not improve in my eyes.
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8/4/2017 - La Grappe wrote: 89 Points
Medium red colour; the palate is elegant, with nicely mature fruit, somewhat light but with good length. Lacks a little concentration, but is otherwise very good.
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8/4/2017 - dbkitc wrote: 90 Points
Solid wine but lacking fireworks. Typical deep 2000 garnet color. Nose has plum and black current fruit mixed with graphite and a touch of sandalwood. The palate is true medium weight Bordeaux. It lacks the depth and flavor saturation I would have expected. In addition, it's a bit simple and easy to read. Delicious but not singular. Very good for sure but I come away just a bit disappointed. Drink over the next 10 or 15 years. (90)
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5/29/2017 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Love this wine, love this vintage, love that I bought at futures for $29.66, sad that I am drinking my last bottle. Could not keep my hands off this bodacious beauty whose fleshy, rich and textured fruit just envelops the senses- ripe cherry and blackberry fruit, cassis, sweet smelling cedar and leather, milk chocolate, and clove spice and wonderfully balanced tannins that caress the mouth feel
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4/28/2017 - Mrp2008 wrote: 93 Points
Quite primary, has the fruit and color of a 10 year old wine. Incredible nose, mostly fruit driven, hint of oak, just starting to mature. Palate is fleshy red fruit, dark cherry, raspberry, moderate complexity. Mid to full bodied, nice acidity and still fair but well integrated tannin. Good now, would suggest 5 more years. Got better over 2 days. Very good.
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3/23/2017 - clairenclarence wrote: 93 Points
tis bttl is somehow rather still on the primary side.pretty structure.long finishing,nice depth,lovely acidity support.on it has deep n complex nose.luv the elegance n integration of this bttl.i believe this bttl still able to develop more complexity in yrs to cm.most likely 6-8 yrs time.
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3/21/2017 - Derek Darth Taster Likes this wine: 95 Points
Bordeaux-themed Night (La Fleur Petrus) (Extra Space): Tasted blind. Poured into decanter and drank over 3 hours.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of sweet black cherries, blackberries, sweet spice, dark chocolate, smoke. Developing.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (13%), velvety fine high tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of silky plush blackberry fruit, ripe black cherries, dark chocolate, sweet spices, red capsicums. Very long finish.
Very very good quality. Balanced. Silky velvety elegance. Showing extremely well now. In drinking window and will go on to develop nicely over the next 5 years. Many of us were guessing this was the La Fleur Petrus (which was frankly a bit disappointing given the expectations).
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2/22/2017 - CES911 Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks garnet colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like espresso, light toast, meaty and prune. It tastes like lead pencil and meaty. The body is medium/full. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long.
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2/11/2017 - melzar wrote: 92 Points
From 375: Deep nose gives way to a well balanced fruity palate with tannins still a little dominant. Very enjoyable now, but will repay further cellaring in spades! Big upside potential. 2000 is indeed a great vintage in Bordeaux.
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1/28/2017 - Rieslingfan wrote:
This is moving along a smooth path to maturity, acting in a very well-mannered way, as expected of Branaire. It displays little evolution in color, and the aromatics are still quite primary, except that the fruit is mellowed, though not muted. It has certainly emerged from the closed period, but other than a touch of cedar it shows little mature complexity. It's polished and moving slowly towards its apex. It is delicious with food (steak in my case), but if seeking the mature Bordeaux experience there is still a long time to wait.
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1/21/2017 - hoservin wrote: 92 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, graphite, anise, cocoa and spice. Black and red fruit, graphite, cedar and leather on the palate. Leads to a long finish. Medium to full bodied. Served with grilled sirloin steaks.
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1/20/2017 - Ibetian wrote: 93 Points
Drinking very well now after a short decant.
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1/14/2017 - jcgarcia Likes this wine: 92 Points
Much better after a couple hours in the glass. Stronger finish ... No oxidation. Balanced with good acid. This is quite good
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1/14/2017 - jcgarcia Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tad bit of oxidation on the nose. Some leather and lead pencil. Medium body in the mouth. A tiny bit astringent. Medium tannins. Round ... Needs a bit more acid. Short finish. Good but nothing special
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1/7/2017 - sigge Likes this wine: 94 Points
Deep color with a nice brownish rim. Broad nose filled with vanilla, horse, smoke and ceder. Medium to full body. The wine fills the mouth with pleaseure of a harmony and exclusivity. I was extreamly surprised. This bottle was totally diffeent from the other 5 drunk from the same case. I have been disappointed up to now, but this was great.
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12/27/2016 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 91 Points
Interesting wine. Very rich and deep on the attack, much more so than the average Branaire, but with a lightness to the second wave that bestows grace and elegance but which also prevents it from reaching loftier heights. Towards the end of the evening, tannins also became noticeable as the fruit faded.
It's good, but not quite as good as I had expected it would be. The 02 is actually better at the moment, incredibly enough - and at half the price.
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12/26/2016 - Old John Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic St. Julien, better than I expected. Initially tight, then got really good after about an hour decant, then started to fade a little with the tannins taking over. Went great with beef roast. Have another bottle and will try in a couple years.
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12/11/2016 - Veloman wrote:
Decanted a couple of hours before dinner, went beautifully with braised oxtail stew as the snow fell outside
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10/23/2016 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine: 92 Points
Takes a few hours decanting to show the cedar, herb, dark currants on the nose, palate is silky smooth at this point, though quite still primary in flavour tannins are well integrated at this point, medium finish quite enjoyable went great with a coq au vin
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10/15/2016 - rgawlowski Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very, very nice nose, but not overwhelming, smokey, fruity. Taste a bit behind, but still excellent.
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10/8/2016 - Plabella Likes this wine: 94 Points
one of my favorite Bordeaux's from St Julian
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9/13/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Tasted next to the 2005. Open on the nose showing notes of cassis, liquorice, spices, eucalyptus. Fresh on the palate, good fruit, quite open. Nice tannic bite towards the finish. Generous and very well balanced. Not very long or intense finish, especially compared to 2010 and 2005. Drink or hold. 91-93
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9/10/2016 - Plabella Likes this wine: 95 Points
great wine great fruit
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8/4/2016 - petenich Likes this wine: 94 Points
So much improvement in 3 years. Bottle aroma on decant huge, but nose is not particularly strong. Balance is excellent, good fruit, long finish. Still plenty of tannin, not disturbing, but based on how well holding up give another 4 years before next bottle. Doing very fine for $33 bottle.
Upped review, with 5 hours open drinking really well even right now.
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7/14/2016 - Burgnick wrote: 89 Points
Dark fruit, ink, herbs, pencil shaving and sous bois on the nose. The palate is medium bodied with mostly black fruit, mushroom and ink. A bit disappointing for this great vintage. It would benefit from a 2 hour decant.
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7/9/2016 - Ydaucourt wrote: 94 Points
Sublime aujourd'hui ! Nez complexe en bouche il évolue par vagues successive d'une impressionnante longueur ! Pourquoi ai-je bu les autres bouteilles si vite ??��
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6/19/2016 - Sotto325 wrote: 90 Points
I suppose that the score may inch up once this wine is ready to strut all of its more elegantly defined plumes, but it is pleasant,very St Julien but a bit unbalanced at the moment. A hint of blueberry added to the wood, dark cherry, moist earth and admirably confined outlines , with a fairly lush mid palate feel and that woody, less expressive nose. Even after enough decanting, the wine did not move up to, for example, a Beychevelle level of sophistication, and I missed that extra St Julien artistry.
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6/9/2016 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Tasted next to 2000 Canon La Gaffeliere and 2000 Haut Bailly. Lovely nose, not as rich and succulent as CLG, more restrained and "classic". Red fruit, herbs, spices, tobacco. On the palate again less ripeness and generosity. Lots of structure and grip, slightly chewy. Fresh with good length. Drink or hold. 90-92
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5/29/2016 - L-C. wrote: 89 Points
Dark, nearly impenetrable cherry red. An intense nose dominated by fresh, ripe black currant and pencil shavings; forward, but delicious. Medium body, nicely concentrated; sinewy with velvety tannins. Great length. Not a complex wine, but extremely pleasing and in the best sense classic.
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5/14/2016 - mclanew wrote: 91 Points
Very tightly wound, big branaire. Black berry, lead pencil, forest cedar and flowers. Nice balance between tannins and sweet fruit. A little reticent on the nose but nice Long finish. Probably will peak in five to ten years.
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4/26/2016 - La Grappe wrote: 90 Points
A fairly deep colour, with some maturity (brick colour); initially, this was elegant and stylish, with silky blackcurrant fruit and a creamy note; as the wine, developed, some earthy tannin became evident and it seemed to turn a bit rustic. Certainly very good.
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4/25/2016 - Ibetian Likes this wine: 93 Points
Popped and poured at restaurant. Ready to drink, though still on the upswing; no hurry to drink up. Nicely balanced, classic Bordeaux. Not a blockbuster, but an excellent wine for the dinner table.
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4/24/2016 - jonanator wrote: 91 Points
Nicely mature Bordeaux. Very enjoyable but nothing too exciting either.
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3/21/2016 - wineismylife wrote: flawed
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose seemed oh so slightly corked to me. Barely showing some berries behind that mustiness. Took a taste on a flyer and was simple berries, linear, definitely not showing well compared to previous bottles. No rating as a result.
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3/4/2016 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Elegance, freshness, ripe fruits and soft, silky tannins bring this right where it needs to be at 16 years of age. With its classic Left Bank Bordeaux personality, the wine is filled with cedar, tobacco, blackberry and cassis, ending with a nice refined quality to the dark red fruits. This wine will easily remain at this level for another 10 or perhaps 20 more years.
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2/27/2016 - ckinv368 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Green pepper and onion on the nose. Earth, leather, tobacco, some spruce, green pepper, some cinnamon and clove on the finish, with still good acidity and astringency. Will last for a while longer.
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1/17/2016 - BrunelloBob wrote: 91 Points
PnP, perfect cork. Powerful nose, delicious if not complex. Wonderful pairing with Beautiful Wife's slow-cooked pot roast. Had me thinking merlot, more than cab, however.
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12/26/2015 - roelof.ligtmans@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points
Opened for 2 hours, not decanted. Dark red & sombre. Full-throttle nose (classic Bordeaux, pencil lead, red fruit), taste a little closed, medium-length powerfull finish, a tad dryish. Drank with wild boar stew. Let this one sit yet some more, maybe two-three years.
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12/25/2015 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for 1.5 hours. Nose of blackberry, currant, mocha, tobacco, graphite and spice. A black and red fruit core with integrated graphite, leather, spice and mineral notes on the palate. Leads to a long, soft finish. Medium to full bodied. Drinking well, but no rush. Paired with prime rib.
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12/24/2015 - PolarBear22 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted 60-90 minutes. Very nice and smooth.
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11/22/2015 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Popped and poured. Initially disjointed but came together with 10 minutes in the glass (they were very nice glasses, I might add). Solid medium body, opaque, dark fruit flavors and just a touch of tannin. Excellent!
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10/2/2015 - La Grappe wrote: 89 Points
Fairly dark colour; an elegant, mid-weight wine, with ripe blackcurrant and plum fruit, some fine-grained soft tannin and a harmonious structure. A slight lack of intensity towards the finish, but otherwise very good.
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9/19/2015 - La Grappe wrote: 83 Points
A rather disappointing bottle as, although there is ripe fruit, the wine seems rather disjointed, with a somewhat hollow middle and a rather short finish. This is not typical: other bottles have been much better.
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8/29/2015 - hoservin wrote: flawed
Corked.
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8/23/2015 - WineAggregate Likes this wine: 92 Points
Can go longer. Classic, great fruit.
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8/19/2015 - Miceri Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark red; very lovely nice open nose, lots of fruit; power, a bit austere, very approachable, good tannins / grip; nice but limited complexity / variation, one-dimensional; nice long warm aftertaste
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8/10/2015 - tbone wrote:
Stunning wine - ready to go with 20 minutes of air. Fruit, earth, mineral and plenty of acidity to keep it fresh. Drying tannins so will go quite a bit longer but very, very good now.
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8/7/2015 - Chrisinroch Likes this wine:
PnP, served w flank steak. No formal notes but wonderful and approachable. Cassis and cedar. Drink or hold.
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6/18/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 92 Points
Slight signs of discolouration around the rim. Open and expressive on the nose with notes of cedar, spices, cassis fruit. Nicely textured on the palate with round tannins, good acidity, ripe and concentrated fruit. Savoury finish with very good length. Drink or hold. 91-93
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6/14/2015 - mattias_hansen@hotmail.com Likes this wine: 92 Points
Darkish red/purple. The branaire 2000 is full of lively and vibrant young berry fruits. Dark raspberry, blackberry and cherry leaps forward on the expressive nose immediately after opening. Palate is flavorful yet weigthless displaying the essence of St. Julien, the effortless balance between power and elegance, between ripe fruit and acidic bite. Damn delicious but despite its youthfull flavors, there is no agressive backbone left and it seems quite smooth and not as long on the finish as i would ahve thought.
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5/9/2015 - NostraBacchus Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still pretty deep garnet/purple color. Aged nose of barnyard, horse saddle, dark berries (cassis, black currant), some flowers and a touch of tobacco. On the palate there are similar notes. It's medium-full bodied with still medium+ tannin and medium+ acidity. Long finish. This is still surprisingly young like many of the 2000s, very classic in structure and aromatics. A very pretty Bordeaux at the beginning of it's drinking window. I will probably give my additional bottles 2-3 years more in the cellar... (93+)
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4/9/2015 - eoinhharkins wrote: 91 Points
Just ordered two more of these and decided to check in, didn't enjoy as much as previous experience, takes about 2 hours for the toned currant, cigar, cedar and earth notes to really show, similar palate with nice acidity and smooth silky tannins, though there was a slight hint of heat on the finish
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3/22/2015 - jmcmchi wrote: 91 Points
Pencil lead and cedar on nose with hint of almond
On palate, tannins are almost fully integrated with bright red fruit. Double decanted 3-4 hours before drinking
Very little sediment other than on side of bottle
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3/1/2015 - richardkim wrote: 92 Points
Pencil lead, underbrush, and blackcurrant. Dense with firm acidity. Tasted 2/28/15 at 2000 Bordeaux tasting at Pinot Provence.
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2/14/2015 - MRichman wrote:
Just a little young. Lots of iron and mineral, dark fruit with coffee and earth. Smoky with fine tannins. A nice dense Bordeaux, chewy with depth, classy but not special.
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1/8/2015 - La Grappe wrote: 88 Points
Fairly deep colour; quite elegant, with smooth, polished fruit; youthful but quite approachable. The finish is somewhat restrained. Good, but not outstanding, and may be better in a year or two.
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12/29/2014 - Ibetian wrote: 91 Points
Bottom line, this needs another year or two in the cellar, like other classified 2000s. Nice purple color. After decanting and swirling, nice, complex nose of leather and red fruit. Palate is a bit clenched. Patience is required and I think will be rewarded.
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11/23/2014 - bengti Likes this wine: 91 Points
Half bottle laid down for some 18 months in wine fridge finally popped it to end the weekend. Like the leoville from about 2 weeks back, starts imperceptibly. No nose, no fruit on the palate. Slight ash and gravel. About 45 mins later reawakens to dark cherry, tinderbox, leather, smoke, tar and blackberry, ending with that signature mineral streak and medium finish. Mid palate tannins very enticing. Still has time and possibly will drink even better in 2020.
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11/22/2014 - Sotto325 wrote: 90 Points
Finely crafted, strict St Julien restraint, yielding a warmer and potentially more complex wine in the next year or two. Solid mature oak, medium cherry, ash, earthy but elegant soil, and a sophisticated but not complex example of 2000 elegance and terroir.
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11/20/2014 - Dr. Galazkiewicz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bordeaux Tasting (Home): First accessed with the Coravin in May. At that time, I had been drinking mostly Pinots, and this Bordeaux blew me away with its contrast. On accessing again, all of the oaky vanilla notes were gone, the fruit was weak. Maybe I just didn't notice it as much since I've been drinking a lot of Bordeaux lately, or maybe 5 months of sitting in an argon bath ruined it. Still, it was the weakest of the 5 bottles in this tasting.
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11/8/2014 - Spargel wrote: 93 Points
natural intense nose with black cherry notes and muscat; medium body, mellow, hint of dark chocalate; strong harmonious long lasting finish
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11/6/2014 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Quite a deep colour; ripe, mature, blackcurrant and plum fruit; quite elegant on the palate, but not the most intense wine; a good, medium weight claret, which is probably at its peak now but should still keep well.
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11/1/2014 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Nose of blackberry, blueberry, currant, pencil lead, licorice and leather. A dark fruit core combines with leather, graphite and gripping tannins on the palate. Leads to a medium to long, dusty, dry finish. Medium to full bodied. Paired with filet béarnaise.
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9/23/2014 - subir Likes this wine: 88 Points
Popped and poured, did not decant, perhaps I should have (noted that 5 years ago, bummed I didn't). Drank the bottle over 3 hours. Great color, some browning on the edges. This is consistent with last year, the wine has a really reticent nose, saddle leather, preserved blackberries and pepper. Was still much more tannic than I expected, and this is a 15 year old wine! I'm not opening another bottle for a few more years. Overall, quite consistent with my earlier notes. I really can't rate this wine higher than 88, and that's off from the Cellar-Tracker consensus. It's not provenance, I've held this wine since release in my own cellar.
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9/5/2014 - josephme wrote: 92 Points
Blackberry, leather and tobacco. Smooth and balanced. Drinking well right now.
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7/17/2014 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dark red. Consumed at busy pre family wedding get together, so no serious tasting notes. Mature Bordeaux. Not likely going anywhere.
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6/17/2014 - mduque wrote: 88 Points
At a tasting with Pontet Canet 2001, 2004 and Léoville Barton 2001, 2003. Did not show too well compared to the other Chateaux. Lacking complexity, not great balance, medium length. It's not mediocre but I don't really see this getting much better.
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6/17/2014 - mduque wrote: flawed
Brought back to SAQ and received 52$
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6/16/2014 - Nacnud wrote:
I'm sure this has more time to go but damn, it was drinking great when I popped it (last week). High toned, with incredible acid - this couldn't be further from California "meritage" or what have you. Impeccable balance, in a great spot right now (or at least my bottel was...).
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5/31/2014 - hoservin wrote: 92 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for two hours. Bouquet of blackberry, black currant, blueberry, dried herbs, pencil lead, licorice, tobacco leaf and cedar. A soft, black fruit core with integrated notes of leather, black licorice and fine tannins on the palate. Leads to a dusty, dry finish with good persistence. Medium to full bodied and well balanced. Nice wine.
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5/21/2014 - Diane (LI) wrote:
It gave a very youthful appearance in the decanter. Lovely aromatics of dark fruits and hints of florals. Nicely evolved from my bottle of five years ago, it showed meaty and savory qualities, tobacco, with dark cherries becoming more pronounced after more time in the decanter. There are underlying tannins, but they are mildly noticeable, and there are cedar notes on the finish. Acidity is interwoven and created layers and freshness. Not a flashy wine, but a lovely lunch or dinner wine.
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3/15/2014 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 90 Points
Presents nicely. Dark blood red with good legs. Falls just a hair short of opaque. Only sign of age is barely noticeable lightening at the rim. Nose is mostly dried fruit and leather. Forest floor. Tannins have melted away nicely, leaving chocolatey fruit as the most identifiable taste component. Oak also in evidence, but not in a bad way. Very smooth and sleek, especially on the finish. In no danger of cracking up any time soon. I will rate this tomorrow, after it has had a chance to air a bit more in bottle.
Update: The wine has now been open nearly 24 hours. Nose showing coffee and melted chocolate now. A bit monolithic. This has really mellowed out on the palate. Still-strong flavors, but now even sleeker, sexier and more polished. I don't see this getting much better, but I don't believe it is in any danger of imminent decline. A very nice wine that should continue to be a good drinker for many years. 4-11-17-8: 90/100
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3/9/2014 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 89 Points
Soft, very smooth, with blackcurrant and plum fruit; not intense, but elegant. Drinking well now.
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2/17/2014 - janbecker wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 1 hr in advance and drank over 2 hours. 3rd bottle so far. Keeps getting better. Drank alongside 2000 Lagrange, which was nice but no match.
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2/16/2014 - John Pauillac Likes this wine: 94 Points
very dark almost black, red, without edge whitening.
On the nose, cedar, leather, smoke, bacon, Cuban tobacco, a little paint in the background blackberries and cassis.
On the palate: leather, tobacco, blackberries, a very elgante and balanced structure. Has a very harmonious despite the still strong but abraded tannins. Very good acidity which blends beautifully with the fruit.
Long finish of black berries, leather and cedar.
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2/10/2014 - johnh1001 wrote:
Something was off. A very must nose, but nice dark and red fruit on the palate mixed with old wood.
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1/11/2014 - hoservin Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aerated with a Vinturi and decanted for one hour. Aromas and flavors of currant, graphite, mocha, blackberry, blueberry and spice box. Leads to a long, velvety smooth, dry finish. Medium bodied. A very pretty wine that's drinking well. Paired with filet mignon and a red wine, boursin cheese sauce.
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1/10/2014 - farinas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bordeaux Tasting (Private Residence (Miami, FL)): Medium body red with bricking on the edges. Bouquet of evolved dried red currants, sweet dough, good dose of pencil shavings, spice box. Palate echoes the bouquet with the addition of some oak and well integrated tannins. This wine is ready to drink and is a nice balanced and well crafted Claret.
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12/26/2013 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Needs some time to open up. Still somewhat tannic.
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12/25/2013 - spillwine wrote: 88 Points
Manquant un peu de finesse, peut-être la bouteille
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12/22/2013 - Villon wrote: 86 Points
Nez grossier sur la cassonade et le bois brûlé. La bouche est moins unique, plus subtil que le nez le laisse penser, mais le tout manque de longueur et de corps. Décevant pour un vin de ce millésime.
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12/20/2013 - mduque Likes this wine: 88 Points
A nice bottle with lots more life ahead. Not quite as complexe as hoped. It came last out of 10 bottles in a blind tasting. However, the quality of wines tasted was quite high.
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12/17/2013 - sphBacchus Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted for a couple of hours - dark red with plenty of red berries on the nose and a good length .
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12/15/2013 - strickt01 wrote: 89 Points
Textbook claret: well structured, contains all the expected elements with no noticeable faults, but ultimately leaves one rather disinterested. It needs something to bring it alive. Time?
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11/23/2013 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine: 94 Points
Just a great bottle of Bordeaux, stunning. Nose of graphite, pencil shavings all around a dark fruit core, palate has a great mix of dark fruit, spice and mineral notes, relatively smooth palate with slight drying tannins only showing themselves at the very end still got 10+ years left
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10/8/2013 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Crustacean: complex spice, clove, dusty cinnamon, black fruits, leather, soft, aging well but a little light in mid-palate; should hold for 5 years+ but drinking well now. 91-92
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10/7/2013 - tomlee wrote: 93 Points
Magenta in color. 13% ABV. Soaring nose of blackberry, currant and just a hint of vitamin. Pencil, cedar, violets, cherry and earth on the palate. Great fruit, ripe tannins, integrated acids and an exceptional finish. Exceptional now and should show well for another 10 years.
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10/3/2013 - kenv Likes this wine: 93 Points
WCC 2000 Bordeaux Blind (Dorato's Resturant, Guilderland, NY): [Decanted at 1pm and put back in the bottle at 6pm.] Sweet red fruit. Quite a relief after the last flight. Good tannic structure but quite drinkable tonight. My #3 WOTN.
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8/31/2013 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dark red,perfect cork, drank over three hours. Blackberry,stones and cedar on the nose that continues on the palate. Tannins are soft and ready to go. Still has complex fruit and a moderately long finish. Good balance, and still has a long life ahead of it.
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8/29/2013 - nytiger wrote:
bland and of little interest- off bottle ?- or dumb stage?
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7/31/2013 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 87 Points
Smooth, fine-grained, discreet claret, with attractive blackcurrant fruit and some oak. Medium weight and rounded. Drinking very well now.
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7/17/2013 - petenich Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice inky color, not getting much of a nose. I think there is enough fruit and middle to let this go a bit longer. Tannins are certainly still here, but not dominant. Finish is pretty long.
Just came back to the bottle after what 5 minutes, and now a very strong and pronounced vegetable/barnyard nose. This is the most what I would call bottle stink I have ever experienced. Will be interesting to see what comes in 2 hours or so.
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6/29/2013 - Winiac wrote: 88 Points
A bit light on the palate but good minerality. Flavors disappeared from the palate with a very short length.
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6/28/2013 - BarryInSeattle wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful, complex, deep, earthy - everything I look for in a Grand Cru. No sign of over-aging at 13 years (if only all our older French vintages had held up this well!)
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6/28/2013 - CWang wrote: 92 Points
My wine of the night though it took 2 hours of air time in the bottle and an additional hour in the glass to showcase itself; therefore, still not really entering its drinking window yet; overall, 92-93 points for now; another 5 years of cellar time recommended.
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6/3/2013 - MattTM wrote:
La Commanderie de Bordeaux: Les Cinq (Five Sails - Vancouver, BC): Once again a very pure expression of fruit on the nose showing plenty of ripe red cherry, coffee beans, and some vitamin C notes. This leans more towards the red fruit side of the spectrum with some lead pencil hiding in the background along with rich black currants. Plenty more lead pencil on the palate with lots of red cherries, black currants, as well as some spice and more vitamin notes. Tightly wound with drying tannins and in need of plenty of time in the cellar, although I'm not convinced of a great future by this showing. Very fresh and pure, but not much too it and not really my style at all. This fleshed out and gained some interest as it sat in the glass, but never fully came around to show much excitement. Very good-
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4/26/2013 - Cheungtp Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful dark ruby red, with charming nose of lead pencil, earth, purple fruits, licorice, and touches of cigar and oak. Needed a bit of time to open up. When hitting the palate, there's funky black fruits, chocolate, burned vanilla, spice and minerals. Tannins are noticeable, but very fine and sweet. Medium length finish with sweet plum, tobacco leaf and spice. Classic, rich mouthfeel. Solid structure, great balance and very smooth.
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4/12/2013 - Rich.Herbs wrote:
I found this wine closed, with a green vegetable side taste, a long finish, but off center into a slightly acidic direction. Despite some efforts, I could not taste the balance and elegance described by other tasters, appart from Soyhead who seems to have shared my experience.
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3/31/2013 - glaze3 wrote:
Drinking really well now. Perfumed nose of purple flowers and saddle leather. Palate explodes with energetic blue and black fruit, nice tension and resolved tannins. Going to be hard to keep my hands off my remaining bottles.
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3/23/2013 - canan wrote: 92 Points
Misc Bordeaux (Frederiksberg): Restrained black currant fruit on the nose which remains sharp and clean.
Watery black currant fruit flavors with a slightly too dry aftertaste but still a solid wine.
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1/23/2013 - guribh wrote:
peak drinking. will stay at this plateau for 5-10 more years.
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1/5/2013 - jonggj wrote: 93 Points
Unfortunately last bottle of classic st Julien. Realy enjoyed this bottle.
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12/31/2012 - CManthei Likes this wine: 93 Points
Violets, vanillla, blueberry jam and creamy raspberry pie. This wine is in its prime -- wonderfully smooth tannins, lush and oppulent. This wine screamed blueberry jam, but in sort of a sexy, smooth way. I suspect that those that didn't find it "very open" or fruity didn't decant long enough. I loved it....
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12/28/2012 - hdchappy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lighter fruit, earthy and ashy but still smooth with no bite, drinking well. This wine finished 3rd in a 5 person blind tasting of 5 other aged Bordeaux. 1st 2003 Croix de Labrie, 2nd 2004 Ponte Canet, 3rd 2000 Branaire Ducru, 4th 2000 Haut Bailly, 5th 1999 Lynch Bages and 6th 2000 Gazin.
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12/26/2012 - Grapacious Likes this wine: 89 Points
This a good wine, but i could buy a wine tomorrow for a third of the price which would be equally as good.
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12/14/2012 - soyhead wrote: 87 Points
4th Annual Best of Bordeaux vs Kings of Kalifornia (Yan's China Bistro): tasted blind
nose - crushed vitamin C tablets, cranberry, sour
mouth - unbalanced, acids whop the tannins and fruit. for food. not bad but a few of my compadres were quite unimpressed.
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11/9/2012 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Offline with Hawaii Wine-O's; 11/9/2012-11/10/2012 (Haggis Home- Honolulu): Opened at the Hawaii offline. 2nd time I have had this wine. Last time was in 2003 and it was better than before. Lead pencil shaving aromas. Mocha, berry and cedar notes. Solid tannins. Smooth and long finish. Starting to really come into it's own. 93-94 points.
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10/27/2012 - cooberp wrote: 88 Points
Translucent crimson. Pure blackcurrant nose well-complemented by a honey element. But flat, short, and monochromatic in the mouth. I'm not sure where the structure went here.
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10/20/2012 - rnellans wrote: 92 Points
Served at a party...did not really analyze, but very approachable.
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9/15/2012 - dkhale4 wrote: 93 Points
Vibrant red and black fruit explode from the glass suggesting this bottle was not 12 years old. The terrior of bordeaux is present, and the quality of the 2000 vintage is evident. Everything is here and in the right place.
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8/8/2012 - wineismylife wrote: 93 Points
Dallas 2nd Wednesday Group - August 2012 - In Memory of David White (Suze, Dallas, Texas): WIML93
Tasted non blind.
Dark garnet color in the glass, clear looking throughout. Nose of potpourri, perfume, spice and mixed dark fruits. Flavors of black berries, black cherries and plums. Bright acidity, firm tannins, full bodied. Drink now with some air (had roughly 90 minutes by the time I got to it) or continue to hold. No rush on this wine.
This wine was definitely drinking about its' pay grade this evening. I might even go WIML94.
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8/4/2012 - La Grappe wrote: 90 Points
This is drinking quite well, but there is still some tannin on the finish so it may improve further. Even so, it has fine, well balanced and elegant fruit; soft and velvety. A fine claret by any standard.
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7/16/2012 - AgedGed Likes this wine: 93 Points
The old adage about only being great bottles of wine is proven by this bottle. Had same wine from same purchase a few months earlier and it was ok but not great. This one was truly delightful. Dark red, viscous, sweet expression of fruit on nose. Palate was superbly balanced, lovely fruit, soft tannins, integrated acids, rewarding finish. A lovely Bordeaux.
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6/4/2012 - johnh1001 wrote: 89 Points
Decanted and drank over 5 hours. Young, fairly tight nose of dark fruit, tobacco and leather. The palate was very primary with deep dark fruit, earth and some tannin. Silky and round in the mouth and a medium finish. This is nice and believe it needs more time.
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5/29/2012 - La Grappe wrote: 88 Points
I have normally found this better than Ch Clerc Milon 2000, drunk recently, but not on this occasion. There is certainly depth and concentration to the wine, but also a slightly green, woody edge to it, although this did diminish with time. Very good, but we have had better bottles.
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5/10/2012 - AgedGed wrote: 87 Points
Hint of tawny on rim, slightly acetone nose. Good acids and tannins,mid-weight fruit, nice finish but not great.
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5/1/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Truffle, tobacco, smoke, cigar box and cassis are found in the nose. Polished, round and filled with juicy, red and black fruits, with ripe tannins, give this another few years and enjoy it for at least 15-20 more years.
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3/30/2012 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
The fill was into the neck and the cork was sound; opened about an hour before dinner and consumed over the following two hours. A youthful appearance with no obvious signs of age. An expressive bouquet, but still on the primary end of the spectrum, with notes of ripe dark fruits (cassis and a bit of plum) flower, and hints of gravel. Medium-bodied with a lovely texture, good balance and depth, and a long and structured finish. I think this will develop more complexity over the next decade or so.
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2/18/2012 - hoservin wrote: 91 Points
Aerated with Vinturi and decanted for 2.5 hours. Nose is a beautiful blend of blackberry, black currant, leather, and violets. Tart dark fruit, silky tannins, and minerals lead to a dry, smooth finish. Medium bodied with a medium-to-long finish. Well made and well balanced. I'm interested to see how this matures, and if it will gain some body. Paired well with Greek tenderloin.
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1/31/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 93 Points
Decanted for about 1 hour, but it did not need that much airtime. Intoxicating nose of cassis, earth, minerals, leather, forest floor and oak. Medium bodied with a silky smooth texture, excellent balance with no sharp edges and a nice medium +, fruity finish. While not a blockbuster, this is a very good, textbook example of a mature St. Julien. 92-93
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1/28/2012 - ajslyons Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rich , creamy fruit. Gentle and delicious. 2 hours decanted
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12/25/2011 - bullmrkt wrote: 91 Points
Subdued red fruits, leather, the tannins have melted and the acid structure is intact for medium body and smooth and fairly long finish. With the edgy tannins out of the way, the question is the direction. Will this pick up some weight, or has the fruit has already begun to fade? I'll check back in 5 years or so, but I'm really wondering if it will last much longer than that. I drank this alongside a 2000 La Croix St Georges, which was fuller and more fleshed out.
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12/17/2011 - nytiger wrote: 91 Points
nice nose flavors and finish
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10/30/2011 - Maestro wrote: 92 Points
Very well-made, with a focused nose displaying cassis, wet earth, a hint of tobacco and leather. The palate is smooth, with ripe tannins and no hard edges. But the wine seems to me to be a good 4-5 years before its prime and deserves more cellaring to build more of its secondary aromas. Drink from 2015.
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10/27/2011 - La Grappe wrote: 90 Points
Fine blackcurrant fruit, discreet oak, with hints of spice and coffee; fairly intense and elegant, with good balance. We recently had also Ch Clerc Milon 2000, and this is a step up.
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10/19/2011 - darrenhe wrote: 85 Points
Thought I'd give this wine another run out and must say the same level of disapointment as previously. Just don't get it!....heralded vintage, OK not so much now in light of 05, 09, 10 but having enjoyed other less heralded ones, I thought this would be a good bet....or at least show signs of it. This is just a pretty weak claret with no charm. Got 4 bottles left and on this showing I am tempted to sell them on........I think the 07 is actually more enjoyable at present!!!
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8/1/2011 - JulienGraves wrote: 92 Points
Still young; harsh tannins are gone. Balance is emerging. Great color and long finish. Delightful
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6/12/2011 - pilot360 wrote:
Mature St Julian, soft background cedar, violets, fragrant, sweet cassias and earth/mushrooms. Nice tartness, tannins are silky.
Good 30 sec finish. Would say drinking well now and this bottle had more life in it.
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6/12/2011 - METRIK wrote: 90 Points
I was hoping for a little more out of this bottle. Good St. Julien. We'll see if this develops further. Will try again in the future.
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5/14/2011 - fizz Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Still primary - fresh, dense but harmonious, blackberry and cassis. Has a great future ahead of it.
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4/17/2011 - Gizmo2011 wrote: 87 Points
msg salty too acid not balanced at all
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4/5/2011 - freka586 wrote:
D: Varmare/sötare doft än övriga viner i provningen. Mörk frukt och fat.
S: Kraftiga, torra tanniner, hög syra. Känns ung. Doft och smak är verkligen olika!
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3/16/2011 - kenhoeve wrote: 91 Points
Pnp then decanted and consumed over 3 hours. Lovely if reticent nose of black cherry and oak. Full and immediately powerful on the front palate, plum with depth, red/black cherry on the midpalate as a very coy green(slightly vegetal?) note moves through quite nicely, with mild oak omnipresent. Slightly drying tannins that are well hidden. And the finish, oh my. Long gripping finish of dried cherry, dried strawberry, with florality, that lingers, even after a drink of water. Unfortunately this wine could not stand up to food of any kind, acid laid bare the alcohol while sweetness of any kind flattened the wine squeezing any life out of it. If you can't enjoy St. Julien with duck and blackberry gastrique, well, something is wrong. On it's own this wine is solid A material. Due to balance issues, B+/A-. Will continue to improve though.
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3/6/2011 - edjBoca wrote:
My bottles have been stored at 54F since they were released to me. The tannins have receded significantly, but this bottle showed lots of acid and it is nowhere near ready to drink IMO. The '95 Smith Haute Lafitte drank yesterday as well, was drinking great !
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2/21/2011 - sterin wrote: 93 Points
Unfortunately, this was over matched with a 2004 Lafite at the table...so an otherwise awesome bottle of wine was completely overshadowed.
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1/9/2011 - dxpian wrote: 91 Points
Vibrant purple color with slight ruby hue on the rim. Very attractive nose, floral with an abundance of blackberry, black currant, ripe blue berry, lavendar, vanilla chocolate and cedar aromas and a bouquet of spice, almond and cigar box. Full body. On the attack, blue berry and sour cherry show up very well with lots of blackberry and currant. Still young, needs time to open up more. Acidity is a bit high, which throws the wine a little off-balance on the middle palate. A solid backbone along with some ripe tannins. Medium finish. Acid dominates the finish with some soft tannins and fruits opening up showing cherry and plum components. Solid effort from Branaire but falls a little below my initial expectation with some really high critical acclaim. 91 points.
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12/19/2010 - dcasper wrote: 86 Points
this had an odd smell upon opening, however it softened as it sat in the decanter. all around very light but with a long finish with raspberry and licorice.
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12/6/2010 - kscopela wrote: 94 Points
Awesome
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12/4/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at Greg & Tina's: From magnum. Decanter for a couple of hours. Aromatic nose of graphite, plums and blackberries. Rich and dense.
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10/16/2010 - dcasper wrote: 85 Points
tight at the start, actually smelled like pencil for about 10 minutes. decanted an hour and it opened up. muted fruit but a nice long sliky finish
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10/15/2010 - Saint Stephen wrote: 90 Points
The younger end of a smallish vertical tasting of Branaire Ducru started with the 2000. Didn't take specific notes but overall impressions were of a closed wine with primary fruit and unresolved tannins. Reinforces that my palate preference in Bdx is wines with plenty of age on them. Also, I was somewhat surprised by the monolith that was all of the Branaire vintages from 00-05, even lesser years like 02 and 04. I felt hard pressed to distinguish significant differences among them. The 03 is probably most approachable (02?). The 00 and 05 should sleep for another decade.
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10/14/2010 - salil wrote: 88 Points
Very dense and primary, perhaps slightly closed right now showing some deep cassis and black cherry fruit around a spine of firm tannins. There's a sense of real power and weight here and the balance is very impressive, but it's not yielding much right now.
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9/18/2010 - wurzel68 wrote: 90 Points
Braucht noch Zeit, um sich am Gaumen zu finden; beeindruckende Nase!
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8/20/2010 - EyeDoc wrote: 92 Points
I like this wine. Sure, I should hold it but I won't - delicious now.
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8/11/2010 - Sotto325 wrote: 90 Points
Still young. Elegant and very typical St Julien. Nose was slightly open and well integrated with terroir-palate had blackberries and elegant fruit. I am hesitant to give it a full rating until the promise of the 2000 vintage delivers. I would wait until 2012 or more.
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7/22/2010 - JimHow wrote: 94 Points
There was nothing in the two 2000 Bordeauxs we had with dinner this evening that dissuaded me from my belief that the 2000 Bordeaux vintage may be the best overall vintage I have experienced in my lifetime. I've been saying that now for some time and the 2000 Branaire and Pontet Canet confirmed that viewpoint this evening. The Branaire was stunning. Talk about the velvet glove, the combination of elegance and power. Drinking so wonderfully now, but it has many, many more years ahead of it... at least another two decades. It was seamless, with no rough edges from the moment it was popped and poured. I know many things changed between 1982 and 2000, but, damn it, this reminded me of the 1982 Branaire I've had a couple times. I refuse to get into any sort of over-analysis as to whether this wine was modernized, parkerized, internationalized, etc.... All I know is what my senses told me, that this black-berried, black-cherry beauty was just pure velvety, quintessential St. Julien. What a lovely wine! Beautify ruby color that provided a lovely contrast with the deep purple of the more rugged Pontet Canet. They are making a good product here, but that is not earth-shattering news. So, to answer blanquito's question from a couple days ago: In my opinion, Branaire is no fluke, they truly are reaching to that next level of quality in Bordeaux. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up. A very classy wine.
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7/3/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 91 Points
PN/Esther dinner (Drawing Room): nice perfume of wet gravel and jammy blackberries. richer, denser, more multi-layer than Lagrange.
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5/6/2010 - wineismylife Likes this wine: 92 Points
WIML92
Opened and served immediately. Garnet to dark garnet color in the glass, clear hue throughout. Nose of talc, potpourri, black cherries and black berries. Flavors of black cherries, black berries, plums and a hint of currant. Medium to bright acidity, medium tannins, medium to full bodied. Drink or hold into the medium term easily.
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4/19/2010 - michael47 wrote: 91 Points
Very dark black purple red no fading. Nose closed (wine was a little cool at cellar temp.) Nice plummy fruit with toasty oak and buttressed with soft tannins. Lovely wine that still needs 5+ more years to open up.
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4/13/2010 - rickspicks wrote: 93 Points
Popped and poured a half glass and then decided it needed to be decanted. Lovely aromas and flavors of cassis, graphite, earth and oak. Creamy, rich, medium-bodied mouthfeel with excellent balance, sweet fruits and a fruity persistent finish. Still rather young with firm tannins and bracing acidity. This is going to improve with cellar time, but is a very tasty bottle of wine right now.
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4/8/2010 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Great aromatics; one of the most vivid expressions of graphite I've ever smelled in a wine with cassis, cigar smoke and cedary accents. Right in my zone as far as young Bordeaux goes with a great combination of fruit and other savoury graphite, tobacco and earthy flavours on a frame that's medium bodied, nicely structured with a spine of grainy tannins and bright acids and really well balanced.
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3/28/2010 - Beachrooster Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark red. Complex aromas of roasted cherry, minerals, oak, smoke, and black fruits. Super ripe fruit but boarding on over ripeness. Soft and elegant. A classic style structure with accessible tannins. Long smooth and satisfying finish.
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3/22/2010 - WetRock wrote:
Eldon Dumps His Bordeaux (Wine Cellar Club, Irvine, CA): Young somewhat tight nose showing violets, beef blood and chocolate. Tight with young fruit and feeling a bit disjointed. Thick tannins. Really in need of time and air. Hard to read today.
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2/20/2010 - darrenhe wrote: 85 Points
A first taste of one of my favourite wines from a highly rated vintage. I must say I am a bit disappointed!....I am sure this will be a great wine one day but it is un-balanced and un-resolved at present. Having drunk the 1999, 1997 and 2003 before I was hoping for the elegance of the 90's bottles with a bit more of the body of the 2003. This is a tad light at present and the core of the fruit missing a little bit of sweetness.....starting to come together a bit after 6-hours of breathing . I daresay this will be great but going to leave my 5 remaining bottles a few years!!
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2/19/2010 - Arcturus wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux 2000 - blind tasting: This took a while to come around but gained momentum toward the end of the night. Brawnier than the other 4 (see Bordeaux 2000-blind tasting), rich nose of dark fruit minerals, smoke and hint of oak. Still lots of tannins-great steak wine right now. 93 My #2, Groups #5.
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2/19/2010 - rcsam wrote: 91 Points
Immature but with potential. Opened 3 hours and poured out one glass. Did not open up all night. Tannins are softening and some excellent background taste of graphite and fruit but we will not see it for 5 plus years. Little sediment in bottle. Put it away and forget it.
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2/14/2010 - EyeDoc wrote: 92 Points
I should know better than to drink this wine too young. This wine had incredible fruit as an infant - it is now morphing into a more mature wine but what seems to be a glacial pace. There is plenty of fruit still but it is lurking - the tannin is ever present and gives a persistent long finish. Ok, this wine is not a LLC nor even a Ducru Beaucaillou - but it has the St. Julien pedigree and it simply needs more time to really show its full potential. I need to hide what I have left for another 5 years plus....
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1/30/2010 - bkhaz wrote: 90 Points
nose-raspberries and green peppers. Taste - vegetal, complex good tobacco firm tannins drank after decanting 1 hr.
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1/18/2010 - sterin wrote: 95 Points
Drinking very well right now.
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1/8/2010 - cns wrote: 88 Points
Veggies all the way ... good structure, length, grip .. all there, I just wish for a hint of fruit.
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12/30/2009 - legend wrote: 96 Points
after 2 hours airing this was beautifully fragrant with red berries,sweetness and lift-it had a full attack with smooth silky tannins and some pepper with an elegant 30 second finish.This is drinking beautifully now but with many years left ahead of it-fantastic!
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12/28/2009 - pfromen wrote: 94 Points
This bottle was incredible. We decanted for about 1.5 - 2 hours. This is definitely at the beginning of its drinking window. Berries, earth and some tobacco on the nose. Plenty of complex fruit...blueberries and blackberries. Nice subtle earthiness and soft tannins. Full mouthfeel but not over powering. Long finish. Fantastic wine.
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12/25/2009 - MichaelJennings wrote: 92 Points
Classic Bordeaux: flowers, berries, cigar box on nose; still a fair amount of soft tannin in mouth, but fat, rich, lovely. Wait another five years.
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12/7/2009 - kscopela wrote: 94 Points
Great earthy and green peppers on the nose. Classic old world wine on the palatte and great finish.
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11/20/2009 - Miceri wrote: 92 Points
Bordeaux red; nose: Leather, pencil; well structured, round, full-bodied but not heavy, perhaps a bit flat lacking excitement; still quite some tannin; good long aftertaste. Quite good
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11/2/2009 - Raph1234 wrote: 96 Points
Fantastic wine. Tanic, potent. More years to go before reaches full potential.
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10/2/2009 - balassis wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby, with scents of fresh tobacco leaves, cοcοa powder, and wild cherries.
Med to full on the palate, with flavors of berries, dark chocolate, espresso coffee, oaky vanilla and spices (esp. clove).
Still very young and promising, with high level of acidity and vibrant tannins.
Very long aftertaste.
A very nice St. Julien to drink absolutely!
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8/28/2009 - subir wrote: 86 Points
Bottle was open for about 1.5 hours before we started drinking it, but I did not decant, perhaps I should have. Great color, but an elusive nose, was more tannic than I expected. Will wait a couple more years before opening the rest.
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8/22/2009 - Rollerball wrote: 89 Points
2-hr double decant. As compared to prior bottles this seemed tired or muted, or possibly it just couldn't stand up to a side-by-side with the 2003 Cuvee du Vatican CdP Sixtine.
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5/17/2009 - wynnewood500 wrote: 93 Points
Spectatular bottle. Pop and pour. Quite tannic but delicious. Should last many years.
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5/10/2009 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Took a taste, thought about decanting and decided not to. It was delicious with everything I love about Bordeaux. A smoky, tobacco filled nose, dark fruit on the palate with a finish that never ended. Excellent choice with filet mignon and sauteed hen of the woods on Mother's Day.
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4/25/2009 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
3-hr decant. A dark purple wine. Copper, flowers, wintergreen, and dark fruits on the nose. A food-friendly palate of medium-weight, pure berries and tart cassis, finishing with a chorus of fresh fruit. Perfect pairing with grilled lamb chops and a mint garlic yogurt sauce; it's like it was made for the fat of that lamb.
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4/14/2009 - ebergan wrote: 87 Points
Last minute decision, no decanting time. Still very tannic, so tough to tell how this one is going to open up - it still has years to go.
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3/14/2009 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
2-hr decant. Still very purple, with a great bouquet of blackberry, redwood, cedar, and coffee. Not quite full-bodied, but certainly established, the flavors mirror the nose, plus currant and chocolate, ending with a breath of bubblegum. Each element expresses itself well in its place.
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1/4/2009 - gsquireh wrote: 93 Points
Wonderfully balanced fleshy smooth red and black fruited beauty. All the best characteristics of Saint Julien promising nose of vanilla this seamless classic is luscious in the mouth and has a long lingering velvet finish.
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11/2/2008 - tbone wrote:
Decanted for 2+ hours and never really opened up. You could tell some good things were brewing below the surface, but this wine never showed it's personality this night. It followed a 03 Loire cab franc that was superb, so that didn't help.
Tried rest of bottle (1/2 glass) 2 nights later and it has really blossomed into a full bodied, hedonistic bordeaux. This wine should last a long time in cellar. I guess we didn't decant long enough on night 1.
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9/28/2008 - mdenigris3 wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 1 1/2 hours. Somewhat muted, mellow nose. Berry, plum, other red fruit on the pallet. Firm, unobtrusive tannins are well integrated. Nice special occasion wine to pair with french cooking. Paired beautifully with crusted rack of lamb.
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9/1/2008 - FieldingYost wrote: 93 Points
Expansive aromas of blackberry, black plum, cassis. Firm tannins, and a finish that goes on and on. Just beginning to come around I think, and it needs time to integrate. Showing some wild blackberry, plum flavors, but it is holding back. Try again in 5-10 years.
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8/19/2008 - johnwine wrote: 93 Points
Once again I agree with Parker’s description and rating of this wine. It is early in its life and will continue to improve for many years. Wait at least 5 years before trying it again.
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7/9/2008 - Siggy wrote: flawed
Tasting Group Dinner - Bordeaux (Fugaise, Minneapolis): Corked.
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6/14/2008 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
The easy to find aromatics offer chocolate covered, black fruit and spice. Similar in weight to the 03, but different in style, this finesse filled St. Julien needs a few more years until its ready for prime time drinking.
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3/31/2008 - MCM wrote: 94 Points
Bursting with ripe red fruit, with lovely structure. For me, this has just entered what is likely to be a long optimum drinking window.
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2/27/2008 - loverboy wrote: 92 Points
Deep dark Ruby in colour, fruity red berries nose, with fine tannin. quite ready to drink
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2/23/2008 - Roberto_1 wrote: 93 Points
Closed at first this wine opened nicely with decanting. The nose shows dark red fruits with notes of licorice, spice and bakeshop. The palate has ripe, round fruit that is in great balance with the sweet, firm tannins. Should be a repeat of the '82.
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1/29/2008 - Pacherant wrote: 90 Points
Slightly tart, medium bodied and not too opulent. I presume it will get better- even now though, quite a classy wine
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7/25/2007 - MRichman wrote:
Branaire Ducru in NYC (Il Corso): Dense, solid. Acidic tannins need to resolve. Should mellow nicely.
B+
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2/10/2007 - Jozefs wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with friends at Vin Perdu. This was opened and decanted about an hour and a half before pouring. Started initially with lots of tannins and black coffee notes, but after a few minutes in the glass the black fruit began to shine through. Still needs time in the bottle or a long decant if tasted now. Upside potential.
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8/3/2006 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
NW Chicago Pits 2000 Bordeaux versus 2001 Cali Cabernet (La Tasca - Arlington Heights): Dark purple in color with an aromatic nose of cloves, licorice and black fruits. Medium bodied on the palate. Fruit is somewhat subdued by the tannic structure. Very good upside here, but one to lay down for a couple of years.
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4/7/2006 - asianwinehunter wrote: 93 Points
This is not ready by any means come back in 5-7 years and should last for another 10. Nose is extremely attractive. Mid-palate has substance and layering while finish stays in the throat. Needs about 2-3 hours of air time right now 'wake' it up. Just needs time.
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11/19/2005 - MRichman wrote:
St. Julien Fest (NYC): Short and a bit muted. Dark fruit. Young.
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5/15/2004 - Jeff W wrote:
Good fruit, but dry on the finish. Intense, dry tannins. "Needs a decade" g
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11/1/2003 - caldwell wrote:
Consumed a bottle with Jared. Needed an hour to open. Dense raspberries on the nose. Lots of structure and a fair bit of tannin. Quite ripe. Will be very nice in the future. This was more closed down than the first bottle.
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10/1/2003 - caldwell wrote:
Wonderful wine; dark ripe raspberries and a Bordeaux quality of taste.
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1/21/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 93 Points
2000 Bordeaux Tasting (Chicago, IL): Outstanding super-ripe sweet red currant fruit! Lots of sensations going on here: sage, minerals, spice, toast, oak. Excellent balance and sweet tannin!
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1/20/2003 - otisabdul wrote: 91 Points
Tasted at the Union des Grand Crus trade tasting. Has alot going for it: fine tannins, nice balance, silky texture. The fruit is just a bit on the sour/tart side. Could certainly smooth out with time and become really special. Excellent value at $29.
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1/17/2003 - Vino Me wrote: 92 Points
Union des Grand Crus de Bordeaux (2000 Vintage) (Intercontinental Hotel Chicago): The cepage is 70% Cab Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 5% Cab Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Nice dark red color. This had a sweet candied fruit nose with rasberries predominant. On the palate I noted tobacco, plum and anise. This was a well integrated wine with a long finish. 91-93 points.
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