Been cellaring this wine for over a decade and tonight, the kids are (finally) asleep, prepared a winter meal and its time to pull the cork. 2 hrs decant. Intense Margaux perfume with underneath the delicate red fruits loads of wood fire, rose petals, iron and cigar boxes. Palate of summer forest floor, black tea, rosehip, prunes and dried strawberries. Gently drying tannines guide you to a smooth long finish.
A lovely Margaux from clearly a different era with only 12,5% abv and more focus on refined delicacy.
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Bouquet filled with earthy notes, cassis and ripe fruit. The medium palate is ready from the get go, ripe in a classic way, cedar, cassis, graphite and leafiness. Fragrant flavors, which I associate with the Margaux appellation but this time not at fore front, more at back but still there. Fresh acidity and resolved tannins. Long finish with salty licorice. More complex and a notch up from the recently tasted excellent Priure Lichine of the same year. This is simply great and at the peak of its powers. One of the highlights of this year, especially considering the QPR.
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Received a partial bottle from my Oenophile neighbor. 12.5% abv
Spouse and I each had a half glass. Dark purplish red on the pour, opaque in the glass. Heavenly nose of dark red fruit; Blackberry, Cassis and some Plum. Nice, full, round mouth feel with some tobacco and leather notes. Well-integrated but slightly astringint. Subtle tannins leave a little pucker, and ample acidity results in a pleasing, lingering finish. Overall Smooth and Elegant.
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Great nose, with a perfect balance between primary and secondary, lovely pure purple fruit and a hint of fresh soil, undergrowth and tobacco. Tannins have melted away, but the wine still looks fresh and young, which speaks to the quality of the vintage. Beautifully balanced, subtle length and in a great spot right now. Recommended.
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Deep red and black fruits, cherry, blackberry, earth, tar, leather, forest floor, violets, herbs and some mushrooms on the finish. Loads of character. I loved this bottle more than the last.
It is mature. Drink now.
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Opened this wine at Asia Grand Restaurant (Fairmont Hotel) with my wine mates to celebrate the year end festival season. Theme of the evening: Wines which are 20 years and older.
Wine is well integrated and evolved at this stage and drinking very nicely. Fragrance of wild mushrooms, forest floor, wet rocks were evident, with some of the primary black fruits still lingering.
A very good wine, from a fabulous vintage.
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Ouvert et bu. Grenat foncé. Epices, cassis, cèdre, léger, manque de matière mais bien équilibré, herbacé, agréable, finale moyenne un peu sèche. (3ème bouteille de qualité similaire)
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Note de février s’applique tout à fait, cassis, fumée, une touche de jus de viande, menthol. Joli Margaux en finesse, à l’ancienne, commence un peu à sécher en finale.
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NOSE: Mature nose with some oak, pencil,rhubarb, meaty cherry pits, black currant, leather, tar, wet leaves, earthy notes. Later, from the empty glass; field strawberries and violets. (91-92p) TASTE: Fairly mature in the mouth as well; mature but fresh fruitiness, slightly sweet, slightly acidic. This sweet and sour theme really carries the wine which is medium to medium light bodied, with a certain elegance and is fairly balanced. (89-90p) FINISH: Touches of almost raw dark cherry fruit but rather short. (87p) OVERALL: Starts out a bit unassuming but needs and grows with time. The nose is just wonderful. The body perhaps a bit light while I think the wine itself is at or possibly slightly past peak maturity. I think it will keep for several years but wonder if it may gradually lose body and intensity of flavour. Worked very well with leg of mutton. TOTAL SCORE 90 points.
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J'étais curieux de goûter une bouteille vu les commentaires élogieux de certains. Disons d'emblée que, pour moi, il s'agit d'un margaux de la vieille école et qui manque de matière pour un 2000. Le niveau était mid neck et le bouchon à peine imbibé. Robe grenat foncé. Au nez, jolis arômes de cassis, mais surtout de pivoines et autres fleurs, de cendres. En bouche, le vin est plutôt fin et délicat, léger et digeste. La finale est de longueur moyenne et un peu sèche. A boire mais sans urgence non plus. 90-91
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Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Bordeaux; Margaux (@ RW): Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, laurel, licorice and bacon. On the palate herbs and spices, autumn impressions, green bell pepper, firm acidity and sticky tannin. Beautiful and mature wine which will stay on this level for several more years.
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At Hawksmoor Bordeaux dinner. Very deep ruby, narrow pale rim. Dark fruited nose, ripe, slightly baked, touch of mineral. Quite rich. Medium/full bodied, rich dark fruit, some firm underlying tannin still but well covered, fresh acidity, decent length. Excellent and should improve.
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Christmas Claret: Blind. Dense and deep fully ruby. Violet and blackcurrant nose. Quite rich and plush, but tannins a little blocky and drying. Guess a Margaux, though no idea which chateau, and 03. With air there’s a maturing classic claret here, classic profile emerging, but needs a little more time. ***(*)
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deep red color starting to mature, bright plums and cassis on the nose with a hint of bell pepper, cedar, on the palate still closed but with a bright and ripe fruit peeking out from a firm peppery base, polished tannins, lovely floral hints, fine long finish where more hints of the lovely fruit to come are evident, not a Bordeaux I have encountered before, quite good- even by 2000s high standards.
(***)+, possibly (****) in time, 2030+
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Classically Margaux. Expressive nose of dried flowers, cassis, leather and wood. Full bodied palate with dark fruits, earth and tobacco. Sweeping fine tannins holding it together. Harmonious and balanced with great persistence. Elegant mature Bordeaux from a chateau that too rarely delivers on its 2nd growth status. Drink until 2030+.
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After a slightly underwhelming bottle last year, this one was back on track. Perfect fill level and I could see why on removing the very tight cork, which showed no sign of seepage at all. The bouquet hit as soon as the cork was out, fresh flowers and blackcurrant, which of course were even better in the glass, with now a little earth and tobacco, plus a rich seam of raspberry. I didn't decant, which was a mistake, since it really needed aeration - this is still an adolescent. There is quite a brooding, tannic structure, it's a big, full bodied, classic wine, with blackcurrant, leading into dark cherry, then blackberry and a touch of leather, before finishing on a dusty, elegant note of typical Margaux finesse. After a few hours, the raspberry arrived too in the middle section and overall a very impressive wine.
Normally, RG is not on the same level as RS for obvious reasons, but on the basis of the bottles I've tried until now, 2000 is the exception - the Gassies is a lot bigger, better structured and for the long haul. I wouldn't say it is quite as good as Brane or Giscours, nor BAMA, but it isn't far off - so very good value.
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Well-integrated tannins with notes of leather, dark fruit, tobacco and toasted oak. Well made and very enjoyable. This doesn’t need a decant and should hold just a bit longer.
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Really pleasantly surprised when I cracked open my penultimate bottle of this, from a case purchased en primeur. It’s been a few years since I last tried it, maybe 5 or 6 and I actually enjoyed it more in its 20th year than I did in its teens, adulthood suits it. It’s drinking so well that I will probably enjoy the last bottle this year to replicate the joy. Lovely balance, after 15 minutes in the glass ( I didn’t bother to decant it- the sediment had pretty much glued itself to the inside of the bottle) it opened up to reveal lovely tobacco nuances and a blend of forest fruits, medium bodied, fine grained well integrated tannins, very harmonious and it paired beautifully with a fillet steak in a mushroom and Duke of Clarence Madeira sauce. As much enjoyment as I would ever hope to get from a mature, but by no means past it, claret.
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Slightly underwhelming, it still has plenty of rich body, full of blackcurrant, but it never really took off: a bit monolithic, compared to previous bottles. The fruit didn't taste as if it was declining and the thick, viscous texture means that I'm not concerned, this has plenty of future. Just a bad patch.
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Believe it or not, i just opened this crate and have 11 more to go. This is great. Rarely do you come across a more harmonious wine. The nose is powerful and remarkably fresh. The loaded sweet fruit display lingers on the palate, tannins are balanced and super smooth, intense fruit and hints of leather, coffee and a little honey lifts it up. The finish is medium long and remarkably fresh and uplifting. It must be at peak, and one of my best value buys of the 2000 vintage.
Last bottle of a case bought in 2002 as futures. Still drinking well. Nice balance, great QPR. Not complex. Will not improve. Expect about 2 years more before decline begins.
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Very drinkable fully mature, starting into decline but still delicious. Not very complex beyond classic old Bordeaux whack of leather and forest floor, lacking depth but a certain charm. Good mid week wine. Didn’t really need a decant and didn’t evolve much with air.
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Drank this last of 2 bottles today, with rack of lamb on Easter Sunday. Beautiful pairing, the wine showed tertiary aromas and flavors of wet soil, tar, mushroom, black currant, pencil lead, leather, etc. Delicious, tried next to 2004 Seavey Estate Cab, and the whole family liked both wines alot, but preferred the Margaux with the Lamb. The tannins are nicely resolved, this wine is in a great window now and for the next year. Catch it while it is great, if you have a few bottles left, crack one soon. Fantastic WFTM.
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Only managed to buy one of these recently - a lovely product of 2000. Not yet at peak - has a youthful air and Secondaries are barely peeking out. This has quite a few years left in my view - enjoyable now but more rewarding later if well stored.
At peak! Don't wait! Sweet cedar and dark fruit on the nose. Fantastic fruit in the mouth. Tannins are soft. By the second night this had faded a bit. Absolutely gorgeous now. I'm sad it's gone but at least I'm not under any pressure to finish more bottles since this was my last.
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The nose is clean. The aromas have a medium(+) intensity showing well-defined notes of red fruit (raspberry, red plum), black fruit (blackberry, blackcurrant), oak (chocolate, subtle coffee), bottle-age character (subtle leather), and herbaceous characters (green capsicum). The wine is developing.
On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acidity, medium alcohol, and medium body. The medium level tannins are ripe and silky in nature. The flavours have a medium intensity and show notes of oak (coffee), black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry), red fruit (red plum), and herbaceous characters (green capsicum). The finish has a medium length.
This is a very good quality wine. The flavours are concentrated and have a great balance with the acidity and a good balance with the alcohol. Some warmth from the alcohol shows on the finish. The oak treatment is well-integrated, complementing the primary fruit. In its current state, the wine shows primary, secondary, and tertiary characters. The primary fruit core is still quite prominent, and is supported by the secondary and tertiary notes. The finish has a good length.
The wine drinks well now, but has potential for further ageing. The fruit intensity is great and the tannin and acid structure should support the wine as tertiary notes continue to develop.
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Haut Medoc Birthday lunch (Bel & Brio, Barangaroo): Leather, blackcurrant, earthy, plumy, spicy, a little biscuit and spice. Juicy, savoury, graphite, black fruits, a little volatile acidity. Tannins near resolved. Medium plus length. Nice.
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Coravin fun - Medoc check-in continues and ring in (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Leather, cedar, earthy, a little fresh coffee and cream, biscuit black plums and blackcurrant. On the palate there is an initial sourness to he fruit with similar flavours to the nose though the biscuit is more to the fore & the coffee more black and bitter. Broad across the mid palate, tannins are present but quite soft. Hmm.
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I just love this wine. It’s seems ageless. Great fruit an it’s ever changing as great wines should be. Resolved tannins and oak with good stony mineral.
Just a great bargain in this commune.
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This, sadly, is my last bottle. What this wine turned into over the past 18 years is just epic! If you put this wine in a bottle labeled with one of its neighbors names, Ch. Margaux or Ch. Palmer, it would bring a high-90's score. The fruit is intense and sweet, the foundation is strong, the wine lasts one minute on my palate, the beautifully balanced tannins make it just kick butt (excuse the French) with a hunk of Filet Mignon. The fruit is astonishingly delicious and the balance is impeccable. Korniev, this bottle is as great as the ones I commented on previously. Some miracle occurred in this wine over the last 18 years. I had 6 of them, the last one was tonight, and they were all just great! I hope you have at least one left. I'll be in Bordeaux in 2 weeks!
PNP and drunk over 2 nights. The wine is remarkably young and dark, well fruited and balanced and really a delight, especially considering the price and relatively modest expectations, plus I thought age might be more of an issue. 92-93. Very nice
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Had this at a Bordeaux night with my wine group. From a magnum, it was opened, but not decanted, at least thirty minutes before drinking. One of the group favorites. This has been my only vintage of this producer that I've tried and I"m really enjoying them. Medium of body and finish. Really nice nose of black cherry and anise.
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Bordeaux 2000 tasting, wine #8: blue and red fruit, cassis, minerals, blyerts, cedar, caramel notes, creamy nose. Black currant on the palate, high tannins and acidity, still young and fresh. Elegant structure. Needs lots of air, keep in cellar for at least 5-10 years. BV=3, WV =1
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On March 13, 2018, this was one of three major surprises in a tasting of nine 2000 Bordeaux. This wine is drinking great! An amazing depth of intense dark fruit, cassis, graphite, and licorice. It is irresistible, so drink it soon; I don't know how it could get any better than this. This is the best Rauzan-Gassies I have ever tasted.
The nose is excellent on this one. Very floral. Lilacs and rose petals up front. Initially some strawberry notes, but as decanted more dark fruit shines through. Some hints of menthol, cedar, and cigar box round out the aroma. Just wonderful! However, when first tasted it rather fell flat. Not much up front initially, but as it stood it evolved nicely. Definitely concentrated black currant. Somewhat boozy. Body and acidity medium-plus. The tannins softened nicely by age. Overall, enjoyable and easy drinking though wish the taste was as complex as the aroma.
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No wonder they say their 2000 is the best vintage ever made. Deep dark color, amazing red fruit and berries in the nose and on the palate - silky and smooth. Not sure, maybe it is just this one bottle , yet it was outstanding!!
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I have liked my previous bottles better. Some funk on the nose and palate that blew off after about 30 minutes. From a magnum, and about half of the 16 person group didn't care for it. While it still has plenty of fruit left, I'm not sure it will improve any going forward.
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Smakar och doftar som den ska. Lite för tidigt ännu? Den är jättebra men kanske saknar de där överväxlarna man vill ha från en fullt utvecklad Margaux.
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Re-tasted after 2 years my friends collection (we bought in the same batch). Still strong and tannic, but with decant and time in the glass it is just beginning to open but starts closed. Increasing the score from 90 to 91 with better potential. The quality of the vintage is just getting uncloaked. I have no idea when it will taste fully like a Margaux, but one day it will. I would say pop cork for two hours let it sit, then decant for 1-2 hours before serving. But better to drink something else if you can.
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Decanted two hours. Intense nose of dusty cherry, tree bark and green pepper. Ripe and balanced in the mouth. The quality of the vintage really shows here. Plenty of structure in harmony with perfumed red fruits. Some licorice notes, too. Love this stuff. In its prime but will hold. Perfect pairing with rare ribeye steaks and caramelized shallots.
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Lab BBQ. No detailed notes, but this was drinking very nicely. Went quickly. I had coravin'd a glass from this about 2 years ago, and the wine was still in perfect shape.
This 17 year old Bordeaux was stereotypical in the best ways...cassis and black cherry fruit, wet soil and tobacco leaf, some coffee grounds and a mild medicinal hint on the long and earthy finish. Great value, this wine has great supportive acidity and finely grained tannins to lend structure and mouthfeel. Drink now through 2020+.
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Part of a blind magnum Syrah tasting, where this Bordeaux was slipped in. Not decanted, but opened and allowed to breathe for about an hour before pouring. Dark color, long finish, nice nose and a full bodied wine. This may have been the WOTN. Notes of the darker red fruits.
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Dark plum colour; soft, elegant nose of stalky sweet berry, but without great lift; taste = soft tannins, although a little thin. It did, however, develop with time, to accrue greater weight. Certainly, a pleasant wine, and representative of Claret in its minor mode (and, of course, even in that mode its understated charm is entirely seductive).
From a magnum. This definitely needs at least an hour to open up. We decanted half the bottle, and didn't touch it for an hour. It was still closed and searingly acidic, but with a great nose. Once it opens up it integrates really well. Agree with prior posters that it continues to get better. I had about half the bottle left, corked it, and opened it 2 nights later. The wine was even better, but who has time to decant that long in advance? By the way, on the 2nd day, it started to oxidize in an hour.
A delicious wine that is drinking beautifully now. Elegant, slightly tannic, with good fruit, acidity, and good length. An excellent accompaniment to our short ribs and latkes.
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My final bottle from a half case purchased in 2006. Pristine bottle, perfect cork, level into neck. Just a wonderfully classical, unshowy claret, sustained with ease by the energy and freshness of its Cabernet core, perfect weight (12.5% ABV), slender and elegant style, red berries, gravel and cold tea, bright tannins fit for a good steak, juicy and spirited, good length. Old fashioned, but I like it. And it was cheap back then.
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What a surprise, a positive one. Took 1+ hours to open up to show the super nose it had - silky red fruit and leather. Palate followed up with red but ripe fruit, some smooth black cherry with a good grip. Kept improving as time went by, but even better the next day. Drink now-2020, 92 points.
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Autumn berries, cedar, biscuit, toasted hazelnuts…just beginning to show saddle leather and charcuterie. Round, smooth, black fruit underpinned by tiny liquorice with a ripe cranberry finish, Long. Tannins are discernible but light, integrated and smooth. Precise. Yum
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I really enjoyed this wine. Decanted about ninety minutes. Deep purple. Nice nose - not the classic old bordeaux but very pleasant. Full bodied, rich, complex, deep black and purple fruit. Incredibly long finish. Excellent wine.
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Decanted at club....wine performed very nicely and as described by Xavier A. Years to go and still youngish, but very nicely balanced and delightful to drink
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It has taken fifteen years, but this has now turned into quite a lovely wine. Slightly more modest perhaps than would correspond with its exalted status, but a classic Margaux nonetheless. Mature but lively appearance; classic, mature claret nose; slender and fresh on the palate, with juicy and gentle red berry fruit that is sweet enough to balance the gravelly minerality, hints of spices and herbs, balanced and with some elegance, tannins have softened; nice fruit and a hint of eucalyptus on the finish, good to very good length.
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A continuation of my tasting series: "Are the 2000 left bank Bordeaux ready to drink"?
Well.... just when you thought it was safe to start thinking about drinking those 2000 Bordeaux, along comes this bottle. Big and strong, tannic & acidic and mineral, not a wine for the meek. This is the first I have tried from this Chateau in this year, and I was surprised. Not what I expected from the Margaux appellation but of course there is variation all over the Medoc. It had some of that classic deep cassis nose that is typical of 00, but maybe tempered with some brighter red fruit more so than other examples. Of course no shortage of fruit packed in and given that it needs so much time not sure it is showing its character.
Bottom line this wine should be left for 5-10 years more. If you MUST drink it, leave it to sit for 2 hrs, then decant for 2-3 hrs, then slowly sip with time in the glass. I probably only did half of that and it needed much more. Eventually it did open some. I was conflicted about the rating, it started drinking as 88-89, then maybe 90 with lots of time. It does have 91-93 pt potential, but we'll have to see how it develops in 5-10+ years.
2000 Bordeaux left bank should be approached with caution. If you have a lot I would sample judiciously, check reviews and generally be very patient. If you have a case or less, don't touch them unless they are clearly made for early drinking.
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Dark ruby color. Improved with 1 hour decant with nice evolution. Dark plum, cassis, licorice, and cigar. Medium-bodied, a little laid-back on the palate. Soft tannins. This wine is in a good place right now, but should drink well for several years.
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Dark purple ruby. Cedar, lead pencil, violets on the nose. Deep, rich flavors of red and dark fruits. 2000 vintage is a big one, and this wine is very young and has a long time to go. Nevertheless, it has the stuff that makes Bordeaux lovers of many of us. From the first sniff, you know you hold substance.
i had a chance to find this out at my local once again. It amazes me that a good Margaux from a massive vintage like 2000 could be so horribly underrated.
This was put in the decanter and drank over 3+ hrs. Massively strong tannins with muscles, even more than my two previous bottles as well as some serious structural tannins and the acids and mineral to back up the floral, violet and dark red and blue fruit medley. Great but integrating tannins along with everything showed what great structure thus underrated second growth really has. This has easily 5-10 more years of evolution in the positive. I really wish I had a big ribeye or strip steak to pair this with. A great wine. I will try to find as soon as possible. I thought it had sold out long ago. Highly recommended.
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Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux 2000 Vintage (Groot Constantia): (Tasted Blind): Mid+ black-red in colour the nose is brooding with loads of black fruits, graphite, cola and cigar box. There are some lifted perfume notes of blue flowers and dried herbs. Full-bodied, the entry is filled with sweet ripe blackcurrants, chocolate, sweet spice and some coffee grinds. The tannins feel firm and a little rigid to start, perhaps accented by the lemon fresh acidity but the texture has a rich creamy feel and the fruit layers of softness that work well to flesh out the mid-palate. Fairly powerful but slightly restrained, this wine is complex but not as deep or concentrated as expected, closing with more dark chocolate, cassis and spice.
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Much the same as the bottle opened a year ago, this continues to impress. It does need opening in the morning or decanting if you forget, to give plenty of time for aeration. Once fully unwound, the bouquet is a beguiling mix of blackcurrant, raspberry liqueur and spices, with a slight earthiness and hints of flowers. In the mouth, it's big, full bodied, with blackcurrant, leading into dark cherry, then blackberry and a touch of leather, before finishing on a dusty, elegant note of typical Margaux finesse. It still needs a few more years to shed the tannins which continue to give it a slight astringency, but it could then turn into an outstanding wine.
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S FL WS Group Welcomes VinT (Chez JC & FKG, Hollywood, FL): Classic old school Bordeaux, medium body and acidity, with only 12.5% alcohol and some cedar notes on the finish. Less floral on the nose than I would have expected from a Margaux wine. After initial taste, found that some decanting was needed, which helped after about 45 mins, though the tannins still had some bite and I think this wine will still benefit from further aging.
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Needed light decanting to develop but only a touch. This is as we say the definition of a 90 wine where everything is in place, nothing bad can be said, but lacks the magic, the sparkle in a way what would make it a memorable experience. Especially given this is a 2000 we expected a lot more 89 and drink now
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Margaux nose that positively takes hold of you; floral, rich. Cherry, violets, big fruit, lead pencil, cigar box, extremely fine tannins maintaining a pleasing tannic grip through the finish.
This was decanted for an hour before being rebottled and taken to the restaurant. Prime steakhouse with rib-eyes! This is such a classic Margaux claret. The nose of margaux perfume was so enticing as it warmed in the glass. Red an dark berries, graphite, saddle leather and plenty of violets. The palate matched the wonderful nose with silky, but full tannin that only complemented the mouthfeel. The smooth but fruited tannins and acidity left a wonderfully long finish in the mouth. Really drinking so well now. Hard to think this was a bad investment. Maybe need to source some more.
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First night, pop & pour. Quite dark, medium opacity. Very alluring nose- plums, cedar, flowers, licorice, maybe a bit of sweet acetone (but in a good way). This explodes fruit in the mouth, it's absolutely gorgeous right now with fantastic density, some mild minerality and a great cedar thing. It finishes long and smooth, what the best of bordeaux is about. I can't believe how good this is right now, I'm having a hard time containing my enthusiasm. This has changed immensely since I last tried it in 2009. I wish I had another case!
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Needs decanting or early opening in order to unwind as it's quite backward and closed, the bouquet in particular is not apparent until after a good two hours, then a subtle blend of blackcurrant, a touch of raspberry and some leather with spices. In the mouth, you have to search initially for the fruit, but once the wine has fully unwound there's plenty of blackcurrant, with zests of blackberry and a dollop of raspberry liqueur at the end. Rich and full bodied, this is still in its infancy, I should think it won't be fully mature for another 4 or 5 years. Easily the best RG ever tasted.
Almost perfumed bouquet with black as well as red fruits and sweet spices. Same on the palate. The tannin is soft and still has a pleasant bite. The wine developed over the evening for the better. Ready now and a future of a few years.
-paired excellently with prosciutto wrapped beef, butternut squash, and sauteed portobello mushrooms stuffed with anchovies and swiss cheese; an outstanding meal. -Fresh cooked figs with balsamic vinaigrette for dessert. Earthiness came out during dessert bigtime. -decanted for two hours. Notes of cassis, plum, minerals, long long finish, outstanding balance. -no leftovers!
Afer a 3 hour decant this wine was rocking. Solid, yet bait subdued in the fruit department, but lovely florals, earthiness and spice box with just a bit of leather and tobacco. Great mouth caressing, fleshy tannins and a great acidic backbone lead to a medium finish. After sitting in the decanter a full day this wine showed no signs of oxidation. This really makes me look forward to the other '00 wines I have in storage.
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Hmmmm, no so sure about this bottle - there seems to be more structure and less fruit than I was expecting. Pretty much across the board the 2000's have been excellent at this level, but this lacked a certain ooompf. Quite sharp and acidic and tannic with the fruit playing second fiddle. Not a bad wine, but I would have expected more depth from an estate of this standing.
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Youthful colour still. Powerful, well-structured wine, cabernet-dominated. Good fruit but quite sturdy tannins. Not very Margaux - reminds one of St.-Estèphe or even Médoc. Graphite, coarser and not as refined as one would hope from a Margaux 2nd GCC. 2nd bottle from a half case. A food wine now - I'll wait till 2013 to open the next. Drink 2013-2020?
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Deep ruby color with no sign of bricking. full aromas of cassis/blackcurrant and hints of green pepper (now when I smell this so clearly, I think I must have been mistaken the previous bottle...) and smoke. Full bodied with smooth tannins and black fruit. The finish is long and now turns slightly drying in the end. It is nicely balanced and integrated right now, and it does have some life ahead, I suggest drink now - 2015. It had some serious amount of depot, take care when pouring.
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Great nose...good grip in mouth...bit watery aftertaste. Very tannic on purchase but shows how tannins add to longevity. Drinkable mb another 5 yrs...we shall see
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As with many wines from this appelation, I thought the best part was the nose, which was very expressive including a fair amount of smokey, woody character. Overall I had slightly higher hopes for this, with grilled ribeye, sweet red pepper, and onion. The midpalate is the main deficiency. Somewhat short, with tart cherries, etc. Still, a very nice wine and I doubt age will improve it much at this point.
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Seeing my previous 2 notes the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. The wine is a real classical Bordeaux/Margaux with some green paprika and a good amount of cassis at the moment. Soft tannin with a good bite and classical elegance. On the other hand it is not really impressive. For a 2000 I expected a little bit more. Maybe it will show better a few (3 - 5) years from now.
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One of the better bottles of bordeaux we've had. Strong start with hints of tart blackberry nice peppery palate, and long smooth finish. Got better as bottle sat. Drink now!
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Deep ruby color. Great aromas of blackcurrant and cassis with some tar and cedar and hints of black pepper. Following trough full bodied on the palate with ripe fruit refined tannins and a very smooth mouthfeel. Long finish that remains fresh throughout. Well integrated already with lots of structure left. Drink now - 2015.
This is a very smooth Margaux, only lacking the refinement on the nose to make it a truly great wine. But it proves to be very good value. I'm glad I have a few bottles left! And getting curious how the '05 is doing.......
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Wine Cellar - Bordeaux 2000 (Wine Cellar, Cape Town): (Tasted Blind): A medium to deep garnet colour with a bouquet dominated by chocolate, spice, cedar, rum raisin ice cream and cigars. A lifted floral element penetrates throughout. Lovely. On entry, the wine is full-bodied and fleshy but flat-lining in the mid-palate. There is an earthy quality with wafer biscuits and blackcurrant set against fairly searing acidity and thick-ish tannins. A reasonable length, I liked the nose better, whereas the palate didn't really deliver as promised.
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Paired with Lascombes 2000. This is a very traditional interpretation of the Margaux theme, creamy, red fruit (raspberries, cherries, redcurrants), lightly spicy oak; medium weight, slightly drying, fresh bandages and tea. Food wine now but essentially a feminine style.
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Probably the least recognized 2nd growth! The color is a little darker than medium red. The nose is terrific- a little charred, quite floral, medium plum fruit. The balance of the nose is alluring. In the mouth this has good fruit, but lacks a little roundness and seems slightly soft. It's surprising to think this one might have seen better days, but I believe that's true. Overall this is a solid wine that would benefit from a little more structure. Based on this showing I'd say that Rauzan-Gassies made a solid wine in 2000, but there's no reason for it to become any better known as a 2nd growth.
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I think phlin on cellartracker nails it: Very strong on the nose, holds its own for a while on the palate, but then fades at the end. In the end, an enjoyable Margaux from a great vintage.
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If based upon the nose alone, this wine would have easily scored 93-94 points. Deep and alluring aromas of coffee, roses, black currants, Asian spices, and fresh herbs. Powerful on the attack, and quite broad and generous on the midpalate, but rather weak and watery on the finish. Such a shame, but the nose was fantastic!
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Blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with vanilla oak and earth. Very firm tannins and a touch astringent on the mid palate and finish. Well balanced. Needs time.
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Still a great deal of hardness/Tanic. The fruit started coming out after 2 hours. There was a great deal of setiment and I did not let it stand for very lont. Decanted. Not sure that the fruit will outlast the tannins.
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2 hour decant - Open nose of flowers, red fruit with layers of tobacco, earth, cassis. Firm tannins, balanced, hint of herbs on the finish. A 'pretty' wine, respectable. Probably early in the drinking window.
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My second taste of a classed growth Bordeaux from the 2000 vintage (the other was a decent Talbot last year). A second growth and they appear to have pulled out all the stops in this vintage. Good blackcurrant and menthol on the nose, medium to full on the palate with a really good red fruits flavour. Good length and a decent finish. Still young of course but I think this would be fully ready at around 12 years old. Excellent wine, I just bought a case on the strength of this bottle. This is what can be called a real insider's wine. I think a potential 93 points when fully mature.
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Monthly Tasting Group HWS #009; Bordeaux blends worldwide. (By me): Backward bouquet and taste, but suppressed power and finesse. A lot of juice, luxury wood and good bitterness. The aftertaste is longgg. A wonderful wine!!! And with a great future. This wine is back on track! Hope it will last…
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Open, sexy, and balanced, with a great silky mouthfeel. Lots of red and black berry fruit, coffee, and tar. Long, expansive finish. This wine is drinking beautifully now, but it certainly should improve with some cellar time.
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UWS 2005-01; A mixed set of wines. (@ MWe): Wet forest floor in the bouquet. In the mouth it is very juicy. Cherries, beautifully integrated oak and hints of menthol. There is quite much acidity and bitterness. An elegant, rustic wine that needs more time to show itself. 5+ years of rest is a good idea to start with. Will probably gain in score. 90+
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This is my first experience with this Margaux, which is a second growth! Where has this estate been? Solid color, medium ruby. From the opening of this bottle I have been impressed, a decidely Bordeaux nose from the left bank, with a classic oak, cedar, cassis profile, deep cabernet coming through, some menthol and licorice. The wine constantly morphed through this evaluation, a great sign. Chewy and mouthfilling on the palate, elegant but at the same time packed with flavor. Another 2000 that is a newcomer to my palate, and very good concentration, acidity and overall balance. A 2000 D'Issan/Lascombes hybrid, with more acessability then the D'Issan with the seamless integrated fruit of the Lascombes. Still around for $35, a real WOW for that price. I was going to give it a 91, but I think it deserves a 92, another little wonder of 2000.
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1/1/2024 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Very elegant and mature in texture and body. Lovely.
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12/20/2023 - broadband013 wrote: 94 Points
Splendide!
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12/16/2023 - Vandelaar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Been cellaring this wine for over a decade and tonight, the kids are (finally) asleep, prepared a winter meal and its time to pull the cork.
2 hrs decant.
Intense Margaux perfume with underneath the delicate red fruits loads of wood fire, rose petals, iron and cigar boxes.
Palate of summer forest floor, black tea, rosehip, prunes and dried strawberries. Gently drying tannines guide you to a smooth long finish.
A lovely Margaux from clearly a different era with only 12,5% abv and more focus on refined delicacy.
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12/1/2023 - Lype Likes this wine:
Bouquet filled with earthy notes, cassis and ripe fruit. The medium palate is ready from the get go, ripe in a classic way, cedar, cassis, graphite and leafiness. Fragrant flavors, which I associate with the Margaux appellation but this time not at fore front, more at back but still there. Fresh acidity and resolved tannins. Long finish with salty licorice. More complex and a notch up from the recently tasted excellent Priure Lichine of the same year. This is simply great and at the peak of its powers. One of the highlights of this year, especially considering the QPR.
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11/15/2023 - Teast Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Beautiful color. Still going strong
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10/21/2023 - MostlyFrance Likes this wine:
Decanted for one hour.
Herbaceous mint. Sour fruit. Graphite. Molasses.
This is really nice.
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10/19/2023 - red freddy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Received a partial bottle from my Oenophile neighbor.
12.5% abv
Spouse and I each had a half glass. Dark purplish red on the pour, opaque in the glass. Heavenly nose of dark red fruit; Blackberry, Cassis and some Plum. Nice, full, round mouth feel with some tobacco and leather notes. Well-integrated but slightly astringint. Subtle tannins leave a little pucker, and ample acidity results in a pleasing, lingering finish. Overall Smooth and Elegant.
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9/14/2023 - Hendmo Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great nose, with a perfect balance between primary and secondary, lovely pure purple fruit and a hint of fresh soil, undergrowth and tobacco. Tannins have melted away, but the wine still looks fresh and young, which speaks to the quality of the vintage. Beautifully balanced, subtle length and in a great spot right now. Recommended.
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5/21/2023 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
Deep red and black fruits, cherry, blackberry, earth, tar, leather, forest floor, violets, herbs and some mushrooms on the finish. Loads of character. I loved this bottle more than the last.
It is mature. Drink now.
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4/27/2023 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
Showing mature, with cherry, blackberry, earth, tar, leather, forest floor, violets and some mushrooms on the finish.
I thought the wine was better on its own than with the mushroom soup (a la Blue Bears cafe).
Drink now.
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12/6/2022 - stayhappy21 wrote: 90 Points
Opened this wine at Asia Grand Restaurant (Fairmont Hotel) with my wine mates to celebrate the year end festival season. Theme of the evening: Wines which are 20 years and older.
Wine is well integrated and evolved at this stage and drinking very nicely. Fragrance of wild mushrooms, forest floor, wet rocks were evident, with some of the primary black fruits still lingering.
A very good wine, from a fabulous vintage.
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11/3/2022 - Ericsson wrote: 91 Points
Ouvert et bu. Grenat foncé. Epices, cassis, cèdre, léger, manque de matière mais bien équilibré, herbacé, agréable, finale moyenne un peu sèche.
(3ème bouteille de qualité similaire)
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6/26/2022 - Ericsson wrote: 91 Points
Note de février s’applique tout à fait, cassis, fumée, une touche de jus de viande, menthol.
Joli Margaux en finesse, à l’ancienne, commence un peu à sécher en finale.
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4/19/2022 - petermachtley Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautiful wine , drank with my girlfriend and one of my best friends for their birthday with a plethora of cuts at Ascend in Bellevue
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4/15/2022 - SAND Likes this wine: 90 Points
NOSE: Mature nose with some oak, pencil,rhubarb, meaty cherry pits, black currant, leather, tar, wet leaves, earthy notes. Later, from the empty glass; field strawberries and violets. (91-92p)
TASTE: Fairly mature in the mouth as well; mature but fresh fruitiness, slightly sweet, slightly acidic. This sweet and sour theme really carries the wine which is medium to medium light bodied, with a certain elegance and is fairly balanced. (89-90p)
FINISH: Touches of almost raw dark cherry fruit but rather short. (87p)
OVERALL: Starts out a bit unassuming but needs and grows with time. The nose is just wonderful. The body perhaps a bit light while I think the wine itself is at or possibly slightly past peak maturity. I think it will keep for several years but wonder if it may gradually lose body and intensity of flavour.
Worked very well with leg of mutton.
TOTAL SCORE 90 points.
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2/13/2022 - Portland Seth Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smoke, leather, black pepper, cassis, cranberry, driftwood. Plenty of acidity and wet wood, not quite enough fruit. I don't see this improving. Drink.
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2/5/2022 - Ericsson wrote: 91 Points
J'étais curieux de goûter une bouteille vu les commentaires élogieux de certains.
Disons d'emblée que, pour moi, il s'agit d'un margaux de la vieille école et qui manque de matière pour un 2000.
Le niveau était mid neck et le bouchon à peine imbibé. Robe grenat foncé. Au nez, jolis arômes de cassis, mais surtout de pivoines et autres fleurs, de cendres. En bouche, le vin est plutôt fin et délicat, léger et digeste. La finale est de longueur moyenne et un peu sèche.
A boire mais sans urgence non plus.
90-91
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1/18/2022 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Gang of 4 in Covid19 times; Bordeaux; Margaux (@ RW): Beautiful bouquet with dark berries, laurel, licorice and bacon. On the palate herbs and spices, autumn impressions, green bell pepper, firm acidity and sticky tannin. Beautiful and mature wine which will stay on this level for several more years.
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12/13/2021 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
At Hawksmoor Bordeaux dinner. Very deep ruby, narrow pale rim. Dark fruited nose, ripe, slightly baked, touch of mineral. Quite rich. Medium/full bodied, rich dark fruit, some firm underlying tannin still but well covered, fresh acidity, decent length. Excellent and should improve.
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12/13/2021 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Christmas Claret: Blind. Dense and deep fully ruby. Violet and blackcurrant nose. Quite rich and plush, but tannins a little blocky and drying. Guess a Margaux, though no idea which chateau, and 03. With air there’s a maturing classic claret here, classic profile emerging, but needs a little more time. ***(*)
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10/2/2021 - Elpaninaro Likes this wine:
deep red color starting to mature, bright plums and cassis on the nose with a hint of bell pepper, cedar, on the palate still closed but with a bright and ripe fruit peeking out from a firm peppery base, polished tannins, lovely floral hints, fine long finish where more hints of the lovely fruit to come are evident, not a Bordeaux I have encountered before, quite good- even by 2000s high standards.
(***)+, possibly (****) in time, 2030+
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9/24/2021 - carey_gall Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classically Margaux. Expressive nose of dried flowers, cassis, leather and wood. Full bodied palate with dark fruits, earth and tobacco. Sweeping fine tannins holding it together. Harmonious and balanced with great persistence. Elegant mature Bordeaux from a chateau that too rarely delivers on its 2nd growth status. Drink until 2030+.
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6/5/2021 - Cascanton Likes this wine: 85 Points
Long lasting after taste
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5/9/2021 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 93 Points
After a slightly underwhelming bottle last year, this one was back on track. Perfect fill level and I could see why on removing the very tight cork, which showed no sign of seepage at all. The bouquet hit as soon as the cork was out, fresh flowers and blackcurrant, which of course were even better in the glass, with now a little earth and tobacco, plus a rich seam of raspberry. I didn't decant, which was a mistake, since it really needed aeration - this is still an adolescent.
There is quite a brooding, tannic structure, it's a big, full bodied, classic wine, with blackcurrant, leading into dark cherry, then blackberry and a touch of leather, before finishing on a dusty, elegant note of typical Margaux finesse. After a few hours, the raspberry arrived too in the middle section and overall a very impressive wine.
Normally, RG is not on the same level as RS for obvious reasons, but on the basis of the bottles I've tried until now, 2000 is the exception - the Gassies is a lot bigger, better structured and for the long haul. I wouldn't say it is quite as good as Brane or Giscours, nor BAMA, but it isn't far off - so very good value.
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3/19/2021 - dougie Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really opened up over 5 hours. Ready to go for me; though seemed bigger at the end.
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7/18/2020 - Matt T wrote: 92 Points
Well-integrated tannins with notes of leather, dark fruit, tobacco and toasted oak. Well made and very enjoyable. This doesn’t need a decant and should hold just a bit longer.
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4/29/2020 - Katimbibe Likes this wine: 91 Points
Really pleasantly surprised when I cracked open my penultimate bottle of this, from a case purchased en primeur. It’s been a few years since I last tried it, maybe 5 or 6 and I actually enjoyed it more in its 20th year than I did in its teens, adulthood suits it. It’s drinking so well that I will probably enjoy the last bottle this year to replicate the joy. Lovely balance, after 15 minutes in the glass ( I didn’t bother to decant it- the sediment had pretty much glued itself to the inside of the bottle) it opened up to reveal lovely tobacco nuances and a blend of forest fruits, medium bodied, fine grained well integrated tannins, very harmonious and it paired beautifully with a fillet steak in a mushroom and Duke of Clarence Madeira sauce.
As much enjoyment as I would ever hope to get from a mature, but by no means past it, claret.
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4/26/2020 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 91 Points
Slightly underwhelming, it still has plenty of rich body, full of blackcurrant, but it never really took off: a bit monolithic, compared to previous bottles. The fruit didn't taste as if it was declining and the thick, viscous texture means that I'm not concerned, this has plenty of future. Just a bad patch.
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3/7/2020 - pilatus88 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Believe it or not, i just opened this crate and have 11 more to go. This is great. Rarely do you come across a more harmonious wine. The nose is powerful and remarkably fresh. The loaded sweet fruit display lingers on the palate, tannins are balanced and super smooth, intense fruit and hints of leather, coffee and a little honey lifts it up. The finish is medium long and remarkably fresh and uplifting. It must be at peak, and one of my best value buys of the 2000 vintage.
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12/22/2019 - alamoave wrote: 90 Points
Last bottle of a case bought in 2002 as futures. Still drinking well. Nice balance, great QPR. Not complex. Will not improve. Expect about 2 years more before decline begins.
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6/17/2019 - jmoon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very drinkable fully mature, starting into decline but still delicious. Not very complex beyond classic old Bordeaux whack of leather and forest floor, lacking depth but a certain charm. Good mid week wine. Didn’t really need a decant and didn’t evolve much with air.
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4/21/2019 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
Drank this last of 2 bottles today, with rack of lamb on Easter Sunday.
Beautiful pairing, the wine showed tertiary aromas and flavors of wet soil, tar, mushroom, black currant, pencil lead, leather, etc. Delicious, tried next to 2004 Seavey Estate Cab, and the whole family liked both wines alot, but preferred the Margaux with the Lamb. The tannins are nicely resolved, this wine is in a great window now and for the next year. Catch it while it is great, if you have a few bottles left, crack one soon. Fantastic WFTM.
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4/14/2019 - yinha Likes this wine: 91 Points
Only managed to buy one of these recently - a lovely product of 2000. Not yet at peak - has a youthful air and Secondaries are barely peeking out. This has quite a few years left in my view - enjoyable now but more rewarding later if well stored.
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1/5/2019 - grossie Likes this wine: 92 Points
At peak! Don't wait! Sweet cedar and dark fruit on the nose. Fantastic fruit in the mouth. Tannins are soft. By the second night this had faded a bit. Absolutely gorgeous now. I'm sad it's gone but at least I'm not under any pressure to finish more bottles since this was my last.
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12/15/2018 - CBRwineguy wrote:
Haut-Medoc lunch (Bel & Brio, Barangaroo, Sydney): The appearance is clear and medium ruby in colour. Tears are visible.
The nose is clean. The aromas have a medium(+) intensity showing well-defined notes of red fruit (raspberry, red plum), black fruit (blackberry, blackcurrant), oak (chocolate, subtle coffee), bottle-age character (subtle leather), and herbaceous characters (green capsicum). The wine is developing.
On the palate, the wine is dry with medium acidity, medium alcohol, and medium body. The medium level tannins are ripe and silky in nature. The flavours have a medium intensity and show notes of oak (coffee), black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry), red fruit (red plum), and herbaceous characters (green capsicum). The finish has a medium length.
This is a very good quality wine. The flavours are concentrated and have a great balance with the acidity and a good balance with the alcohol. Some warmth from the alcohol shows on the finish. The oak treatment is well-integrated, complementing the primary fruit. In its current state, the wine shows primary, secondary, and tertiary characters. The primary fruit core is still quite prominent, and is supported by the secondary and tertiary notes. The finish has a good length.
The wine drinks well now, but has potential for further ageing. The fruit intensity is great and the tannin and acid structure should support the wine as tertiary notes continue to develop.
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12/15/2018 - chatters wrote:
Haut Medoc Birthday lunch (Bel & Brio, Barangaroo): Leather, blackcurrant, earthy, plumy, spicy, a little biscuit and spice. Juicy, savoury, graphite, black fruits, a little volatile acidity. Tannins near resolved. Medium plus length. Nice.
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11/27/2018 - alamoave Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still going strong. No hurry.
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11/14/2018 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Medoc check-in continues and ring in (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Leather, cedar, earthy, a little fresh coffee and cream, biscuit black plums and blackcurrant. On the palate there is an initial sourness to he fruit with similar flavours to the nose though the biscuit is more to the fore & the coffee more black and bitter. Broad across the mid palate, tannins are present but quite soft. Hmm.
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10/27/2018 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 94 Points
I just love this wine. It’s seems ageless. Great fruit an it’s ever changing as great wines should be. Resolved tannins and oak with good stony mineral.
Just a great bargain in this commune.
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4/19/2018 - Stevere Likes this wine: 97 Points
This, sadly, is my last bottle. What this wine turned into over the past 18 years is just epic! If you put this wine in a bottle labeled with one of its neighbors names, Ch. Margaux or Ch. Palmer, it would bring a high-90's score. The fruit is intense and sweet, the foundation is strong, the wine lasts one minute on my palate, the beautifully balanced tannins make it just kick butt (excuse the French) with a hunk of Filet Mignon. The fruit is astonishingly delicious and the balance is impeccable. Korniev, this bottle is as great as the ones I commented on previously. Some miracle occurred in this wine over the last 18 years. I had 6 of them, the last one was tonight, and they were all just great! I hope you have at least one left. I'll be in Bordeaux in 2 weeks!
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4/18/2018 - Mr T wrote:
PNP and drunk over 2 nights. The wine is remarkably young and dark, well fruited and balanced and really a delight, especially considering the price and relatively modest expectations, plus I thought age might be more of an issue. 92-93. Very nice
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4/8/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had this at a Bordeaux night with my wine group. From a magnum, it was opened, but not decanted, at least thirty minutes before drinking. One of the group favorites. This has been my only vintage of this producer that I've tried and I"m really enjoying them. Medium of body and finish. Really nice nose of black cherry and anise.
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3/28/2018 - Markus IWC wrote: 91 Points
Bordeaux 2000 tasting, wine #8: blue and red fruit, cassis, minerals, blyerts, cedar, caramel notes, creamy nose. Black currant on the palate, high tannins and acidity, still young and fresh. Elegant structure. Needs lots of air, keep in cellar for at least 5-10 years. BV=3, WV =1
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3/18/2018 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 90 Points
At LBTG - Not a great Bordeaux but somewhat under-rated. Very pleasant and balanced.
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3/13/2018 - Stevere Likes this wine: 94 Points
On March 13, 2018, this was one of three major surprises in a tasting of nine 2000 Bordeaux. This wine is drinking great! An amazing depth of intense dark fruit, cassis, graphite, and licorice. It is irresistible, so drink it soon; I don't know how it could get any better than this. This is the best Rauzan-Gassies I have ever tasted.
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2/25/2018 - Abaz Likes this wine: 89 Points
The nose is excellent on this one. Very floral. Lilacs and rose petals up front. Initially some strawberry notes, but as decanted more dark fruit shines through. Some hints of menthol, cedar, and cigar box round out the aroma. Just wonderful! However, when first tasted it rather fell flat. Not much up front initially, but as it stood it evolved nicely. Definitely concentrated black currant. Somewhat boozy. Body and acidity medium-plus. The tannins softened nicely by age. Overall, enjoyable and easy drinking though wish the taste was as complex as the aroma.
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2/7/2018 - korniev wrote: 95 Points
No wonder they say their 2000 is the best vintage ever made. Deep dark color, amazing red fruit and berries in the nose and on the palate - silky and smooth. Not sure, maybe it is just this one bottle , yet it was outstanding!!
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12/17/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 90 Points
I have liked my previous bottles better. Some funk on the nose and palate that blew off after about 30 minutes. From a magnum, and about half of the 16 person group didn't care for it. While it still has plenty of fruit left, I'm not sure it will improve any going forward.
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11/4/2017 - Rixon Likes this wine: 91 Points
Smakar och doftar som den ska. Lite för tidigt ännu? Den är jättebra men kanske saknar de där överväxlarna man vill ha från en fullt utvecklad Margaux.
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10/16/2017 - greenbe33 wrote: 91 Points
Re-tasted after 2 years my friends collection (we bought in the same batch). Still strong and tannic, but with decant and time in the glass it is just beginning to open but starts closed. Increasing the score from 90 to 91 with better potential. The quality of the vintage is just getting uncloaked. I have no idea when it will taste fully like a Margaux, but one day it will. I would say pop cork for two hours let it sit, then decant for 1-2 hours before serving. But better to drink something else if you can.
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7/1/2017 - drmarclevine Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted two hours. Intense nose of dusty cherry, tree bark and green pepper. Ripe and balanced in the mouth. The quality of the vintage really shows here. Plenty of structure in harmony with perfumed red fruits. Some licorice notes, too. Love this stuff. In its prime but will hold. Perfect pairing with rare ribeye steaks and caramelized shallots.
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6/17/2017 - SpoochMan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Lab BBQ. No detailed notes, but this was drinking very nicely. Went quickly. I had coravin'd a glass from this about 2 years ago, and the wine was still in perfect shape.
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6/5/2017 - drrobvino wrote: 91 Points
This 17 year old Bordeaux was stereotypical in the best ways...cassis and black cherry fruit, wet soil and tobacco leaf, some coffee grounds and a mild medicinal hint on the long and earthy finish. Great value, this wine has great supportive acidity and finely grained tannins to lend structure and mouthfeel. Drink now through 2020+.
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4/2/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Part of a blind magnum Syrah tasting, where this Bordeaux was slipped in. Not decanted, but opened and allowed to breathe for about an hour before pouring. Dark color, long finish, nice nose and a full bodied wine. This may have been the WOTN. Notes of the darker red fruits.
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3/21/2017 - viderunt wrote: 89 Points
Dark plum colour; soft, elegant nose of stalky sweet berry, but without great lift; taste = soft tannins, although a little thin. It did, however, develop with time, to accrue greater weight. Certainly, a pleasant wine, and representative of Claret in its minor mode (and, of course, even in that mode its understated charm is entirely seductive).
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1/6/2017 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a magnum. This definitely needs at least an hour to open up. We decanted half the bottle, and didn't touch it for an hour. It was still closed and searingly acidic, but with a great nose. Once it opens up it integrates really well. Agree with prior posters that it continues to get better. I had about half the bottle left, corked it, and opened it 2 nights later. The wine was even better, but who has time to decant that long in advance? By the way, on the 2nd day, it started to oxidize in an hour.
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12/25/2016 - Diane (LI) wrote:
A delicious wine that is drinking beautifully now. Elegant, slightly tannic, with good fruit, acidity, and good length. An excellent accompaniment to our short ribs and latkes.
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10/31/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
My final bottle from a half case purchased in 2006. Pristine bottle, perfect cork, level into neck. Just a wonderfully classical, unshowy claret, sustained with ease by the energy and freshness of its Cabernet core, perfect weight (12.5% ABV), slender and elegant style, red berries, gravel and cold tea, bright tannins fit for a good steak, juicy and spirited, good length. Old fashioned, but I like it. And it was cheap back then.
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10/9/2016 - AMRS wrote: 92 Points
What a surprise, a positive one. Took 1+ hours to open up to show the super nose it had - silky red fruit and leather. Palate followed up with red but ripe fruit, some smooth black cherry with a good grip. Kept improving as time went by, but even better the next day. Drink now-2020, 92 points.
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9/26/2016 - chatters wrote:
Autumn berries, cedar, biscuit, toasted hazelnuts…just beginning to show saddle leather and charcuterie. Round, smooth, black fruit underpinned by tiny liquorice with a ripe cranberry finish, Long. Tannins are discernible but light, integrated and smooth. Precise. Yum
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8/15/2016 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much the same as the last one with no sign of flagging yet, really impressive.
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7/8/2016 - alamoave Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful. At peak. 30 minute decant plenty
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5/5/2016 - ogres3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
I really enjoyed this wine. Decanted about ninety minutes. Deep purple. Nice nose - not the classic old bordeaux but very pleasant. Full bodied, rich, complex, deep black and purple fruit. Incredibly long finish. Excellent wine.
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5/2/2016 - Mr T wrote:
Decanted at club....wine performed very nicely and as described by Xavier A. Years to go and still youngish, but very nicely balanced and delightful to drink
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11/9/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 91 Points
It has taken fifteen years, but this has now turned into quite a lovely wine. Slightly more modest perhaps than would correspond with its exalted status, but a classic Margaux nonetheless. Mature but lively appearance; classic, mature claret nose; slender and fresh on the palate, with juicy and gentle red berry fruit that is sweet enough to balance the gravelly minerality, hints of spices and herbs, balanced and with some elegance, tannins have softened; nice fruit and a hint of eucalyptus on the finish, good to very good length.
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9/29/2015 - mike l. Likes this wine: 92 Points
yes yes yes. but will certainly improve as it integrates more. at the start of its window.
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8/5/2015 - Patrickmcw Likes this wine: 90 Points
Agree with the recent notes, this guy is young. Dusty on the nose. Red fruitscand nice complexity in the mouth.
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7/21/2015 - greenbe33 Likes this wine: 90 Points
A continuation of my tasting series: "Are the 2000 left bank Bordeaux ready to drink"?
Well.... just when you thought it was safe to start thinking about drinking those 2000 Bordeaux, along comes this bottle. Big and strong, tannic & acidic and mineral, not a wine for the meek. This is the first I have tried from this Chateau in this year, and I was surprised. Not what I expected from the Margaux appellation but of course there is variation all over the Medoc. It had some of that classic deep cassis nose that is typical of 00, but maybe tempered with some brighter red fruit more so than other examples. Of course no shortage of fruit packed in and given that it needs so much time not sure it is showing its character.
Bottom line this wine should be left for 5-10 years more. If you MUST drink it, leave it to sit for 2 hrs, then decant for 2-3 hrs, then slowly sip with time in the glass. I probably only did half of that and it needed much more. Eventually it did open some. I was conflicted about the rating, it started drinking as 88-89, then maybe 90 with lots of time. It does have 91-93 pt potential, but we'll have to see how it develops in 5-10+ years.
2000 Bordeaux left bank should be approached with caution. If you have a lot I would sample judiciously, check reviews and generally be very patient. If you have a case or less, don't touch them unless they are clearly made for early drinking.
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7/14/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 92 Points
Dark ruby color. Improved with 1 hour decant with nice evolution. Dark plum, cassis, licorice, and cigar. Medium-bodied, a little laid-back on the palate. Soft tannins. This wine is in a good place right now, but should drink well for several years.
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6/27/2015 - Old Doug wrote: 94 Points
Dark purple ruby. Cedar, lead pencil, violets on the nose. Deep, rich flavors of red and dark fruits. 2000 vintage is a big one, and this wine is very young and has a long time to go. Nevertheless, it has the stuff that makes Bordeaux lovers of many of us. From the first sniff, you know you hold substance.
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6/27/2015 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 93 Points
i had a chance to find this out at my local once again. It amazes me that a good Margaux from a massive vintage like 2000 could be so horribly underrated.
This was put in the decanter and drank over 3+ hrs. Massively strong tannins with muscles, even more than my two previous bottles as well as some serious structural tannins and the acids and mineral to back up the floral, violet and dark red and blue fruit medley. Great but integrating tannins along with everything showed what great structure thus underrated second growth really has. This has easily 5-10 more years of evolution in the positive. I really wish I had a big ribeye or strip steak to pair this with. A great wine. I will try to find as soon as possible. I thought it had sold out long ago. Highly recommended.
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5/4/2015 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 91 Points
Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux 2000 Vintage (Groot Constantia): (Tasted Blind): Mid+ black-red in colour the nose is brooding with loads of black fruits, graphite, cola and cigar box. There are some lifted perfume notes of blue flowers and dried herbs.
Full-bodied, the entry is filled with sweet ripe blackcurrants, chocolate, sweet spice and some coffee grinds.
The tannins feel firm and a little rigid to start, perhaps accented by the lemon fresh acidity but the texture has a rich creamy feel and the fruit layers of softness that work well to flesh out the mid-palate. Fairly powerful but slightly restrained, this wine is complex but not as deep or concentrated as expected, closing with more dark chocolate, cassis and spice.
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2/5/2015 - saturnaisland wrote: 92 Points
Smooth, velvety, and elegant. Rich dark fruit with strong hints of smoke on the finish. Needs a bit of time to open up. Very nice wine.
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9/7/2014 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 93 Points
Much the same as the bottle opened a year ago, this continues to impress. It does need opening in the morning or decanting if you forget, to give plenty of time for aeration. Once fully unwound, the bouquet is a beguiling mix of blackcurrant, raspberry liqueur and spices, with a slight earthiness and hints of flowers. In the mouth, it's big, full bodied, with blackcurrant, leading into dark cherry, then blackberry and a touch of leather, before finishing on a dusty, elegant note of typical Margaux finesse. It still needs a few more years to shed the tannins which continue to give it a slight astringency, but it could then turn into an outstanding wine.
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3/12/2014 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
S FL WS Group Welcomes VinT (Chez JC & FKG, Hollywood, FL): Classic old school Bordeaux, medium body and acidity, with only 12.5% alcohol and some cedar notes on the finish. Less floral on the nose than I would have expected from a Margaux wine. After initial taste, found that some decanting was needed, which helped after about 45 mins, though the tannins still had some bite and I think this wine will still benefit from further aging.
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2/8/2014 - Papies wrote: 89 Points
Needed light decanting to develop but only a touch. This is as we say the definition of a 90 wine where everything is in place, nothing bad can be said, but lacks the magic, the sparkle in a way what would make it a memorable experience. Especially given this is a 2000 we expected a lot more 89 and drink now
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12/27/2013 - astroman Likes this wine:
Green tannins noses of cigar box very fresh with dark fruits.
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10/4/2013 - Old Doug wrote: 94 Points
Margaux nose that positively takes hold of you; floral, rich. Cherry, violets, big fruit, lead pencil, cigar box, extremely fine tannins maintaining a pleasing tannic grip through the finish.
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10/4/2013 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 93 Points
This was decanted for an hour before being rebottled and taken to the restaurant. Prime steakhouse with rib-eyes! This is such a classic Margaux claret. The nose of margaux perfume was so enticing as it warmed in the glass. Red an dark berries, graphite, saddle leather and plenty of violets. The palate matched the wonderful nose with silky, but full tannin that only complemented the mouthfeel. The smooth but fruited tannins and acidity left a wonderfully long finish in the mouth. Really drinking so well now. Hard to think this was a bad investment. Maybe need to source some more.
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8/21/2013 - grossie Likes this wine: 93 Points
First night, pop & pour. Quite dark, medium opacity. Very alluring nose- plums, cedar, flowers, licorice, maybe a bit of sweet acetone (but in a good way). This explodes fruit in the mouth, it's absolutely gorgeous right now with fantastic density, some mild minerality and a great cedar thing. It finishes long and smooth, what the best of bordeaux is about. I can't believe how good this is right now, I'm having a hard time containing my enthusiasm. This has changed immensely since I last tried it in 2009. I wish I had another case!
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6/11/2013 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 93 Points
Needs decanting or early opening in order to unwind as it's quite backward and closed, the bouquet in particular is not apparent until after a good two hours, then a subtle blend of blackcurrant, a touch of raspberry and some leather with spices. In the mouth, you have to search initially for the fruit, but once the wine has fully unwound there's plenty of blackcurrant, with zests of blackberry and a dollop of raspberry liqueur at the end. Rich and full bodied, this is still in its infancy, I should think it won't be fully mature for another 4 or 5 years. Easily the best RG ever tasted.
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3/26/2013 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Almost perfumed bouquet with black as well as red fruits and sweet spices. Same on the palate. The tannin is soft and still has a pleasant bite. The wine developed over the evening for the better. Ready now and a future of a few years.
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2/7/2013 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
VinoLaprisco Tasting (Restaurant De Karpendonkse Hoeve *, Eindhoven, Netherlands): Light, crisp Cabernet, leafy and tea-like, clearly picked early or with high yields, on the dry side and quite tannic, but its privileged Margaux terroir also provides a floral topnote and a certain feminine elegance.
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11/17/2012 - AlbertaOenologist wrote: 95 Points
-paired excellently with prosciutto wrapped beef, butternut squash, and sauteed portobello mushrooms stuffed with anchovies and swiss cheese; an outstanding meal. -Fresh cooked figs with balsamic vinaigrette for dessert. Earthiness came out during dessert bigtime.
-decanted for two hours.
Notes of cassis, plum, minerals, long long finish, outstanding balance. -no leftovers!
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3/4/2012 - Champagneinhand wrote: 92 Points
Afer a 3 hour decant this wine was rocking. Solid, yet bait subdued in the fruit department, but lovely florals, earthiness and spice box with just a bit of leather and tobacco. Great mouth caressing, fleshy tannins and a great acidic backbone lead to a medium finish. After sitting in the decanter a full day this wine showed no signs of oxidation. This really makes me look forward to the other '00 wines I have in storage.
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2/19/2012 - pjaines wrote:
Hmmmm, no so sure about this bottle - there seems to be more structure and less fruit than I was expecting. Pretty much across the board the 2000's have been excellent at this level, but this lacked a certain ooompf. Quite sharp and acidic and tannic with the fruit playing second fiddle. Not a bad wine, but I would have expected more depth from an estate of this standing.
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11/29/2011 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
Youthful colour still. Powerful, well-structured wine, cabernet-dominated. Good fruit but quite sturdy tannins. Not very Margaux - reminds one of St.-Estèphe or even Médoc. Graphite, coarser and not as refined as one would hope from a Margaux 2nd GCC. 2nd bottle from a half case. A food wine now - I'll wait till 2013 to open the next. Drink 2013-2020?
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11/20/2011 - alamoave wrote: 93 Points
Prime time. Beautiful
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10/23/2011 - Jochems wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color with no sign of bricking. full aromas of cassis/blackcurrant and hints of green pepper (now when I smell this so clearly, I think I must have been mistaken the previous bottle...) and smoke. Full bodied with smooth tannins and black fruit. The finish is long and now turns slightly drying in the end. It is nicely balanced and integrated right now, and it does have some life ahead, I suggest drink now - 2015.
It had some serious amount of depot, take care when pouring.
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10/14/2011 - Elegantiae wrote: 90 Points
Great nose...good grip in mouth...bit watery aftertaste. Very tannic on purchase but shows how tannins add to longevity. Drinkable mb another 5 yrs...we shall see
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8/12/2011 - vinedresser75 wrote: 89 Points
Very nice and very feminine. Floral aroma, bit of tar and smooth long Finnish.
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8/11/2011 - winemaker wrote: 91 Points
Pretty tasty. Not that complex, but balanced. Enjoyable wine.
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8/1/2011 - theymanmex wrote: 89 Points
Purple brick. Some nose. Some fruit. Aged tannins. Classic gd Bordeaux. Don't leave much longer
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6/23/2011 - GrapeApe808 wrote:
very good.
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5/30/2011 - alamoave wrote: 90 Points
Drink or hold; better on Day 2 and still strong on Day 3.
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4/2/2011 - Gizmo2011 wrote: 89 Points
a lot of blood, excellent acidity, meaty.
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3/19/2011 - Saint Stephen wrote: 90 Points
As with many wines from this appelation, I thought the best part was the nose, which was very expressive including a fair amount of smokey, woody character. Overall I had slightly higher hopes for this, with grilled ribeye, sweet red pepper, and onion. The midpalate is the main deficiency. Somewhat short, with tart cherries, etc. Still, a very nice wine and I doubt age will improve it much at this point.
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3/2/2011 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Seeing my previous 2 notes the truth is probably somewhere in the middle. The wine is a real classical Bordeaux/Margaux with some green paprika and a good amount of cassis at the moment. Soft tannin with a good bite and classical elegance. On the other hand it is not really impressive. For a 2000 I expected a little bit more. Maybe it will show better a few (3 - 5) years from now.
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1/28/2011 - diengo wrote: 88 Points
Ready to Drink! Balanced and classic Margaux! Can start to drink now to 2013!
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11/27/2010 - alamoave wrote:
Rating reserved. Lots of fruit but very tannic. Not close to ready. Try in 3 years.
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9/11/2010 - Erfenbacher wrote: 96 Points
One of the better bottles of bordeaux we've had. Strong start with hints of tart blackberry nice peppery palate, and long smooth finish. Got better as bottle sat. Drink now!
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3/2/2010 - alamoave wrote: 90 Points
Solid and likable. Tar, tobacco, hint of mint. Improved over an hour. Drink or hold. At least 5 years left.
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2/14/2010 - Jochems wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby color. Great aromas of blackcurrant and cassis with some tar and cedar and hints of black pepper. Following trough full bodied on the palate with ripe fruit refined tannins and a very smooth mouthfeel. Long finish that remains fresh throughout.
Well integrated already with lots of structure left. Drink now - 2015.
This is a very smooth Margaux, only lacking the refinement on the nose to make it a truly great wine.
But it proves to be very good value. I'm glad I have a few bottles left! And getting curious how the '05 is doing.......
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2/10/2010 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 89 Points
Wine Cellar - Bordeaux 2000 (Wine Cellar, Cape Town): (Tasted Blind): A medium to deep garnet colour with a bouquet dominated by chocolate, spice, cedar, rum raisin ice cream and cigars. A lifted floral element penetrates throughout. Lovely.
On entry, the wine is full-bodied and fleshy but flat-lining in the mid-palate. There is an earthy quality with wafer biscuits and blackcurrant set against fairly searing acidity and thick-ish tannins. A reasonable length, I liked the nose better, whereas the palate didn't really deliver as promised.
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1/30/2010 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 90 Points
Paired with Lascombes 2000. This is a very traditional interpretation of the Margaux theme, creamy, red fruit (raspberries, cherries, redcurrants), lightly spicy oak; medium weight, slightly drying, fresh bandages and tea. Food wine now but essentially a feminine style.
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12/15/2009 - grossie wrote: 89 Points
Probably the least recognized 2nd growth! The color is a little darker than medium red. The nose is terrific- a little charred, quite floral, medium plum fruit. The balance of the nose is alluring. In the mouth this has good fruit, but lacks a little roundness and seems slightly soft. It's surprising to think this one might have seen better days, but I believe that's true. Overall this is a solid wine that would benefit from a little more structure. Based on this showing I'd say that Rauzan-Gassies made a solid wine in 2000, but there's no reason for it to become any better known as a 2nd growth.
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11/4/2009 - JimHow wrote: 90 Points
I think phlin on cellartracker nails it: Very strong on the nose, holds its own for a while on the palate, but then fades at the end. In the end, an enjoyable Margaux from a great vintage.
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11/8/2008 - Paul Lin wrote: 91 Points
If based upon the nose alone, this wine would have easily scored 93-94 points. Deep and alluring aromas of coffee, roses, black currants, Asian spices, and fresh herbs. Powerful on the attack, and quite broad and generous on the midpalate, but rather weak and watery on the finish. Such a shame, but the nose was fantastic!
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7/22/2008 - kstoddard wrote: 88 Points
Blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with vanilla oak and earth. Very firm tannins and a touch astringent on the mid palate and finish. Well balanced. Needs time.
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3/24/2008 - ReneB wrote: 85 Points
Really to young.
Not to much tannines, at first very closed, but became better. Beautiful color.
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8/13/2007 - 6831 wrote: 88 Points
Fairly straightforward effort here. Pleasing midpalate with decent length on the finish.
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5/2/2007 - dougie wrote: 89 Points
Still a great deal of hardness/Tanic. The fruit started coming out after 2 hours. There was a great deal of setiment and I did not let it stand for very lont. Decanted. Not sure that the fruit will outlast the tannins.
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10/15/2006 - BDoolin wrote: 89 Points
2 hour decant - Open nose of flowers, red fruit with layers of tobacco, earth, cassis. Firm tannins, balanced, hint of herbs on the finish. A 'pretty' wine, respectable. Probably early in the drinking window.
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8/12/2006 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
My second taste of a classed growth Bordeaux from the 2000 vintage (the other was a decent Talbot last year). A second growth and they appear to have pulled out all the stops in this vintage. Good blackcurrant and menthol on the nose, medium to full on the palate with a really good red fruits flavour. Good length and a decent finish. Still young of course but I think this would be fully ready at around 12 years old. Excellent wine, I just bought a case on the strength of this bottle. This is what can be called a real insider's wine. I think a potential 93 points when fully mature.
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1/11/2006 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #009; Bordeaux blends worldwide. (By me): Backward bouquet and taste, but suppressed power and finesse. A lot of juice, luxury wood and good bitterness. The aftertaste is longgg. A wonderful wine!!! And with a great future. This wine is back on track! Hope it will last…
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6/24/2005 - Spencer wrote: 92 Points
Open, sexy, and balanced, with a great silky mouthfeel. Lots of red and black berry fruit, coffee, and tar. Long, expansive finish. This wine is drinking beautifully now, but it certainly should improve with some cellar time.
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2/10/2005 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
UWS 2005-01; A mixed set of wines. (@ MWe): Wet forest floor in the bouquet. In the mouth it is very juicy. Cherries, beautifully integrated oak and hints of menthol. There is quite much acidity and bitterness. An elegant, rustic wine that needs more time to show itself. 5+ years of rest is a good idea to start with. Will probably gain in score. 90+
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11/8/2004 - MichaelB wrote: 92 Points
This is my first experience with this Margaux, which is a second growth! Where has this estate been? Solid color, medium ruby. From the opening of this bottle I have been impressed, a decidely Bordeaux nose from the left bank, with a classic oak, cedar, cassis profile, deep cabernet coming through, some menthol and licorice. The wine constantly morphed through this evaluation, a great sign. Chewy and mouthfilling on the palate, elegant but at the same time packed with flavor. Another 2000 that is a newcomer to my palate, and very good concentration, acidity and overall balance. A 2000 D'Issan/Lascombes hybrid, with more acessability then the D'Issan with the seamless integrated fruit of the Lascombes. Still around for $35, a real WOW for that price. I was going to give it a 91, but I think it deserves a 92, another little wonder of 2000.
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