2000 St. Julien Tasting Dinner (5 wines)

My wife and I visited some friends in Michigan last weekend and we decided to crack open a few of our 2000 Bordeaux. Friday night we chose a theme of Margaux wines and raclette. Saturday we drank St. Julien with steak au poivre. We opened 5 wines each night. We fully expected all of the wines to be somewhat closed and still in their youth; but, thought we should take a look at them at 10 years old anyway. These wines were of a higher quality than the Margaux wines. They were also more aproachable (except for the Barton). My wife made steak au poivre with a cognac creme sauce with grilled asparagus and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Excellent dinner but the peppercorns were too much for the wines in my opinion. Here are my notes:

• 2000 Château Beychevelle 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  My first time trying this 4th growth. Decanted for 3 hours. Another lightly sedimented wine. This wine stood out from the other 4 St. Julien wines we had and it should since it is further South in the appellation and the other wines were the 3 broken up remnants of the original Leoville property (and Clos du Marquis). Earthier than the other wines. Notes of blackberry, graphite, charcoal and forest floor. Moderate tannins. 91-92 points.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Clos du Marquis 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  First time trying this wine. An unofficial 2nd wine of Leoville Las Cases (it is made from a seperate vineyard and not from the grapes that go into the Las Cases). 3 hour decant. Low sediment. The tannins were more approachable than most of the 10 bordeaux we had. A refined and feminine wine. Notes of saddle leather, cocoa and an herbal character on the finish. 92 points.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Château Léoville Poyferré 96 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  2nd time trying this wine. Last time was at the UGC tasting in 2003 and it was a highlight back then. 86% Cab Sauvignon and 14% Merlot. Decanter wrote that the drinking window on this wine would start in 2008 and they were correct. I have 2 mags and will hold off on them but this was the best and most approachable of the the 10 2000 Bordeaux from the weekend. Decanted for 7 hours. Lightly sedmimented. Some licorice on the nose. Ripe berry among the red fruit with dark chocolate and creme de cassis as well. The fruitiest of the 5 St. Julien's. A round wine with a supple long finish. 95-96 points.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Château Léoville Barton 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  My first time trying this vintage and the 1st bottle of my case of this 2nd growth that I have opened. Decanted for 7 hours. Low sediment. Pencil shavings on the nose. Dark purple color. Perhaps the darkest of any of the 5 St. Juliens. Firm tannins. Notes of charcoal, wet black earth and smokey red fruit. A powerhouse (even in this lineup) and the most backward of the 5 wines. Still it showed great pedigree. Give it time. Parker to start drinking in 2015 but I think it will take longer than that. 94-95+ points.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

• 2000 Château Léoville Las Cases 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  My first time drinking the 2000. Decanted for 7 hours. Light sediment. This was the wine I was looking forward to the most (100 points from both WA and WS). A blend of 76.8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14.4% Merlot and 8.8% Cab Franc. This Super 2nd was the favorite of 3 of the 4 tasters although I liked the Leoville Poyferre better. Aromas of roses and lavender. This was an elegant and silky wine despite the solid tannins. Notes of toasted oak, carmel and plum. This was a very enjoyable wine to drink but I will not touch any of my other bottles for another 10 years. Still a baby. 94-96 points now.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No

VM