2000 Chateauneuf du Pape Tasting Dinner (6 wines)

My wife and I invited Otis and his wife to our small cottage in Michigan last weekend and we arranged a 2000 Chateauneuf du Pape retrospective tasting and dinner on Saturday night. Otis brought his floating chair with him (and an extra for me- thank you) and worked up an appetite at the beach Saturday afternoon rolling in the 2-3 foot surf in the warm 77 degree Lake Michigan water. I picked up some buffalo tri tip and sirloin steaks from a local butcher to cook on the grill. The tri tips were dry rubbed in various herbs and spices and the sirloins were rubbed with only kosher salt and ground black pepper. Otis made his "otis potatoes" (sliced potatoes cooked with butter and onions in foil on the grill). Also bought some local sweet corn and my wife threw together a cucumber and tomato salad with homemade Italian dressing. Overall I thought the bigger wines were still backward and in need of time while the other wines were ready to go. Here are my notes:

• 2000 Bosquet des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc Cuvée Tradition 90 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Started off our 2000 CdP tasting with this wine. Chilled it and took it to the beach to watch the sunset with Otis and his wife. This was the 4th time I have had this wine over the last 9 years. It has never lived up to the WS94 rating but has always been a very good wine. This wine has evolved and become much smoother and more rounded. Notes of apple, marzipan and creamy fruit. Drink up if you have any. 89-90 points.

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• 2000 Domaine des Relagnes Châteauneuf-du-Pape La Cuvée Vigneronne 88 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Third time I have had this wine. I have not had it since 2002 and 2003. This was $20 on release and was given 90 points by WA. Not decanted but opened to breath about 2 hours before dinner. I think it could have used some decanting time but I did not have enough decanters (or time). This wine had a metallic component when first tasted but opened up more an more as the night went on. Toward the end of the evening it had pretty brambly berry notes, tobacco and pepper. 88 points

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• 2000 Roger Sabon Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Prestige 87 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Otis brought this wine to our 2000 CdP dinner. This finished 5th among the 5 wines for me but was still very nice. Not decanted but opened to breath 2 hours before dinner. This was another wine which could have used some decanting and was more approachable as the night went on. Solid red purple color. The most acidic of the 5 wines. Notes of tar and elderberry. Medium body with moderate tannins. 87 points.

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• 2000 Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Les Origines 93 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Third time I have had this wine (previously in 2002 and 2005). I purchased it on release for a great price ($19). Not decanted but opened for 2 hours before drinking. This was my favorite wine of the night based upon how it is drinking now. This single vineyard wine has been very consistent every time I have had it. Blackish red color. An earthy wine with notes of charcoal and rich black fruit. This had the most fruit of the five 2000 CdP's. A round texture and drinkg very well now. However, no rush to drink this. I don't see it improving but it should hold for some time. Full bodied with a long finish. 93-94 points.

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• 2000 Domaine de Beaurenard Châteauneuf-du-Pape Boisrenard 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  The first time I have had this wine. Blue Oval got the Chicago Wine Mafia a deal on these when they were released for $45 per bottle. It was given 95 points by WS and WA. This is a blend of 13 grape varieties but grenache predominates. The grapes come from low yielding 60-100 year old vines. The Coulon Family has run this estate for 7 generations. We decanted this wine for 2 hours before dinner and it was still backward. Firm tannins with notes of gun flint, kirsch and garrigue. Much of the fruit seemed to be hidden. Tried it again the next day and it had not opened much. Full bodied and powerful. Give this time. Based on potential: 92-95 points.

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• 2000 Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape 94 Points

  France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

  Otis brought this to Michigan for our 2000 CdP dinner. Third time I have had this wine (previously in 2003 and 2009- courtesy of Otis again at his diminishment party). We decanted this for about 3 hours before we drank it. I was really looking forward to this wine. Deep purple color. It had more fruit than the earlier bottles but was still not in its prime. Rather tight throughout the dinner. Notes of crushed grape skin and currant. Gone was the funkiness that I noted in the last bottle. Tried it again the next morning with our blueberry pancakes and pepper bacon and it was more open. Low 90's score during dinner. Probably 92 the next morning and based upon potential this should end up in the 93-95 point range.

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The sun came out again the next day and it was more floating chair action for everybody to work off the dinner.

VM