Chateau Carruades De Lafite 2000 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux A brilliant second wine, the 2000 Carruades de Lafite (51.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42.3% Merlot, 4.9% Cabernet Franc, and 1.4% Petit Verdot), aged in 10-15% new French oak, shows wonderfully sweet lead pencil shavings intermixed with an elegant black cherry and cassis nose. A wine of tremendous purity, medium body, and the tell-tale Lafite elegance, this is a gorgeous wine to drink now and over the next 12-15 years. - Rated 90, Robert Parker Wonderfully ripe and decadent, with tobacco, meat and ripe berry aromas, with hints of currants. Full-bodied, and very velvety, with unctuous fruit flavors. Long and exotic aftertaste. Terrific wine. Second wine of Lafite Rothschild. Best after 2010. - Rated 93, Wine Spectator
Chateau Clerc Milon 2000 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux This flamboyant, dense, opaque purple-colored wine, made from a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot, is muscular, with an unctuous texture and high levels of tannin as well as extract. Compared to its other sibling in the Mouton-Rothschild stable, d'Armailhac, it is far more closed and tannic but still somewhat ostentatious, with smoky, leathery notes intermixed with oodles of black fruits and spice box. The wine may, however, have trouble eclipsing the brilliant 2001. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. - Rated 92, Robert Parker Super aromas of currants, mineral and exotic fruits. Full-bodied, with very firm tannins. This is long and chewy. Tough Clerc, but textbook Pauillac. Cab city. Best after 2010. 11,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 91, Wine Spectator
Chateau D'armailhac 2002 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux A firm, dark ruby/purple-colored wine with notes of compost, black currants, espresso roast, and some soy, this medium to full-bodied, relatively powerful and concentrated wine shows elevated levels of tannin which have kept me from pulling the trigger and giving it a higher score. I thought everything seemed better balanced prior to bottling, so perhaps the wine is going through a somewhat angular phase of development. It s certainly a big, bold, rather aggressively tannic style of d’Armailhac. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2019. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Aromas of blackberries and licorice follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with slightly austere tannins and a fresh finish. Hollow midpalate. Best after 2006. 15,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 87, Wine Spectator
Chateau d'Armailhac 2003 Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019.” Rated 90,...
Chateau d'Armailhac 2003 Bordeaux 1.5L
Pauilliac Bordeaux The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019.” Rated 90,...
Chateau d'Armailhac 2003 Bordeaux 3.0L
Pauillac, Bordeaux The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019.” Rated 90,...
Chateau d'Armailhac 2003 Bordeaux 375ml
Pauilliac, Bordeaux The deep ruby/purple-hued 2003 d’Armailhac exhibits notes of Asian plum sauce interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice, and roasted herbs. With moderately high yet sweet tannin, an earthy character, and chewy, muscular, deep fruit as well as medium to full body, it should be drunk between 2008-2019.” Rated 90,...
Chateau Duhart Milon 1995 1.5L
Pauillac, Bordeaux Made from a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon/20% Merlot, the 1995 is slightly sweeter, more supple and slender than the broader-shouldered 1996. The wine's bouquet offers aromas of ripe berry fruit intermixed with minerals, toasty oak, and spice. Medium-bodied, with fine extract, it is a finesse-styled Pauillac (in the best sense of the word). Anticipated maturity: 2002-2014. - Rated 87, Robert Parker Best Duhart in some time. Essence of blackberry and chocolate. Full-bodied and extremely velvety. Caressing and gorgeous to taste. Best after 2000. - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Duhart Milon 2000 Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux An outstanding Duhart, certainly one of the best produced at this estate since the 1996, 1986, and 1982, this blend of 80.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19.5% Merlot reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as notes of lead pencil intermixed with wet stones, black currants, and a certain leafiness. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, and dense, but tightly-knit, with considerable tannin, it will require patience. For those willing to wait, it will be a sleeper of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2019. - Rated 90, Robert Parker Loads of plum, tobacco, meaty and cedary character on the nose. Full-bodied, with lots of chewy tannins and a long, luscious finish. This needs time to open. Closed now. Best after 2007. 20,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 2000 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux This large-scaled wine has a saturated ruby/purple color and a big creme de cassis nose, with a hint of licorice and tobacco. Still somewhat closed, this deep, full-bodied, luscious, muscular offering exhibits ripe tannin, loads of fruit, and tremendous purity. This is a gorgeous example of one of the most popular wines in the Medoc. Its savory tannin and low acidity suggest it should be close to its plateau of drinkability in 4-6 years. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020+. - Rated 93, Robert Parker Very racy. Licorice, berry and lead pencil, with flowers. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a long finish. Very fine indeed. Best after 2010. 15,830 cases made. –JS - Rated 92, Wine Spectator
Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste 2002 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux A light wine by the standards of this property, this herbaceous, spicy, red currant and plum-scented wine shows weedy notes of green tea intermixed with cherries and some washed-out red currants. It is a pleasant, picnic-styled Grand-Puy-Lacoste to drink during its first 5-7 years of life. - Rated 86, Robert Parker Cassis and berry aromas, with hints of fresh herbs. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a medium finish. A slight herbal character brings it down.–JS - Rated 85-88, Wine Spectator
Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste Bordeaux 1996
Pauillac, Bordeaux This is unquestionably a profound Grand-Puy-Lacoste, but it is excruciatingly backward. It reveals an essence of creme de cassis character which sets it apart from other Pauillacs. The wine is displaying plenty of tannin, huge body, and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with minerals and subtle oak. Massive, extremely structured, and with 25-30 or more years of longevity, this immensely-styled Grand-Puy-Lacoste will require 7-8 years of patience, perhaps longer. A superb, classic Pauillac. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. - Rated 93, Robert Parker A seamless, pretty '96 claret. Extremely fruity aromas of plums and blackberries. Medium-bodied, with polished tannins and silky texture. Best after 2001. 14,000 cases made. - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Haut Batailley 2002 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux A reasonably successful wine for this vintage that is showing more of a St.-Julien elegance without the typical power of Pauillac, the wine has a dark plum/ruby color, a slightly earthy, herb-tinged, raspberry and black currant-scented nose, silky tannins, medium body, and a pleasant finish. Drink it over the next decade. - Rated 87, Robert Parker A solid core of fruit in this wine, with medium to full body, good tannins and a medium finish. –JS - Rated 89-91, Wine Spectator
Chateau Haut Batailley 2003 -Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux A pretty, somewhat superficial effort, the 2003 offers aromas of cranberries, sweet cherries, black currants, and spicy new oak. Elegant and medium-bodied, with a shallow finish, it should be consumed over the next decade. - Rated 87, Robert Parker Black licorice and blackberry aromas follow through to a medium-to-full body, fine tannins and a silky finish. Best after 2007. 7,555 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lacoste Borie 2000 - Bordeaux
Pauillac Bordeaux Second Wine of Chateau Grand Puy Lacoste A wonderful indulgence, great claret from a highly regarded Cru Classé estate that's close to maturity. Lacoste-Borie is the superb, reasonably priced, second wine of Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste that renowned critic Robert Parker says 'has surged to the forefront of leading Pauillacs'. Made...
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2001 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux The 2001 Lafite Rothschild’s deep, saturated plum/purple color is accompanied by lead pencil liqueur-like notes intermixed with sweet red and black currants, plums, and cedar. This blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13.5% Merlot is a classic example of Lafite. Extremely elegant, medium-bodied, with intense concentration, richness, and sweet...
Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2002 - Bordeaux
Pauillac, Bordeaux A brilliant offering and a candidate for wine of the vintage, this is classic Lafite that reminded me somewhat of the 1976, although the vintage conditions were completely different. This is a medium-weight, quintessentially elegant style of Lafite with notes of lead pencil shavings/graphite along with black currants, plums, and crushed rocks/mineral. Wonderfully pure, dense, with a deep ruby/purple color and loads of fruit, definition, and a long finish, this is a brilliant, elegant Lafite Rothschild that builds incrementally in the mouth and has more power and density than it initially seems. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. - Rated 94, Robert Parker Bubbling over with crushed berries, currants and spices, with tobacco notes. Beautiful. Full-bodied, with gorgeously velvety tannins and a long finish of pretty fruit. This is a racy yet elegant Lafite. Classy. Best after 2010. 16,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 95, Wine Spectator
Pauillac, Bordeaux There are only 10,800 cases (rather than the normal 15,000-20,000) of the 2003 Latour, a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot (13.3% finished alcohol). A prodigious effort, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, cedar, creme de...
Chateau Lynch Bages 2000 Bordeaux 3L
Pauilliac, Bordeaux An utterly profound Lynch-Bages, this wine continues to remind me of a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1989. Interestingly, when I asked Jean-Michel Cazes to rank his top four vintages of Lynch-Bages, he ranked the 1989 first, followed by three vintages that he said were essentially equivalent in quality - 1990, 1996, and 2000. The 2000 Lynch-Bages exhibits a dense purple color, loads of glycerin and extract, big, muscular, sweet creme de cassis notes, with hints of new saddle leather, earth, and tobacco leaf. The 2000 is forceful yet plush, with a thick, juicy, succulent mid-palate, ripe tannin, and a long, layered finish. I know it will be tempting to pull corks on this wine in its youth, but it really will not hit its stride for 7-10 years and will last for at least 25. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. - Rated 95, Robert Parker Gorgeous aromas of plums, blackberries and licorice, with hints of mineral. Full-bodied, with full, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Big and solid. Fantastic. If you love Lynch, you won't be disappointed. Best after 2010. 35,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 96, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lynch Bages 2003 -Bordeaux
Pauilliac, Bordeaux One of the most popular wines of Bordeaux seems to be going through a period where the style seems lighter, and there is less muscle and mass, but perhaps it’s just a temporary transition. Certainly there has been no truly profound Lynch Bages since the 2000, preceded by the 1996, 1990, and 1989. Showing better than it did from cask with some toasty oak, moderate quantities of creme de cassis fruit, lower acidity, and a hint of cedar in an evolved style, the medium to full-bodied 2003 Lynch Bages does not lack for tannin and structure but finishes surprisingly short for a top vintage in the northern Medoc. It is very good, but falls short of outstanding. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020. - Rated 89, Robert Parker A wine with silky, refined tannins and delicate fruit. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a lovely long, textured finish. This builds on the palate. More subtle than I remember. Best after 2011. 35,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 92, Wine Spectator
Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2003 Bordeaux
Pauilliac, Bordeaux Backward, powerful, and extremely tannic, the dense purple-colored 2003 Mouton-Rothschild, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, fashioned from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, with a finished alcohol of 12.9%, improves dramatically with aeration. With full-bodied, meaty, powerful, dry flavors...
Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2003 Bordeaux 1.5Liter
Pauilliac, Bordeaux Backward, powerful, and extremely tannic, the dense purple-colored 2003 Mouton-Rothschild, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, fashioned from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, with a finished alcohol of 12.9%, improves dramatically with aeration. With full-bodied, meaty, powerful, dry flavors...
Chateau Pedesclaux 2003 -Bordeaux
Wrap: Red deep ruby Nose: great aromatic richness on red fruits concentrates. Vegetable notes, blackberries auvages accompany a key by smoked after ventilation Palate: The attack is frank, the medium of mouth presents a superb black fruit concentration. Tannins of one surprising smoothness appear on a dense and long structure. Tasty...
Chateau Pedesclaux 2003 -Bordeaux 1.5L
Wrap: Red deep ruby Nose: great aromatic richness on red fruits concentrates. Vegetable notes, blackberries auvages accompany a key by smoked after ventilation Palate: The attack is frank, the medium of mouth presents a superb black fruit concentration. Tannins of one surprising smoothness appear on a dense and long structure. Tasty...
Chateau Pedesclaux 2003 -Bordeaux 375ml
Wrap: Red deep ruby Nose: great aromatic richness on red fruits concentrates. Vegetable notes, blackberries auvages accompany a key by smoked after ventilation Palate: The attack is frank, the medium of mouth presents a superb black fruit concentration. Tannins of one surprising smoothness appear on a dense and long structure. Tasty...
Chateau Pichon Baron 2000 - Bordeaux
Pauillac Bordeaux A spectacular effort, this is a profound Pichon Baron and clearly my favorite vintage of this wine since the 1989 and 1990. An inky purple color offers up notes of barbecue spices intermixed with new saddle leather, creme de cassis, melted licorice, creosote, and a hint of vanilla. The wine is full-bodied, tremendously concentrated, with sweet tannin and a seamless finish that goes on for close to one minute. This wine has great purity, tremendous texture, and fabulous upside potential. This is a prodigious 2000! Anticipated maturity: 2008-2028. - Rated 96, Robert Parker Fantastic aromas of currants, berries and hints of minerals. Cool and sleek. Full-bodied, with a lovely underbelly of ripe fruit and medium, silky tannins. Best Pichon Baron I have tasted since 1990. Best after 2010. –JS - Rated 93, Wine Spectator
Chateau Pichon Baron 2002 - Bordeaux
Pauilliac, Bordeaux This is an elegant, deep ruby-colored wine with notes of sweet cassis, cedar wood, and tobacco with a hint of chocolate in the background. It is a layered, moderately weighty wine with pretty, even understated fruit flavors, excellent concentration, and a long finish with relatively ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2016. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Dense aromas of licorice, tobacco, cedar and currants. Subtle yet complex. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a rich, long finish. Very pretty. One of the best from Pauillac this year, and clearly better than 2001. One of the surprises of the vintage. Best after 2008. 20,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 93, Wine Spectator
Chateau Pichon Lalande 2000 - Bordeaux
Chateau Pichon Lalande 2001- Bordeaux
Chateau Pichon Lalande 2002 - Bordeaux
Chateau Pichon Lalande 2003 Bordeaux
Pauilliac, Bordeaux The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003...
Chateau Pichon Lalande 2003 Bordeaux 1.5Liter
Pauilliac, Bordeaux The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003...
Chateau Pichon Lalande 2003 Bordeaux 3.0Liter
Pauilliac, Bordeaux The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003...
Chateau Pichon Lalande 2003 Bordeaux 375ml
Pauilliac, Bordeaux The brilliant, opulent, fleshy 2003 Pichon Lalande (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot) possesses a high pH of 3.8 as well as 13% alcohol. Reminiscent of the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which never shut down and continues to go from strength to strength), the dense plum/purple-colored 2003...
Chateau Pontet Canet Bordeaux 1996
Pauilliac, Bordeaux I was shocked by how backward the 1996 Pontet-Canet was on the three occasions I tasted it in January. This wine possesses superb potential, but it appears a decade's worth of patience will be necessary. The color is a saturated dark purple. With coaxing, the wine offers aromas of black currant jam intertwined with minerals, sweet oak, and spice. A full-bodied wine, it possesses layered, concentrated, sweet fruit, with an elevated level of ripe tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2035. - Rated 92, Robert Parker A young red, with bright black licorice and berry aromas and hints of spice. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and compact fruit structure. Slightly closed on the finish, but impressive nonetheless. Best after 2002. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
