Chateau Destieux 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion, Bordeaux Along with the 2001, the 2000 Destieux is one of the finest efforts I have tasted from this property. Its inky purple color is followed by copious quantities of underbrush, truffle, blackberry and cassis characteristics along with high tannin, a sweet mid-palate, and more depth in the mid-section than exhibited in past vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2018. It is a sleeper of the vintage. - Rated 89, Robert Parker A firm, slightly lean 2000, with berry and tobacco character, medium body and a fresh finish. –JS - Rated 85-88 Wine Spectator
Chateau Beausejour Becot 2003 Bordeaux
Saint Emilion Bordeaux From a 41-acre vineyard situated on St.-Emilion’s limestone plateau, Beau-Sejour-Becot’s blend can vary, but it is approximately 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. Production can be as low as 4,000+ cases (in a tiny vintage such as 2003), or as high as 7,000+ cases (in an abundant year such as 2004). The 2003, which reminds me of a 1990 Right Bank Bordeaux, tips the scales at 13.5% alcohol. Its dark plum/ruby/purple color is followed by a sweet nose of creosote, scorched earth, black cherries, currants, and pain grille. Deep, full-flavored, muscular, textured, and rich with light to moderate tannin in the finish, this lavishly rich, full-bodied effort requires 1-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well over the following 12-15. - Rated 93, Robert Parker Opulent aromas of ripe fruit, toasted oak and grilled meat. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and loads of fruit and lightly toasted oak. Very long and delicious. Balanced wine. Best after 2010. 4,665 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Monbousquet 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux From a mixture of sand, gravel, and clay soils, this unheralded terroir produces wines well-above its pedigree thanks to the extraordinary efforts of proprietors Chantal and Gerard Perse. The wines are given a 4- to 5-week maceration in both stainless steel and oak, and are aged sur-lie in new oak. The dark ruby/purple-colored 2003 offers up notes of smoky meats, melted licorice, jammy black cherries, spice box, earth, and cedar. This plump, fleshy, sexy, unfined, unfiltered wine represents a classic blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields were 32 hectoliters per hectare, and the alcohol is 13.5%. Anticipated maturity: now-2016. - Rated 93, Robert Parker Essence of blackberry here on the nose with a hint of cream. Full-bodied yet silky and refined, with lovely texture and length. Delicious and long. Gorgeous. Best after 2010. 7,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Larmarde 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion Bordeaux Make no mistake about it, this is a good wine, but I had expected more of this impeccably run property. A deep ruby/purple-colored effort displaying notes of dried herbs, licorice, black fruits, and toasty oak, the medium to full-bodied, elegant 2000 is not complex, but is well-made and savory. It possesses low acidity as well as noticeable tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2014. - Rated 88, Robert Parker Well-crafted. Blackberry and dark tobacco, with hints of dark chocolate, follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with firm, yet silky tannins and a fresh, citric finish. Best after 2006. 5,830 cases made. –JS - Rated 89, Wine Spectator
Chateau Cadet Piola 2000 - Bordeaux
Bordeaux St. Emilion Excellent currant, earthy, herb-tinged leather and black cherry fruit emerge from this medium-bodied, fleshy, yet somewhat rustic effort. Possessing sweeter tannin than generally found in Cadet-Piola, it should drink well for a decade. - Rated 86, Robert Parker Subtle aromas of ripe fruit and Indian spices follow through to a full-bodied palate, yet reserved, with well-integrated tannins. Racy red. Best after 2008. 2,415 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Pipeau 2003 Bordeaux 1.5L
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A good value from St.-Emilion, this well-run estate has turned out a dense, muscular, masculine-styled 2003 with a dark ruby/purple color, and up-front, ripe black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of black currants, earth, and incense. Plush, fleshy, long, and low in acidity, it should be consumed over...
Chateau Dassault 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion, Bordeaux This is a fruity, consumer-friendly St.-Emilion meant to be drunk during its first decade of life. The sexy, low acid 2000 reveals ripe black cherry fruit intermixed with notes of Provencal herbs, spice box, and new oak. It is round, expansive, fleshy, and cleanly made, with more tannin and persistence on the palate than previous vintages. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2014. - Rated 88, Robert Parker Not big, but it's got length. Attractive aromas of crushed berries and vanilla follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with superfine tannins and a long, bright and fruity aftertaste. Best after 2006. 5,830 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Angelots de Gracia 2003
St. Emilion, Bordeaux
This is the 2nd Wine from Chateau Gracia
Chateau La Couspaude Bordeaux 2000
St. Emilion, Bordeaux This is a lavishly fruity, toasty, seductive wine with no hard edges. It possesses terrific fat and a sweet, opulent, multi-layered style. Possessing a dense ruby/purple color along with copious quantities of black cherry liqueur, espresso, mineral, oak, and roasted nut characteristics, this layered, voluptuous, full-throttle effort should be drinkable in 2-3 years and last for 16+. A full-bodied wine, it is sexy stuff. - Rated 92, Robert Parker Serious wine. Loads of chocolate, raspberry and cherry character. Full-bodied, with lots of vanilla and reduced raspberry flavors. Long and caressing. Modern and exciting. Best Couspaude I have ever tasted. Best after 2010. 3,330 cases made. –JS - Rated 92, Wine Spectator
Chateau Clos Fourtet 2000 Bordeaux
St Emilion, Bordeaux This is a substantial, large-sized wine for Clos Fourtet. A saturated dark plum/purple color characterizes this full-bodied effort. This impressive, dense wine displays plenty of power as well as notes of charcoal, blackberry jam, licorice, and toasty new oak. With good size, firm tannin, outstanding ripeness, and overall richness, this exceptional offering is the finest Clos Fourtet produced in many years. It will also be long-lived. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2022. - Rated 90, Robert Parker Starts off a bit earthy, but then turns to lovely ripe, almost decadent fruit. Full-bodied, with soft and round tannins and a long, refreshing finish. A beauty. This is really good for Clos Fourtet. Best after 2006. 4,580 cases made. –JS - Rated 92, Wine Spectator
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A typically charming and approachable for Canon, the 2003 exhibits a deep plum/ruby color as well as a sweet bouquet of black cherries, ripe currants, and a hint of figs. With lush fruit on the attack, medium body, light to moderate tannin, and excellent texture, concentration, and purity, it should be at its finest between 2007-2018. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Aromas of blackberry and lightly toasted oak with just an undertone of vanilla. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a lovely, silky texture. Best after 2010. 3,665 cases made. –JS - Rated 91, Wine Spectator
Chateau La Gaffeliere 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion, Bordeaux A subtle wine that impresses with displays of measured, incremental fruit, the 2000 offers sweet aromas of mocha, black cherries, cassis, and delicious toasty oak. Although light in the mouth, this ruby/purple-colored 2000 possesses wonderful expansive richness, a deep mid-section, and sweet tannin in the persistent finish. It is not a wine that knocks you out with a blast of fruit and wood, but rather one that impresses for its nobility/subtlety. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2019. - Rated 90, Robert Parker Intense red licorice, crushed berries and flowers. Medium-bodied, with medium fine tannins and a silky finish. Not the biggest 2000, but very enjoyable. Best after 2007. -Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Peby Faugeres 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A luxury cuvee culled from the large Faugeres vineyard, Peby-Faugeres is a nearly 100% Merlot made from 45-year-old vines planted in limestone soils. The wine’s upbringing is similar to that of a well-crafted Burgundy, with malolactic in barrel, aging on its lees, and no clarification at bottling. It has been a huge success since it debuted in 1998. Even better from bottle than it was from cask, the intense, deep purple-hued 2003 offers a big, sweet nose of blackberries, creme de cassis, creosote, coffee, and flowers. Full-bodied and opulent with low acidity, huge glycerin and flavor density, and a spectacularly long, flamboyant finish, this exotic, intense St.-Emilion reflects this interesting vintage. Anticipated maturity: now-2020+. - Rated 93, Robert Parker Crushed plum, berry and cherry on the nose. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit and velvety tannins. Goes on for minutes. Very 2003. Very Port-like, but I love it. Best after 2009. 1,330 cases made. –JS - Rated 93, Wine Spectator
Chateau Beausejour Becot 2000 Bordeaux
Saint Emilion Bordeaux This the greatest Beau Sejour-Becot I have ever tasted. The opaque purple 2000 has put on weight during its elevage and, from the bottle, appears to be spectacular. The wood is well-integrated, and the fruit, glycerin, and overall flavor dimensions are noteworthy. The bouquet smells of ink, espresso, jammy blackberries and currants, wet stones, and licorice. Super-pure and fabulously extracted, with high tannin, full body, a thick texture, and awesome richness and length, this blockbuster effort will be at its finest between 2008-2025. - Rated 93, Robert Parker Slightly herbal, with berry and tobacco character. Full-bodied, chewy and rich, with a velvety and medium fruity finish. Very extracted. A bit too much for me, but very good. Best after 2007. –JS - Rated 89, Wine Spectator
Chateau Angelus 2003 Bordeaux 375ml
St. Emilion, Bordeaux Kudos to proprietor Hubert Bouard, who has been making brilliant wines at this estate since the mid- to late-1980s. A blend of 58% Cabernet Franc and 42% Merlot, the beautiful 2003 (14% alcohol; 6,500 cases produced) is somewhat tightly knit, but it reveals a perfumed nose of rose...
Chateau la Gomerie 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A limited production garagiste operation, La Gomerie is treated like a favored child by its proprietor. Jean-Philippe Fort, Michel Rolland’s top assistant, is a consultant for this 100% Merlot-based wine produced from a 5-acre, 31-year-old vineyard. The sensational 2003 is performing even better from bottle than it did...
Chateau Petit Cheval 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux The 2003 Le Petit Cheval is soft, round, and ready to drink. It needs to be consumed over the next 5-7 years. - Rated 87, Robert Parker Fresh berry and mineral with hints of tobacco and fresh herbs. Medium-bodied, with sweet fruit and a pleasing length. Very nice. Second wine of Cheval-Blanc. –JS - Rated 85-88, Wine Spectator
Chateau Clos L'Oratoire 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion, Bordeaux This is one of St-Emilion's foothill (pieds de cotes) vineyards planted with 90% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. The vinification is classic Stephan von Neipperg and Stephane Derenoncourt. Undoubtedly the finest effort this property has yet produced, the black-colored 2000 offers up sexy notes...
Chateau St. Dominique 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion Bordeaux Saint Domingue, another marvel from the same owner as Saint Dominique in Saint-Emilion. Situated next to Cheval Blanc on the edge of the Pomerol. This Saint Emilion village has all the class of a Grand Cru. Deep purple in colour. Intense aromas of stewed black berries and creme...
Chateau Virgine De Valandraud 2000 - Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux Loads of tobacco, berry and currants, with meat. Massive aromas. Full-bodied, with fantastic silky tannins. Very good for a second wine. From Valandraud. Best after 2008. 830 cases made. -JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A true garagiste estate, hand-made wines are fashioned from this 4.5-acre vineyard (planted with 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon). The first bottle of 2003 I tasted was corked, but the second one was healthy. It revealed a dense purple color along with a muscular personality, impressive concentration, power, and depth, and an elevated level of gritty, astringent tannin. The latter component is cause for concern. If the tannin falls away and the fruit holds, this may turn out to be a brilliant wine, but given the way it is showing at present, that is a risky proposition. - Rated 90, Robert Parker
