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Tasting notes from a 2000 Bordeaux tasting - Saturday, April 12, 2003, at the Wine Exchange in Orange, CA. Twenty-one wines were poured for a fee of $39. The wines were double-decanted 24-hrs prior to the tasting.

Overall impressions: well, it seems that the old adage "3rd time's the charm," may apply here. My first sampling of the 2000 Bordeaux (hereafter called 2kB) revealed many lesser cru that were certifiable bargains. On my second look at the vintage, it seemed as though I found significantly fewer under-$30 wines that merited attention, and an equally surprising number of higher-priced wines that only came across as "above-average." That is to say, I was disappointed. However, this time through I found some excellent, even impressive, offerings - across the spectrum.

The upper growths here are predictably excellent - if commensurately expensive. Surprisingly (to me), I still found more than a handful of sub-$30 offerings that were fabulous. Among my favorites, the Figeac, Bellevue, and Pavillon Rouge were excellent. But, it's the Croix du Casse that's the real scene stealer here - followed closely by the Marlatic Lagraviere and three other bargains.

On the flip side of things, the Ducru was disappointing. At $114, I expect to be mesmerized by a wine. And though it had an exceptional nose, it didn't seem to pull anywhere near its weight on the palate.

Tasting Notes

2000 Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafite - Pessac-Leognan. $39.99. Light-gold color. Light alfalfa, grass and hay aromas. Very tasty mouthfeel, lush, rich flavors - chewy and thick on the palate, nearly perfect balance, toasty long finish. 95% Sauvignon Blance.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 La Fleur de Bouard - Lalande de Pomerol $34.99. Very dark ruby color. Lush nose of cassis, toast and a touch of stem. Young mouthfeel, with lots of tasty fruit, and long toasty finish. Really nice nose, and the wines seems very well made. About 80% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Haut Corbin - Saint-Emilion. $23.99. Very dark ruby color. Creamy vanilla and black cherry aromas in the nose. Fleshy mouthfeel, shows just a bit of heat at mid-palate, slightly chunky on the latter palate, but smooths out through the finish. 65% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Haut Gravet - Saint Emilion. $27.99. Dark ruby color. Stunning, rich and complex nose of cassis, toast, wood shavings and touch of vanilla. Slightly soft mouthfeel - though very lush and chewy. Smooth in texture, plenty of fruit, nice long finish. Mostly Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau Carillon de L'Angeles -Saint Emilion. $39.99. Very dark ruby color. Interesting nose of cassis, singed wood, carrot, and ash. Obvious ash flavor to the palate, slightly herbaceous, touch of oak, very nice cassis fruit, excellent balance, and very long tasty finish. Nearly equal portions of Merlot and Cab Franc.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau Grand-Pontet - Saint Emilion. $34.99. Very dark ruby color. Dense nose shows obvious oak, with aromas of cassis, mint and eucalyptus. Big and fleshy mouthfeel, full throttle in mouthfeel all through mid-palate, but shortens up just a through latter palate and finish. Really nice wine; seems like a sleeper to me. About 75% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau Figeac - Saint Emilion. $79.99. Dark ruby color. Classic, old school Bordeaux nose - with a touch of oak, mint, musk, barnyard and cassis/coffee aromas, stemmy and leafy. Fabulous mouthfeel and flavors - just beautiful! Full, smooth and complex across the palate, with a beautiful seamless finish. Nearly equal blend of Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, and Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau Bellevue - Saint Emilion. $84.99. Very dark ruby color. Seamless toasty cassis aromas, with a touch of black olive, licorice, mint and hamburger - wow! Very tasty mouthfeel, excellent balance, with some grip on the palate, smooth toasty long finish. About 70% Merlot.
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau La Croix du Casse - Pomerol. $27.99. Very dark ruby color. Killer nose of cassis, ink, charred hardwoods, and prune. Huge mouthfeel, forward flavors, smooth and rich, with a long slightly oaky finish. Just beautiful! About 80% Merlot.
Aroma score: A Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau Camensac - Haut Medoc. $17.99. Very dark ruby color. Nose of ashen cassis, vanilla, and asphalt. Young and somewhat gripping in mouthfeel, with some obvious oak overtones; seems a little primal in structure and flavor, and gets a bit thin on the back end. About 60% Cab Sauv.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Malartic Lagraviere - Pessac-Leognan. $33.99. Very dark ruby color. Fabulous nose of espresso, cassis, oak, and beef. Good fruit, chewy mouthfeel, noticable oak throughout, tasty flavors and very good balance. Slightly drying on the finish. 50% Cab Sauv, 25% each Franc and Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux - Margaux. $59.99. Very dark ruby color. Classic Bordeaux nose of graphite, toast, cassis, and a touch of coffee/mocha. Big and chewy mouthfeel, delicious flavors, slightly sweet/sour through long finish. 75% Cab Sauv.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

Favorites - In Order of Preference

2000 Chateau Figeac - Saint Emilion. $79.99.
2000 Chateau Bellevue - Saint Emilion. $84.99.
2000 Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux - Margaux. $59.99.
2000 Chateau La Croix du Casse - Pomerol. $27.99.
2000 Chateau Gruaud Larose - Saint Julien. $89.99.

2000 Chateau Malartic Lagraviere - Pessac-Leognan. $33.99.
2000 Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafite Blanc - Pessac-Leognan. $39.99.
2000 Chateau Grand-Pontet - Saint Emilion. $34.99.
2000 Chateau Carillon de L'Angeles -Saint Emilion. $39.99.
2000 Chateau Haut Gravet - Saint Emilion. $27.99.
2000 Chateau Rauzan-Segla - Margaux. $84.99.
2000 Chateau La Tourette - Pauillac. $28.99.
2000 Chateau d'Armaillac - Pauillac. $29.99.
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2000 Chateau Camensac - Haut Medoc. $17.99.
2000 Chateau Clerc Milon - Pauillac. $46.99.
2000 La Fleur de Bouard - Lalande de Pomerol $34.99.
2000 Chateau Haut Corbin - Saint-Emilion. $23.99.
2000 Chateau Beycheville - Saint Julien. $45.99.
2000 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou - Saint Julien. $114.99.
2000 Chateau Branaire - Saint Julien. $52.99.
2000 Chateau Lynch Moussas - Pauillac. $21.99.

2000 Chateau Rauzan-Segla - Margaux. $84.99. Dark ruby color. Ripe and slightly sweet nose, with a slight barnyard note. Off-sweet mouthfeel, toasty and somewhat meaty, very good balance, and long finish. 61% Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau Branaire - Saint Julien. $52.99. Very dark ruby color. Interesting singed wood aromas, with a touch of graphite and toasted grain. Initially big mouthfeel, but seems to thin out a bit from mid to latter palate. 70% Cab Sauv.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Beycheville - Saint Julien. $45.99. Very dark ruby color. Complex and fascinating, the herbaceous nose of espresso, beet, cassis, and chalk is something of a knockout. Off-sweet mouthfeel, if a bit to the sour side, good balance, and long finish. 60% Cab Sauv, 28% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou - Saint Julien. $114.99. Very dark ruby garnet color. Ripe nose of cassis, black cherry, chocolate, and vanilla. Somewhat soft and neutral in flavors and texture. Great nose, but where's the beef? 65% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Gruaud Larose - Saint Julien. $89.99. Very, very dark ruby color. Fabulous nose of espresso, dried herbs, and black cherry. Big and full-throttle all across the palate. This is a gutsy wine that just keeps delivering with in-your-face fruit, and long tannic finish. 57% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: A- Overall score: A-

2000 Chateau Lynch Moussas - Pauillac. $21.99. Dark ruby color. Ripe nose, with dark cherry scents and a light minty quality. Ripe on the palate, with just a hint of prune and raisin. Nice wine, just a bit over-ripe. 65% Cab Sauv, 30% Merlot.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau La Tourette - Pauillac. $28.99. Black ruby color. Beautiful nose of tar, licorice, cassis and toast. A bit narrowly focussed on the palate - extracted as all get-out, but the oak seems overriding at the moment. Mostly Cab Sauv.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau d'Armaillac - Pauillac. $29.99. Dark ruby color. Masses of espresso and roasted coffee in the nose. A bit dry on the palate, and seems a touch thin throughout. 50% Cab Sauv, 25% Merlot.
Aroma score: A- Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+

2000 Chateau Clerc Milon - Pauillac. $46.99. Dark ruby color. Nose is a combination of old school Bordeaux and new world Cab. Nice touch of toast and espresso. Very nice texture and flavors on the palate, tasty, with very good balance and long finish. 70% Cab Sauv, 20% Merlot.
Aroma score: B+ Taste score: B+ Overall score: B+


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