Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I need to start w/ a little preamble.

For me, Pessac-Leognan was a late comer Bordeaux region. The last one I gravitated to in my 26 yr Bordeaux experience.

Nearly all the previous 2000 Bordeaux’s I’ve had up to this point needed a lot more cellaring. Mostly 1st & 2nd Growths, some 3rd. This 2000 started lean…lacking depth & a bigger tannin profile. But that is not entirely uncharacteristic for older Pessac’s. It seemed slightly more late in its drinking window. It picked up weight in the decanter at 2 1/2 hours and then showed more weight & depth w/ my Ribcap.

This started elegant w/ soft Bordeaux characteristics. Beauty & elegance as I understand it in Bordeaux’s from this region and this kind of age. But lacked 2000 earthiness & depth. For me, this is a 3rd tier Pessac producer, my terminology. Not up there with Haut Bailly or Pape Clement and of course Haut Brion.

2000’s up to this point have shown great depth & deep characteristics. Most needing longer than anticipated aging.

This was beautiful, elegant but lean based on previous definitions. Early on it seemly felt like it was a drink up in the next 3 yrs w/o the steak. With a longish decant & steak, more 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows muddled to slightly stewy; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, some mushroom notes, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles-top soils with dark, red, withering flowers.

The palate shows beautiful elegance with nothing that bites back. Perfectly resolved velvety tannins. Ripe, juicy, somewhat ruby fruits. Yet, have slightly stewy characteristics. Dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, softly layered & even baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid, dark, Asian spices, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened, nearly sweet graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, charcoal, volcanic ash, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles, dry top soils with dark, red, withering flowers, near perfect acidity, well balanced w/ softened structure/tension, great length and an elegant finish that goes on and on and long sets on spice & clay.

Almost new cork and little to no sediment.

92-93 with a long decant & a rich, fatty steak-Ribcap. First taste after pouring into the decanter, 90.

Photos of; Haut-Bergey, Paul Garcin-Managing Director and Francois Prouteau-Cellar Master. — 6 days ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.2

Great bottle of Perrieres. Ripe, classic style. — 3 months ago

Pinotman /// Andreas

9.2

Monopole - Quite tannic.
Has another 5+ years of life ahead of it. Cherry, raspberry - really incredibly tannic! Try again in 2030? Mulberry (yep have a tree so i can compare). Perhaps cranberry - but really nothing along the line „holy shit“ never had this before, Yes an iconic wine - but that does mean i will give it high points just because of the pedigree and 300$ for these is steep! — a month ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.4

2010 vintage. 4th of 4 bottles. Last officially tasted 2.22.25 (9.4) but tasted two other bottles since...about 6 and 8 months ago. All three visits decanted, medium body, showing more fruit than expected and rated 9.4. This last bottle not decanted and tasted with @romo after approx 30 minutes open and again after 1.5 hours open. Light-medium/medium body. Most advanced of the four experiences and the least amount of fruit. Allowed for the delicate, finishing latticework to develop without distractions. Another 3-4 years in this current state before detouring elsewhere seems about right. 01.16.26. — 2 months ago

Greg Koslosky

9.3

Ex cellar bottle made by Michel Gaunoux. He was a work class wine maker! — 2 years ago

Doug Powers

9.0

This CdP seems a bit more angry and wild from being opened, a touch more structure than the softer 2000 Bosquet des Papes (2001 was a more tannic vintage), solid balance, also mature, 13.5% ABV, longish finish. — 4 months ago

with Jim

Sean Burke

9.1

Great, unusual and not fruity — a month ago

Chris Williams

9.2

Medium body, delicious — 2 months ago

Mike Matsumoto

9.2

いずこ供出の2022年もの。やっぱりすごい。 — 3 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.4

Absolute fire — 3 months ago