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. — a month ago

Shay A

9.1

I’ve been wondering when to open this wine, and when a local group decided to do a Pinot theme blind, I thought this would be a fun contender.

My second time with this wine in the last year, and I remain impressed at how this 13yr old Alsatian Pinot is holding up. Translucent ruby in the glass. Doesn’t seem to show much bricking, actually. Aromatically, it’s bretty…smells more Bordeaux like than anything else. Leather, herbs de Provence, underripe black cherries. The palate shows a small bit of carbonic character (not with the bubble gum vibe, but more of that cru bojo wintergreen profile). The fruit shows a faded/muddled profile due to the age, but there is plenty of dirty raspberry, black cherry and a savory red clay like note. Good acidity still. While this is on the downside, I’m hard pressed to say this is way over the hill. It’s actually a really fun and delicious wine to enjoy over an evening (especially with food). — 4 years ago

Pooneet K

9.1

Nice SLB especially for the price. Still not singing on all cylinders, I felt, even with a lengthy decant. But expresses lots of deep red cherry pie type of fruit with solid earth and acid. Finish is maybe a smidge more muddled than I was hoping. Still a nice wine. — 2 months ago

Shay A

9.2

One of the bottles I provided for a co-hosting with Mark at the City Club wine group.

Always a treat to open a birth year wine. I had this last year and this bottle seemed to have more stuffing. It was less muddled/clay driven and more distinctly black fruit and spice heavy. Next to a ‘79 Montelena, it wasn’t as full-bodied, but it certainly had more tannin. The tannic finish was quite pronounced and bolstered throughout the lunch. Mid-palate was herbal and black currant with faint tart red fruit and tobacco. Fun to drink. — 3 years ago

Daniel Bloom

9.0

N: Dense cinnamon and licorice.Cherry.Fresh, wet trodden leaves, autumnal, red, bright in the glass, muddled on the nose.
P. Tobacco, bright red fruits, soft, some acidic grip but not much tannin.
Neighbors gift.
Thanks @ Trent. — 3 years ago

Randy Lampert

9.2

Our table quite enjoyed this wine, we had it served slightly chilled. Nice mineral and herb notes on the nose followed by citrus and earthy taste. The finish was a little muddled but long and delicious with some light honey. — 5 years ago

Nick Arensdorf

8.9

Muddled dark cherries and blackberries, maybe currant(?), tobacco leaves, subtle licorice. Somewhat astringent/tannic, not as balanced as I’d expect. *used coravin on bottle about 2 weeks prior before opening, may have influenced* — a year ago

Shay A

9.3

Had this a few times, but I was finally able to sit down and analyze it over an evening. Their only cuvée produced in 2014.

Upfront, rollercoaster aromatics initially…rich, then mellowed out with an hour of air. After a few hours of air, a much more ripe CdP profile came out. Great bridge wine from Cali GSMs to bigger CdPs. Deep red in the glass with aromatics of fig, brambly red and black fruits. On the palate, big but not unbalanced. No trace of brett. Soft fig, muddled underripe black cherry, garrigue (smoked herbs); lengthy finish. Kiss of black pepper. Big Grenache vibe here. Lovely with air. Probably best in the near term based on the fruit forward structure. — 3 years ago

Guillermo Gonzalez

9.1

Wet flowers. Muddled berries, hint of vegetal notes (mint). Lean and focused. Great with left over tacos. — 3 years ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Nice Brunello but not quite singing - even with a decant it’s surprisingly rustic and slightly muddled in the finish. Nice deep red fruit on the nose, lots of earth. Excellent pairing with a big grilled meal. Finish is long, but doesn’t have the lifting acid I was hoping for. — 4 years ago