Twenty-five years ago, in the spring of 2001, I bought several cases of the 2000 vintage as futures. I had a tight budget at the time, but did my homework and picked wines from both the Right and Left Banks, for what Robert Parker would later dub Bordeaux’s “Hallelujah” vintage.
Over the years, my wife and I have enjoyed these as they’ve evolved, but I now feel the urgency to open the dozen or so stragglers left in my cellar.
I started with the Château La Pointe, fearing it might well be past its window. I stood it upright for 48 hours and chilled it to 55 degrees prior to opening with my 30-year-old Laguiole. The cork was perfect, losing only a small fragment on the pull.
The color was deep garnet, with far less orange banding than I would have expected at the rim. The nose was plentiful and expressive, offering notes of dark cherry, sweet wet earth, and olive.
The palate gave dark plum and dried fig, leather, tobacco, dried cherry, and a hint of roasted chestnut. I expected the fruit to fade after an hour, but it remained intact, ending with a long, long finish over velvety tannins, atop a hint of black tea.
This Pomerol was comprised of 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc, and was produced seven years before the d’Arfeuille family’s sale to Generali France.
by spoonman-of-alcatraz
3 Comments
Fantastic notes, thank you.
the 2000s just cannot age or be killed. i would be in no hurry. many bordeaux 2000s are 75-100 year wines IMO
I’d say no need to hurry those wines should be just fine and obviously you know the provenance. I’d be surprised if many, or any, are over the hill if of similar quality to La Pointe. And excellent note.