Chateau Haut Brion 2000

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted from an ex-château bottle in Bordeaux, I was not surprised to find the 2000 Château Haut-Brion flirting with perfection. The nose is simply breathtaking - quintessential Haut-Brion with ebullient red berry fruit, roasted herbs, gravel, terracotta tiles on a warm summer's day...it is simply wave after wave of intoxicating scents that could bring even the most stoic person to tears of joy. The palate displays heavenly balance, pitch-perfect acidity, perhaps spicier than previous bottles that I have tasted, and what depth and dimension in this outstanding wine. That hint of graphite on the finish is a cheeky nod to Pauillac, as if to thumb its nose at the First Growths, because alongside Château Latour, almost by stealth, the Haut-Brion is one of the greatest Bordeaux in this millennial year. Tasted November 2014."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Still young, yet it is impossible not to be awed by the wine. Intense, concentrated, complex, and filled with smoked, red fruits, charred wood, tar, spice, forest leaves, spice, and a farmers market of red berries, this is long, rich, mouth-coating and attention-seeking. At 24 years of age, this is only starting to display its greatness. Drink from 2024-2075."

JEB DUNNUCK: "From a year in Bordeaux that started out with poor weather yet finished under ideal conditions, the 2000 Haut Brion is a gorgeous, incredibly classic wine from this estate that everything you could want. Blackcurrants, plums, scorched earth, tobacco and lots of mineral and earthy characteristic emerge from this gorgeous, still youthful, elegant, yet powerful 2000. The blend is 51% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Cabernet Franc, and while certainly beautiful today, it has another two to three decades of longevity."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Granat mit schwarzen Reflexen und rubinem Rand. In der Nase zurückhaltendes Bouquet, nobel, Waldbeerenfrüchte, Havannatabak, Korinthen, schwarze Schokolade, Zigarrenkiste, Zedernholz. Nobler, charmanter Gaumen, viel Extrakt, ausgeglichene Adstringenz, leicht dominierende Würzbitterkeit im enorm konzentrier- ten, tanninigen Extrakt, Black Currant, Spitzwegerich, wiederum eine würzige, tiefgründige Tabaknote im langen Finale. Ein nicht zu unterschätzender Wein mit einem Riesenpotential, der sogar zu einem 20-Punkte-Wein avancieren kann."

DECANTER: "Superb and already immensely delicious, yet decidedly youthful and only beginning its evolution. The colour is dark, and the ripe plummy fruit resounds with notes of game, leather and spice. The rich texture is dense and ripe, with supple tannins and immense concentration and body. There is enough acidity to balance the wine and lead to a lingering, sensual finish. This epic wine for the ages should continue on the way up for another half-century. The blend is 51% Merlot, aged in 75% new barrels before bottling in June 2002."

FALSTAFF: "Mittleres Rubingranat, zarter Ockerrand. Feinwürzig, nach Nougat, sehr einladend, tabakige Anklänge. Straffe Tannine, fester, strenger Kern, zart nach Bitterschokolade, feine Säurestruktur, wirkt insgesamt noch sehr jung, etwas unterentwickelt, zeigt guten Tanninbiss, hier heißt es: Bitte warten. Lagern +50 Jahre. "

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "For an Haut-Brion, this is huge. Every characteristic suggests power, from the dark color, through the knock-out perfumes, full of dark, brooding fruits. The flavors are black, intense and ripe. It is a delicious wine, surprisingly ready to drink. And yes, just at the end, there is a small hint of the delicacy and elegance that is true Haut-Brion."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This 2000 starts with aromas of citrus fruit, currants, flowers, and fresh mushrooms. The palates leads off full and rich, with round tannins and a dusty texture. Plenty of fruit and sliced mushrooms on the palate, but it is still tight. Pull the cork after 2010."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "51% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc. Lovely gamey nose, pure black fruit, savoury but not as dense as the other vintages seem – more forgiving, more drinkable."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is well-endowed with a large core of fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that has light mulling spice, bay and tobacco nuances peeking out, while the tarry finish cuts a broad and deep swath. Obvious heft, but the elegance wins out in the end, with a lilting sandalwood and sweet tobacco–infused finish that just sails on and on. -- Blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2015). Best from 2018 through 2038. 11,817 cases made."