2000 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac

“The 2000 Château Pichon Lalande is a truly epic wine and clearly one of the very best wines from the all the region in what was a classic vintage. This compelling blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot along with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot instantly begins to dazzle with is gorgeous aromas of blackberry and plum fruit followed by smoked meats, exotic spices, floral, tar and crushed stones. It possesses stunning finesse and balance, and the tannins, which are still relevant, are beginning to resolve nicely into the wine resulting in a beautiful soft velvety texture. There is still plenty of life ahead for this wine, especially for readers who prefer a very mature Pauillac. However that being said, this is showing near perfect today and should continue to show well for another decade, so at this point it will be a matter personal preference on how much longer you would like to wait. A very memorable wine. (JD)” (12/2014)

“I love the nose of cedar and fruit, with hints of sweet tobacco and plums. Full and round, with pretty dense fruit and a long, silky finish. Complex and beautiful. You could drink it now, but I would still wait. This continues to evolve in the glass, showing notes of porcini. This could be the new 1982.” (04/2012)

“Sitting next to my former colleague, Pierre Antoine Rovani, at one of the tastings, he commented that he didn’t like the striking green note in the aromatics of this wine, which I didn’t detect at all, and a subsequent bottle at another tasting did not reveal it either. I do think there is a hint of bay leaf and a meatiness to it. In short, I find this to be a spectacular Pichon Lalande. Dense purple in color, with loads of coffee, mocha, creme de cassis, and chocolate notes, this is a somewhat unusual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and a whooping 10% Petit Verdot, with a little bit of Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot certainly gives the wine more of a tapenade, floral note, which I think can be interpreted by some as herbal. This is a rich, opulent, stunning Pichon Lalande that is beginning to drink beautifully, yet should continue to improve for at least another 10-15 years and last 30 or more years. (RP)” (06/2010)

“A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2000 Pichon Lalande is deep garnet-brick in color. It rolls out of the glass with easy-breezy scents of potpourri, dried cherries, fruit cake, and star anise, with wafts of sandalwood and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate is in a sweet-spot with loads of intermingled dried berries, floral, and exotic spice notes framed by soft, powdery tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and fragrant. (LPB)” (11/2022)

“Madame de Lencquesaing's estate has produced a stunner in 2000. The perfumes, delicate and sensuous, give it class, style and make it very memorable. It is delicious now, but there are tannins there, and deep, intense fruit flavors, waiting to develop slowly and surely. (RV)” (06/2003)

“I am loving the 2000 vintage in Pauillac at the moment, as it has finally, finally started to soften and open up. This is an excellent example of what you will find if you open the top Pauillacs from this vintage right now; blackberry, cassis, spiced cedar and liqourice notes that you expect from the appellation, with tannins that are still burly and ever-present but are now allowing the fruit to make it through. Touches of cigarbox and tobacco also show that things are starting to really soften up. Stubborn for years and it's still a fairly severe tone overall, not the most generous of profiles, but this is excellent and classic Pauillac.” (07/2021)

“This has pronounced bay and cassis bush aromas that impart lots of peppery and herbaceous lift, but this is hardly on the lean side as there's a well of gorgeously pure currant and blackberry fruit notes at the core. The finish is sleek and glistening as an iron note takes over. (JM)” (06/2016)

“Good full medium ruby. Rather wild aromas of plum, black raspberry, lead pencil, tobacco, minerals and roasted game. Sweet, thick and complex, with very ripe, mellow flavors of black raspberry, truffle, roasted herbs, espresso and tobacco. Will rely more on its firm tannins than its rather soft, harmonious acids for longevity. This very persistent wine may be starting to shut down in the bottle, but it displays the lovely penetrating sweetness of the year. (ST)” (05/2003)