Now that’s a tasting! Thanks for the notes K.
I wish someone would buy all my Pavie or magically transform each bottle into a six pack of Sociando
Great job! Got to love the Destieux…value of the vintage! $250 for a case!!!
I brought one of the Clos Fourtet bottles and I pulled the cork mid morning with no decant. The other bottle did not have the same treatment so the outcome would/should yield different results.
It is very difficult to drink and differentiate so many wines with similar characteristics. Palate fatigue is a real issue and one must focus. I did not spit and even with small pours had fatigue the last couple flights.
Thanks Kevin and Panos for pulling this together.
I liked this wine! Was very happy to find out what it was and its price! I also enjoyed the Dassault as well. Blind tasting is a great
equalizer!
Unlike 2004, when only a handful of wines escaped the green meanies, 2011 seems to have been far more lucky, and although a slight green tinge runs through many of the wines, it is more herbal than bell pepper, and I find that so long as it is in check, the wines are very appealing. So definitely a vintage to where one where evaluates each wine on its merits. It should be quite rewarding because 2011s are relatively cheap.
While Kevin and I seldom agree, I love the format and the write up. Nicely done.
Mark,
Thank you for the compliment.
I agree wholeheartedly that the taint in the 11s is not as severe. However I find the wines to lack energy. They kind of remind me the 13 left bank Bordeauxs. They were not cheap initially as the critics seemed to like the vintage, although Antonio pointed out the taint issue. I think there is a reason why there are so much 11s still out there and getting dumped. I am actually a fan of the soft and often pure style of red Burgundy. The only two that I would avoid getting back to the 80 are the 04 and 11.
Boy, wonderful notes on some of my 2000 Bordeaux I’ve yet to taste. I do have Pavie, Clos Fourtet and Angelus.
I have found the 00 Cheval to be literally off the charts. Suspect bottle variation at work here. It may be my favorite Cheval Blanc of all time. Seriously.
Thanks for posting Kevin. Excellent notes as usual. Since January this year, I had wanted to organize this as a blind tasting of Saint Emilion 2000 to compare the top classified growths against “lesser” pedigrees. It would be a follow up to a blind tasting that I had organized in Strasbourg back in June 2005, to compare the then baby 2000s. So I contacted Kevin, who liked the idea, to help out with a venue and get a group together, for what are now adolescent Saint Emilions. Each participant brought wines. I brought, for example, the two Beau Sejours, the Angélus, the Canon La Gaffelière, the Bélair, one of two Clos Fourtets.
Many thanks to the Association de Grands Crus Classés de Saint-Emilion for donating several bottles on behalf of their members to take part in the blind tasting, that included as you have seen some “heavy weights,” including Ausone, Cheval Blanc, Pavie, Troplong Mondot, Valandraud and many others! So basically, including all four premier grands crus classés A as well as many of the premiers grands crus classés B. And thanks, too, to the owner of Château Corbin-Michotte, a wine that should not have been demoted in the last assessment of the Saint Emilion, in my opinion.
No doubt it was too early to try some of these wines, 22 in all.
As a friend reminded me however, a 2000 vintage Château Latour (yes, the first growth from Pauillac) tried last year at the château proved delicious and seemed more than ready. Some of the Saint Emilion 2000s – like Figeac – tasted over dinner at the Rosewood Hotel’s Grill Room in Washington D.C. were ready to go, too. Others seemed more youthful (one or two, even primary) in their tannin and structure.
The vintage of 2000 was interesting in that we had not yet seen what I think were Right Bank excesses of the so-called modern era, with ultra (too) ripe Merlot and too high alcohol levels: these came in 2005 and reached a peak with the 2009-2010 vintages. But some wines did come across a bit heavy handed in their approach with somewhat oak derived and drying tannins and depending on subjective tastes, the scores varied. The Garage Movement on the Right Bank was resonating influence and no doubt influenced some of the winemaking. On the other hand, some of my own pre-conceived notions were tested!
In the year 2000, there were more so-called traditionalist winemakers. And there seemed more harmony throughout the entire appellation, now mired in lawsuits over the latest reassessment of its rankings. Take for example the now defunct Association des premiers grands cru classés, which had brought together all of the wines in that highest of categories (except for Ausone) in annual tastings. I always looked forward to the black-tie events over Vinexpo, when representatives of each estate opened older vintages. Fond memories of 1961 and 1959 Figeac come to mind, among others. Back in 2005, the association kindly sent me one bottle each of the 2000 vintage to taste blind.
Interestingly, our group in 2017 (not the same group of tasters as in 2005, where the tasting took place in Strasbourg) tasted many of the same wines from the 2000 vintage tasted in Strasbourg back in 2005. So it was great to see how the wines have evolved since the last time I enjoyed such a comprehensive comparative tasting of the 2000 vintage in Saint Emilion.
The wines to warm up were quite memorable and I adored the Salon, tempted to think 100 points, as it was nearly as perfect as one could get for fine bubbles! The Pol Roger 2002 was delicious, too, and I really enjoyed the crisp fruit expression of the Sandlands Chenin Blanc. Indeed, as Kevin wrote: “beautiful balance and freshness”.
On to the Saint Emilions. I think the flights were organized four-by-four, and then later by three, so there may be a discrepancy with Kevin on the flight definitions, but same wines 
.
Flight One
2000 Château Figeac - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
One taster gave it 98 points, while two others could not get past the green notes. When I first tried it, I liked it quite a bit, but it was not as impressive as it was back in 2005, when I had organized a similar 2000 Saint Emilion tasting with many of these wines. Still, the soft expressions, tertiary aromas and damson-like sweetness proved endearing to me. Yes, with some green pepper (former director Eric d’Aramon, in a Figeac vertical a few years back in Washington D.C. admitted to having picked the vintage “too early”), but that did not bug me as much. While I was far from 98 points (I gave it a solid 93), I did enjoy it – and pictured myself enjoying it over the steak that I ordered for later. (93 pts.)
2000 Château Valandraud - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Perhaps the biggest surprise for me from this tasting – and for many of us – was Valandraud. Made by Bad Boy Garagiste Jean-Luc Thunevin himself. I must now eat humble pie in my previous critiques of this estate, as the 2000 showed very well. Coming after what turned out to be Figeac 2000 (the first wine we tasted blind), the Valandraud seemed to have more depth, somewhat more tension overall in its expression, and with impressive aromatic complexity. It certainly did not come across as a heavy-handed “modern” wine that dried up on the finish with oak derived tannins. So, bravo to Jean Luc Thunevin and his wife Virginie. (95 pts.)
2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The best overall. Racy elegance and power. I loved the pristine focus and fine lift and freshness on the finish. A Médoc like cassis flavor with finely crushed fresh mint and tobacco leaf. There was sumptuous juiciness on the mid palate, red and dark fruit, but the focus here was on the still quite youthful tannin, rather pronounced in this bottle, but then the precision and supreme length left a great memory for me here, as unmarked by oak “bigness” or suggestions of sweetness as some others showed. For example, later on, I poured Angelus in one glass and Cheval Blanc in the other: Cheval Blanc showed more lift and less oak derivation. One could sense the “breed” of this great wine - and it was great indeed. (97 pts.)
2000 Château Larroque - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion
One of the bottles donated to us for this tasting via the Association de Grands Crus Classés de Saint-Emilion. Tasting it earlier to prepare for the blind tasting (and to check for cork), it came off solid and delicious, with plenty of juicy fruit. I did not feel that it was overripe, but just a touch simple, by comparison to many of the others. A long and rich finish. (90 pts.)
Flight Two
2000 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Wine #5 turned out to be a delicious and a relatively more economically priced edition when compared to the very big boys. Yes, Château Canon La Gaffeliere, which was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé later, was but a grand cru classé in 2000. I recall enjoying it after it had been just bottled in 2003. And in 2017, I gave it one of my highest scores because it gave off minty fresh chocolate aromas and ripe plum, and effused impressive tannic grip. This wine has evidently more time ahead of it, but is delicious today. Bravo to Stephan Von Neipperg! (94 pts.)
2000 Château La Clusière - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
The sixth wine, just after the Canon La Gaffelière, I liked nearly as much, and it is apparently a rare wine – Château La Clusière – because former owner Gerard Perse only made a few vintages of it before incorporating it into Château Pavie. It has quite a bit of tannic grip, too, with a smooth feeling on the palate, albeit just a bit too overripe, for my taste, and somewhat hot on the finish. Given subjective taste differences, I can see how many would love this more. (93 pts.)
2000 Château Franc-Mayne - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Wine #7 - another wine donated to this tasting via the Association de Grands Crus Classés de Saint-Emilion - proved to be one of those excellent QPRs from the evening. It pleased many a palate, some who had never heard of it, as quite juicy and delicious, if just a tad drying to me on the finish. It came from a magnum bottle. Overall crowd pleasing in its mid-palate juiciness. Several wanted to note the name when I explained that the prices are very competitive, so bravo to charismatic owner Hervé Laviale and thanks for sharing a bottle with us to taste. For those of you who plan to visit Saint Emilion, Laviale has a superb bed and breakfast at the château. (94 pts.)
2000 Château Ausone - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Many were left a bit perplexed by this bottle as wine #8, which turned out to be Château Ausone. It came across as somewhat disjointed, even burly, with alcohol coming to the fore and some dry tannin on the finish. Sure, it has some mighty concentration, but where is it going? Was it the bottle? Indeed, I had more pleasure with the Figeac. And another taster who agreed, wondered aloud: “Notice how the weakest wines are the final wines in each flight so far?” But, hey, this was blind, and no doubt time will tell with this bottle. Maybe, time-wise, the bottle itself was “in a bit of funk”. Or we were! (91 pts.)
Flight Three
2000 Château Angélus - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Wine #9 was none other than Château Angélus, a bottle I brought to the tasting. Much concentration with dark fruit that is ripe with notes of chocolate. I have had the 2000 on several occasions and in verticals, over time, and have enjoyed it, but it seems to be just a tad monolithic when compared to, say, the 1998 or 2001, which conveys more lift and freshness on the finish. I understand some enthusiastic reactions, as the mid palate proved juicy and opulent and, yes, sexy. (93 pts.)
2000 Château Dassault - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Another nice surprise was wine #10, Château Dassault, which scored 92 points in my book and had people reaching – yet again – for their notepads to write the name down. Although the tannin was a bit hard, it never dried, and had quite a bit of juicy mid palate fruit as well, if not as opulent as, say, Angélus, for example. But it costs - what? - 10 times less than Angélus? An excellent QPR. (92 pts.)
2000 Château Corbin Michotte - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
An underrated estate that was demoted in the last revisit to the classification, undeservedly in my opinion. I enjoyed the cool combination of both blackberry and plum fruit with some tertiary expressions of “clean” earthy funk (creosote, burgeoning forest floor). Lingering finish, marked by freshness. Many thanks to the estate for donating the bottle for this blind tasting. (91 pts.)
2000 Château Destieux - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Château Destieux, donated to this tasting via the Association de Grands Crus Classés de Saint-Emilion, is another lesser-known grand cru classé that was excellent from barrel earlier this year in the 2016 vintage, and just dandy in 2000 from bottle. Like the Corbin Michotte, a mix of tertiary and primary aromatics and flavors but I found the tannins to be just a bit angular, albeit it longer on the finish. (92 pts.)
Flight Four
2000 Château Troplong Mondot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Obviously a “big” wine and built to impress, #13. It conveyed much depth and power and structure, but just too much heat for me to score higher than 93. Still it had loads of depth on the mid palate and succulence. Kevin Shin noted: a clipped finish due to the dry tannins. For me, the alcohol was showing too prominently on the finish. (93 pts.)
2000 Château Pavie - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Now for me the big surprise: wine #14. Just as big and juicy as the Troplong tasted just before, but with more opulence and – let’s face it – decadence. It was not the heavy, oak-ridden monster as I would have imagined, however, and 15 years in bottle is showing off the great terroir that is Château Pavie. Sure, it got a bit alcoholic and somewhat drying on the finish, but not as noticeable as with some other wines here, so tasting it blind, I gave it 96 points. (96 pts.)
2000 Château Rochebelle - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion
Another fine QPR is number 15: a little known property known as Château Rochebelle that was recently promoted to grand cru classé. And many tasters enjoyed this. I scored it a rather high 94 points, just as Kevin Shin did. Why? It conveyed ripe fruit and concentration, but also an elegant expression, a clean aspect, and a long, more linear finish. Sure, the tannins were just a tad rustic, but overall a refreshing pleasure. (94 pts.)
Flight Five
2000 Clos Fourtet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Even better was wine #16 (which was Rochebelle) proved to be Clos Fourtet, as it was rather stylish and racy, displaying a cooler fruit aspect coming from the limestone plateau, and not modern at all. This was bottled by the Lurton family. Lovely wine! We had another bottle of this as well, wine 21, by mistake, as another participant also brought the same bottle, the same vintage, but it seemed a bit disjointed, or maybe we as tasters had become a bit disjointed? By the time we had gone through 20+ wines? (95 pts.)
2000 Tertre Rôteboeuf - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Alas, corked. NR (flawed)
2000 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
#18 turned out to be a wine that had earned top honors in a blind tasting I had organized in Strasbourg over 10 years ago of the then very youthful 2000 vintage for Saint Emilion wines. Ta dum: the Château Beau Séjour Bécot was not as quite as impressive to me this time, as the tannins seemed a tad tight, but there was robustness to the mid palate with flavors of sweet black fruit. (92 pts.)
Flight Six
2000 Château de Pressac - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
I may have liked #19 more than most participants, and so the Château Pressac gave off its cooler location with somewhat strict tannins perhaps. But overall, a rather impressive wine that shows how it merits its new ranking as grand cru classé given its fine limestone terroir. (91 pts.)
2000 Château Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Excellent grip and bright fruit, but there was a certain mustiness to it that grew over time… Was that just me? I am not sure. Note withheld on the Château Beausejour Duffau Laggarrose. I brought this bottle, and when I opened it before the tasting, it showed fine.
2000 Château Pavie Macquin - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
I found wine #22 to be a bit too hefty and rich, and not as juicy as, say Pavie. Overall it was a modern style that was more evident to me. Still, not a bad wine by any stretch of the imagination – and score higher if you like the style. (92 pts.)
“Flight Seven”
2000 Château Belair (Dubois-Challon) - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
This was a “forgotten bottle” at the table of wines covered by aluminum foil, so we decided to just open it up without the disguise. So, it was not tasted blind. I tip my hat to the winemaker at the time for this wine, which turned out to be made by the self-described traditionalist “Ayatollah”, Pascal Delbeck, formerly at Château Bélair (now owned by Moueix and called Bélair-Monange). Sure, the wine showed somewhat firm tannins, but I liked the grip and full body, almost akin to a Pauillac. The finish was a tad short however, diminishing the overall impression. I liked it enough to warrant 92 points: a kind of traditionalist yang, to the Pavie Macquin modernist yin. (92 pts.)
![[cheers.gif]](/uploads/db3686/original/2X/0/0ff9bfcdb0964982cd3240b6159868fbdf215b1a.gif "cheers"){kind=small}
Basically, the wines were all wrapped in aluminum foil, and then numbered. It was a blind tasting indeed because not everyone was expecting so many other bottles donated by the Association. Of course we knew that it was Saint Emilion and 2000 vintage, but we did not all know the properties submitted. I was surprised at how well both Pavie and especially Valandraud did in this tasting. It is a pity that we did not have Château Canon and that the Tertre Roteboeuf was corked. Yet again in blind tasting, surprises abound. We eat humble pie very often too . And some of the best surprises were how well some of the less expensive wines fared in this comparison of 2000 vintage Saint Emilion.
That probably was a factor.
I did participate in a vertical of Angelus from vintage 1989 onwards and the 2000 was at the end of my list. I liked 1998 and 2001 more not to speak from the 1989 and 1990.
I always liked Pavie with the exception of the 2003. I liked always Valandraud in Blind Tastings.
I too guess that the Ausone was either a bad bottle or in a difficult phase of it´s evolution because that wine was overwhelmingly good when I had the opportunity to taste it. It seemed to be perfect and I can´t imagine this impression was a Fata Morgana.
The best message after these blind tastings is always that nobody must be rich to drink fine wine. Just focus on the wines flying under the radar. Don´t become a label drinker.
Cheers Jürgen! Let’s organize a meeting for wine in June. Would you be free that month?
I agree that the 2000 CLG is really fine. Even though CLG is to me a classic modernist producer, the 2000 still has inner tension and balance, it’s not heavy or clumsy. In addition to the plum note you mentioned, it has mint and fresh berries that create a more layered and complex quality, it develops in the glass. And it will age for quite a while yet.
But the contrast between 2000 and 2005 is really interesting in terms of what happened on the right bank just between those two years. I have had both the 2000 and 2005 multiple times, and the contrast is striking. The 2005 is heavy, with lots of plum and fig, it lacks acidic lift and comes off as cruder and more one-note sweet than the 2000. It’s a little hard for me to see where it develops from here, although it can certainly age.
It would be interesting to do a comparative tasting between right bank 2000 and right bank 2005 at some point, although the 2005s are not ready, so maybe that would have to wait awhile.
Here is an excerpt from your notes above regarding wines which you scored 89-98:
“The fruit was certainly ripe but none were overripe … milk chocolate … milk chocolate … mint chocolate … Jammy and overripe … chocolate dipped cherry … milk chocolate … milk chocolate … bitter chocolate, blackberry liqueur … very ripe … very ripe black fruit … A bit too ripe for my palate … milk chocolate … chocolate … Very ripe black fruit … blackberry jam, coffee, milk chocolate, vanilla … espresso … very ripe nose … chocolate dipped cherry, milk chocolate, coffee … bitter chocolate … chocolate … jammy black fruit, dark chocolate … unctuous … Very ripe black fruit … blackberry jam, bitter chocolate … dark milk chocolate … milk chocolate, mocha …”
I believe that you like very ripe wines and aromas and flavors that one seldom, if ever, encounters in good red Burgundy (thank goodness, no chocolate) in any vintage and certainly not in a moderately ripe vintage.
Brad,
I wholeheartedly agree. Although the 98 can often give the 00 a run for the money. I have no way explain the result other than I didn’t quite “get it”. Was it the wine or was it me? Not so sure.
- 2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (4/19/2017)
Comprehensive 2000 St Emilion Blind Tasting (The Grill Room at the Rosewood DC): Wine 3- Intense nose displaying cassis, ink, mint chocolate and earth. Excellent concentration, noted A+ concentration, youthful cassis driven palate impression, noticeable but none obtrusive tannins, bright acidity and a medium to long finish. Very youthful and concentrated but a bit straightforward. Panos and a couple others love it. Re-tasted a few times with the similar impression. (93 pts.) - 2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (12/8/2016)
Holiday Dinner - Champ, Burg, Bordeaux, Rhone and etc. (The Grill Room at Rosewood DC): Expressive nose displaying intense black fruit, blackberry, cassis, dark spices and liquid smoke. Excellent concentration, beautifully layered fruit, silky and polished, nicely integrated tannins and an impressive long cassis driven finish. Though it shows very well, it is slightly less impressive than the previous bottles. (96 pts.) - 2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (12/17/2015)
Holiday Dinner - DRCs, 90 and 00 CB, 03 Capo, Krugs and etc. (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): It is consistently one of the biggest and most concentrated Bordeauxs. Explosive nose displaying intense black fruits, blackberry jelly, cassis, smoke, ink, exotic incense and dark spices. Unbelievably concentrated yet beautifully polished and perfectly balance, incredibly layered, perfect amount of acidity and tannins and incredible long finish. This is very similar to the 90 but obviously more youthful and even a bit more concentrated. Incredible wine that is still very youthful but yet so hedonistic. (99 pts.) - 2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (4/22/2015)
Cheval Blanc and D’Yquem dinner with Pierre Lurton and Bernard Burtschy (Taberna del Alabardero, Washington D.C.): What a privilege to compare with the 98 side by side. Unbelievably hedonistic nose with incredibly amount of everything, sweet jammy black fruits as in crème de cassis, smoke, ink, mineral, exotic flowers, sweet spices and truffle. Incredible concentration, unctuous, intense jammie black fruit driven palate impression, strong presence of mineral and acidity, no noticeable tannin as it is masked by intense sweet fruits. The fruit expression, concentration and structure is very similar to the 90, perhaps slightly more fresher. Just perfect! (100 pts.) - 2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (12/18/2014)
Holiday Bordeaux Dinner with Eric - 82, 89 & 90 FGs among others (The Grill Room at Capella Hotel Georgetown): Incredibly intense nose displaying cassis, roasted black fruits, ink, coffee, strong note of lead pencil, dark chocolate, flowers and dark sweet spices. Unbeliever able concentration, dense and chewy, intense black fruit and exotic incense driven palate impression, very well integrated tannins and love long finish. An extremely youthful example. Exotic and kinky but wonderfully balanced. Will improve for another two decades. (98 pts.) - 2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (3/25/2012)
Youthful Bordeauxs at Ruth’s Chris, Tysons including two 100 pointers (Ruth’s Chris, Tysons corner, VA): I usually don’t describe the color but this is still opaque. Intense nose displays sweet jammy blue and black fruits, crème de cassis, exotic sweet spices, dark milk chocolate and ink. The palate displays unbelievable concentration and extremely sweet perfectly matured fruits. The tannin is very well integrated. This along with the 90 Margaux shows the greatest concentration and the fruit intensity. This is very youthful yet extremely enjoyable due to the incredible amount perfectly ripe sweet fruits and the perfect balance. This bottle seems even fresher than the bottle had at the chateau during the 09 EP. (100 pts.) - 2000 Château Cheval Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru (4/1/2010)
Flower, fresh blue fruit, jammy, very mineral, mushroom, truffle, earth, coconut, very complex nose to say the least. The wine is in perfect balance, so pleasurable to drink and has extremely long finish. Perhaps in strange way, it reminds me Le Chambertin from Denis Mortet. 100 pts (100 pts.)
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I am rather sure, Kevin, that you’ve had too many 2000s from the white horse in recent years, and that last one wasn’t comparatively as good to your palate. Wines I may have then scored 105 points. I have not had as many tastings of Cheval Blanc 2000, so don’t share your “problem” 
.
Very easy really. The 93 was blind and the 100s were while looking at the labels (and, of course, you know those). I fully expect that the wine does not have the ripeness and torrefaction of most of the others in the blind tasting. I noticed that you said “mint chocolate and earth … bright acidity,” suggesting that this wine is brighter, purer and more soil-driven than those you prefer. I expect that you would struggle with the likes of Sociando Mallet as well.
Martin you’ve made your point but Kevin is not saying that his opinion of these 2000 SE’s are a verdict, just his personal preference on a given day. I think my Bordeaux palate is closer to yours than to Kevin’s. But I’m not sure why you repeatedly attack his Bordeaux palate. He’s not saying he’s “right” about the SE’s.
However, Kevin has stuck his neck out and given a qualitative verdict on 2011 red Burgundy as if he is “right.” I agree strongly with Kevin. Having tasted many 2011’s in a room at La Paulee amongst other vintages, as for Cote de Nuits reds, the 2011’s were always by far the worst vintage on the table, lacking energy as Kevin says (but only one truly marred by green and another showing some acceptable green, not on the same planet of greenness as a recent foul 2004 Rousseau Ruchottes), but all weak and dull in comparison to the same wine in any other vintage older or newer. A couple of Cote de Beaune reds were quite nice. That being said, a 2011 Burg tasted alone with dinner might be wonderful. For me on that occasion the relative quality in a side by side comparison, which has little to do with enjoying the wine now, dI’d not seem a good buy.
Kevin’s personal preference is clearly chocolate (about 20 mentions of it in his notes). In his preamble, he says that none of the wines were overripe, but then a few lines later he states that one wine was overripe and another was too ripe for his palate (but that gets them 89 or 90). Not that writing and posting notes about wines must be done with precision, but really? Indeed, his opinion regarding these 2000 St. Emilions is not a verdict, but his sweeping characterization of the 2011 red Burgundy vintage as tainted is. In your defense of Kevin, you acknowledge that it isn’t. Kevin has said that he isn’t making friends calling the 2011 red Burgundies tainted, which may or may not be true, but he certainly has nothing at stake making such a reckless claim. He wouldn’t do so if he did. Kevin apparently writes tasting notes as a hobby, but it is rather obvious that he also does it for show and for the pats on the back that he is getting here (did any of those people actually read his tasting notes?). It would be good to see him post a note about a Cru Bourgeois that he had at home with a burger. And I don’t care what car he drives. In the end, I really couldn’t care less what Kevin writes about 2000 St. Emilion, but when he casts aspersions on an entire wine region’s entire vintage after tasting a handful of the wines (and with what I now know is a high tolerance for overripeness and an affinity for chocolate in his wines), I will call him on it every time.