Duke of Bourbon - Rare Wines - Fine Spirits - Personalized Service - David, Judy and Ron Breitstein - 20908 Roscoe Blvd - Canoga Park CA 91304 - Phone: 818/341-1234 or 800/4-FINE-WINE - Fax: 818/341-9232
20908 Roscoe Blvd • Canoga Park CA 91304
Hours: Mon - Sat • 9AM - 6PM		 Phone: (818) 341-1234 • Fax: (818) 341-9232
Outside California: (800) 4-FINE-WINE
We are happy to talk to you on the phone or via email regarding your wine selection.
The below futures offerings have expired, they are on this page for your reference only.
2001 Long Vineyards Futures Offering!

Cheers from the Duke of Bourbon!


LONG VINEYARDS 2001 CABERNET SAUVIGNON

The Duke is excited to be able to offer one of California's finest Cabernet Sauvignons to you again on a special Futures program. Recognized as one of Napa Valley's most consistently high-quality wineries with fair-pricing policies, Long Vineyards continues its success with the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine, due to be released in March of 2004, promises to live up to the image of its famous appellation on Pritchard Hill in St. Helena, the heart of one of the premiere growing areas for Cabernet Sauvignon.

Various wine critics and experts have enthused over the greatness of the 2001 vintage in the Napa Valley. Recent previews, such as the Cabernet Society Tasting in Napa Valley and MacArthur's Barrel Tasting in Washington, D.C., continue to prove the excellence of the vintage.

Long's three-acre Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard was planted and executed by Bob Long, Dr. Phil Freese (noted viticultural specialist) and John Arns (one of Napa Valley's top vineyard managers), assuring the very best vineyard layout, plant material and farming practices. The winemaking team of Sandi Belcher, Zelma Long and Bob Long has been producing premium wines together for over 25 years.

For their 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon, the great vintage, impeccable farming practices and outstanding winemaking expertise have come together to produce an exemplary wine exhibiting the black cherry and spicy elements typical of the Pritchard Hill area (also home to Bryant Family, Chappellet and Colgin). The wine has a beautiful balance between substantial richness of flavor and body without being heavy and tannic. A scant 400 cases of this incredible wine were produced.

The Duke of Bourbon is delighted to be able to bring this wine to you on future for only $270.00 per 6-pack case ($45.00 per bottle). We expect the wine to retail at $60.00-65.00 per bottle when it is released in March 2004, resulting in a significant savings of over 25% for you by purchasing now. We will require a 100% deposit to hold your futures order for you.

Please call or email us with your order.

Great Wines from Burgundy!!

Cheers from the Duke of Bourbon!

Last Tuesday, we had the opportunity to taste several of the wines available from Maison Joseph Drouhin and Domaine Drouhin Oregon at an event held by the Wine Association of the Duke of Bourbon. Without exception, the wines were drinking beautifully and proved, once again, just how reliable Drouhin is as a producer of fine wines, regardless of which ocean they are near. The wines were so outstanding that the Duke has decided to make them available to our other customers at the same aggressive pricing that was offered that evening, with most of the wines having a savings of 25%.

Please check out the offering sheet below and see what strikes your fancy. All of the Maison Joseph Drouhin wines are on a futures basis and you only need give a 20% deposit to hold your wine. The other wines - Bollinger and Domain Drouhin Oregon - are currently available. You can just give us a call and let us know what you want. We can only keep this offer open until July 25, so please act right away.





 Retail Price Offering Price


1-11 btls. 12+ btls.
MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN (Tasted - Available 11/03)
2002 Saint-Véran $ 14.50 $ 11.99 $ 10.99
2001 Chablis - Premier Cru 30.50 24.75 22.00
2001 Rully White 21.00 16.50 14.99
2001 Meursault 38.50 32.25 28.99
2001 Puligny-Montrachet, Les Folatières - Premier Cru 59.00 49.99 44.50
2001 Beaune Clos des Mouches Blanc - Premier Cru 76.00 65.00 58.00
2001 Montrachet, Marquis de Laguiche - Grand Cru 352.50 305.00 270.00
2001 Côte de Beaune 25.50 20.75 18.99
2001 Côte de Nuits-Villages 24.50 19.88 17.99
2001 Chambolle-Musigny 44.00 37.00 32.99
2001 Gevrey-Chambertin 40.50 33.75 29.99
2001 Beaune Clos des Mouches Rouge - Premier Cru 56.50 47.88 42.99
2001 Clos de Vougeot - Grand Cru 97.50 81.00 72.00
BOLLINGER (Tasted - Currently Available)
NV Bollinger Special Cuvée 51.00 45.00 39.99
DOMAINE DROUHIN OREGON (Tasted - Currently Available)
2001 Chardonnay 25.50 22.95 21.99
2000 Pinot Noir 42.00 37.80 35.99
1999 Pinot Noir, "Laurène" 55.50 49.95 47.99
MAISON JOSEPH DROUHIN (Not tasted - Available 11/03)
2002 Chablis Domaine de Vaudon 21.00 16.99 14.99
2001 Meursault-Perrières - Premier Cru 65.00 55.00 49.25
2001 Chassagne-Montrachet 41.25 34.60 30.77
2001 Corton-Charlemagne - Grand Cru 105.00 85.95 76.45
2001 Chassagne-Montrachet, Laguiche - Premier Cru 61.00 51.85 46.11
2001 Volnay 31.50 26.12 23.23
2001 Bonnes Mares - Grand Cru 136.75 115.45 102.67
2001 Chambolle-Musigny - Premier Cru 51.00 42.85 38.11
2001 Grands-Echézeaux - Grand Cru 138.00 123.69 110.00
2001 Musigny - Grand Cru 162.95 138.68 123.33
2001 Vosne-Romanée Petits Monts - Premier Cru 87.99 72.45 64.44


Call us today!!



Central Coast Futures Program - Part II
Featuring the wines of Au Bon Climat, Qupe, Hitching Post and Margerum.

Central Coast Futures Program - Part II




We are pleased to continue our annual Central Coast Futures offering with two incredible wines from Hitching Post Winery and three equally sensational wines from Margerum Wine Company. Hitching Post partners Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley have been making exceptional wines from the Central Coast for years and the 2001 effort is right up there with their best. Doug Margerum, a strong proponent of the "garagiste" style of winemaking - small, handcrafted and personal - is a recent entrant into the winemaking field. Like Frank and Gray, he has been a leading restaurateur in Santa Barbara, having owned the Wine Cask for many years.

Before we talk about the yet-to-be released wines, we would be derelict if we didn't tell you about the Hitching Post 2001 Santa Barbara County bottling of their Pinot Noir. Frank and Gray normally would have released this wine in August, 2002, but the wine is so special that they decided to leave it in barrel for an additional 7 months, the same wood treatment given to their top-of-the-line bottlings. The wine has an expansive aroma of cherries and gentle spice leading to a palate that is round and full of fruit flavors, the hallmark of Hitching Post wines. While the retail price is $25.00, the Duke can offer it to you for current delivery at $19.99, a discount of 20%, while supplies last. Members of the Duke's staff tasted this wine most recently at the Santa Barbara Vintner's Festival - it was absolutely super!

Now, back to the futures!!

Hitching Post 2001 Pinot Noir, Highliner - October 2003 Release

Price $40.00; Futures Price $31.99

This is the fifth vintage of the famed Highliner and it is better than ever. Frank and Gray have chosen the best barrels from the best vineyard sites to bring you a wine that will definitely wow you. It is very aromatic with flavors of oak and dark fruit. It is 'well-stuffed' and built to age. The hedonists among us will be hard-put not to consume this decadent wine in its youth.


Hitching Post 2001 Syrah, Purisima Mountain Vineyard - October 2003 Release

Price $30.00; Futures Price $23.99

This is the second vintage from this new Syrah vineyard and a great follow-up to the very successful 2000 vintage. The 2001 vintage is richer and more exciting with complex flavors of blueberry, beef and white pepper. This one definitely pushes the flavor and intensity buttons all the way down - a real show-stopper from two gentlemen known for their elegant red wines.


Margerum 2002 Sauvignon Blanc, Vogelzang Vineyard - May 2003 Release

(Not really a "future", but we're still selling a tiny bit of it at an introductory price.)

Price $24.00; Futures Price $18.99

This is Doug Margerum's "dream Sauvignon Blanc." Working with the vineyard owners, Doug dropped fruit and leaves to reduce the crop and obtain the highest quality fruit possible. The wine was fermented in stainless steel using the famous "Cloudy Bay yeast." The results are mouthwatering - lush, concentrated gooseberry and grapefruit flavors backed by mineral notes and bright acidity. In a word, racy. The brilliant first impression leads to a balanced finish. Served at our Wine Association event on May 1 to great acclaim.


Margerum 2002 M5, Santa Ynez Valley - August 15, 2003 Release

Price $25.00; Futures Price $19.99

M5 is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourverdre, Cinsault and Counoise and very reminiscent of a great Chateauneuf-du-Pape. The grapes are sourced from some of the top vineyards in the Santa Ynez Valley and have produced a wine with much substance. Violets, licorice, spice, pepper and a hint of spearmint come together to meet bold tannins melded with sweet red and dark fruit. The wine is intense and dark and the finish long and memorable. We served barrel samples of this wine at our seminar on May 1 - we have rarely seen a response as popular as this one. Doug has hit one out of the park this time. In fact, James Laube previewed this wine in barrel and scored it 90-95 points on the Wine Spectator scale.


Margerum 2002 Syrah, Great Oaks Ranch Vineyard - August 15, 2003 Release

Price $30.00; Futures Price $23.99

Here is another tremendous wine from Margerum - sexy, exotic and complex. It has all the components you expect in a great Syrah. Dark and intense, the flavors are incredible. This single-vineyard wine is "great," just like the name of the vineyard. It is not a wine to be taken lightly. We also served barrel samples of this wine at our May 1st event and, based on the verbal responses as well as the orders we received, it is sure to be highly sought-after and a real collector's item (only 150 cases produced). Mr. Laube also gave this wine a 90-95 score based on the barrel sample he tasted.


We are also continuing the special futures offer on the extraordinary 2001 Au Bon Climat and Qupe wines to be delivered in August of 2003. Here is the list (minus the tasting notes).

OK, take me to the tasting notes.


Au Bon Climat 2001 Hildegard - August 2003 Release

Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99


Au Bon Climat 2001 Chardonnay, Sanford & Benedict - August 2003 Release

Price $25.00; Futures Price $19.99


Au Bon Climat 2001 Chardonnay, Mt. Carmel - August 2003 Release

Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99


Au Bon Climat 2001 Chardonnay, Nuits Blanches au Bouge - August 2003 Release

Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99


Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict - August 2003 Release

Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99


Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Talley Vineyard "Rosemary's" - August 2003 Release

Price $50.00; Futures Price $44.99 (6-Bottle Limit)


Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Mt. Carmel - August 2003 Release

Price $50.00; Futures Price $44.99


Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Isabelle - August 2003 Release

Price $50.00; Futures Price $44.99 (6-Bottle Limit)


Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Knox Alexander - August 2003 Release

Price $45.00; Futures Price $35.99


Barham Mendelsohn 2001 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley - August 2003 Release

Price $50.00; Futures Price $39.99


Vita-Nova 2001 Sangiovese - August 2003 Release

Price $18.00; Futures Price $13.99


Qupe 2001 Syrah, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate - August 2003 Release

Price $40.00; Futures Price $31.99


Qupe 2001 Syrah, 20th Anniversary Harvest - August 2003 Release

Price $50.00; Futures Price $39.99

Ordering Instructions
Minimum: 3-bottle order for each wine
100% Deposit Required - August 2003 Releases

Save 20% on Au Bon Climat and Qupe Futures - Part I


We are pleased to continue our special Central Coast 2001 Futures program with our offering of the extraordinary 2001 vintage wines from three extremely special wineries - Au Bon Climat, Qupe and Vita-Nova. This program gives everyone a chance to save up to 20% off of the normal list prices of the wines upon release, as well as the opportunity to acquire some of the rarest of their wines. This is Part 1 of our planned offerings. Part 2 will be in your mailbox in March with the addition of Hitching Post and Margerum wines. Information about allocations and ordering is at the end of this message.

Jim Clendenen, proprietor and winemaker at Au Bon Climat, proclaims that the 2001 vintage in the Central Coast was "the best vintage in the history of the winery and...the best vintage I have ever worked!" This would include his 20+ years in the Santa Maria area, as well as several vintages in Burgundy. High praise, indeed, from a master.

Central Coast 2001 "Futures"


The Duke tasting team recently made the annual "futures" visit to the Au Bon Climat/Qupe winery in Santa Maria to taste the 2001 wines still in barrels. We were quite impressed! Following is a synopsis of our impressions and tasting notes.

Au Bon Climat

Au Bon Climat 2001 Hildegard - August 2003 Release
Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99

A fresh, well-balanced blend of 55% Pinot Beurot (Gris), 40% Pinot Blanc and 5% Aligoté, this is Jim Clendenen's best estimate of the original ninth-century Corton-Charlemagne wine. It is straw-gold in color with a fruity nose of violets and perfume, a soft, creamy, buttery mouth-feel and a medium-long finish. A great food wine.

Au Bon Climat 2001 Chardonnay, Sanford & Benedict - August 2003 Release
Price $25.00; Futures Price $19.99

This designation was not made in 2000, so we welcome it back with this newly styled 2001 edition, which is delicious even at this young age. The wine exhibits straw-gold color, a rich nose showing some oak, forward fruit flavors that are far from lean, good acidity and a long finish. Priced at 30% below the 1999 vintage!

Au Bon Climat 2001 Chardonnay, Mt. Carmel - August 2003 Release
Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99

Grapes for this appealing, well-structured wine came from a cool vineyard area in the Santa Ynez Valley north of the Sanford & Benedict Vineyard. In the glass, the wine reveals wonderful oak and fruit aromas and a body rich with glycerin balanced by creamy malolactic flavors and good acid. Jim is very high on this vineyard (see Pinot Noir notes).

Au Bon Climat 2001 Chardonnay, Nuits Blanches au Bouge - August 2003 Release
Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99

What a wine! Jim's 100% Estate Chardonnay is from primarily Dijon clones grown on his Le Bon Climat Vineyard and the K Block of the Bien Nacido Vineyard. Long "legs" coat the glass while the full, rich, fruity nose of this beauty offers big hints of oak. The richness continues with full fruit flavors of great structure and balance.

Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, La Bauge au Dessus - April 2003 Release
Price $30.00; Futures Price $23.99

This blockbuster Pinot Noir offers great extraction and concentration. It is medium-to-dark red in color, has the classic Pinot Noir nose of raspberries and herbs, spicy tastes on the palate with hints of cloves, a moderate acid/tannin structure and a solid finish. It's the best La Bauge ever . . . try it, you'll love it!

Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict - August 2003 Release
Price $35.00; Futures Price $27.99

Jim feels that this is his best Sanford & Benedict Pinot Noir in several years. The smokiness in the nose does not mask the fruitiness that follows through in the earthy, cherry, spicy flavors. It has great depth, great length and great aging potential.

Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Talley Vineyard "Rosemary's" - August 2003 Release
Price $50.00; Futures Price $44.99

Always popular and always limited (less than 100 cases this vintage), this rich, full wine exhibits raspberries and sweet oak in the nose, ripe fruit flavors complemented by creamy, round, balanced oak and acid with a long, fruity finish. (Because of limited production, Rosemary's must be limited to 6 bottles at this offering)

Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Mt. Carmel - August 2003 Release
Price $50.00; Futures Price $44.99

"Monumental!" says Mr. Clendenen. Darker purple than the other ABC Pinot Noirs, this wine boasts a big, full nose with hints of sweet fruit, spice and oak. Its concentrated varietal fruit flavors burst on the palate, with oak taking a back seat to the fruitiness. It is huge but supple and shows superb balance. At this point in time, it is showing the best of all the 2001 Pinot Noirs.

Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Isabelle - August 2003 Release
Price $50.00; Futures Price $44.99

Full of spice and richness, this eighth vintage named for Jim & Morgan Clendenen's daughter is a crowd-pleaser. It is produced from Jim's best barrels of Pinot Noir from the best vineyard sources. Oak and fruit aromas pervade the rich, full nose with concentrated fruit flavoring this wine of complex structure and excellent balance. Top that off with a big finish and you can't beat this truly enticing beauty. (Because of limited production, Isabelle must be limited to 6 bottles at this offering)

Au Bon Climat 2001 Pinot Noir, Knox Alexander - August 2003 Release
Price $45.00; Futures Price $35.99

This namesake of the Clendenens' son is another 100% Estate wine made from the best Bien Nacido vines. The wine is rich and robust with medium-dark color, raspberries on the nose, big body with good fruit flavors and a strong finish. Very tasty!!

Barham Mendelsohn

Barham Mendelsohn 2001 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley - August 2003 Release
Price $50.00; Futures Price $39.99

(Yes, we know it isn't Au Bon Climat and it isn't Central Coast, but the winemaker is Jim Clendenen and the wine is too doggone good not to include it.) The superb Barham Mendelsohn Vineyard is located in the Sonoma County area known for its outstanding Pinot Noirs. The 2000 vintage was a hit at our "Super Seminar" in December. The sweet, jammy 2001 wine has a rich, full nose with notes of sweet oak, spice and fruit flavors, good acidity, superb balance and an excellent finish. Great on its own and will definitely enhance any meal.

Vita-Nova

Vita-Nova 2001 Sangiovese - August 2003 Release
Price $18.00; Futures Price $13.99

A big, rich, powerful, world-class wine produced from the best grapes of the Stolpman Vineyard in Santa Ynez. The nose exudes ripe, black fruit. The fruit flavors are concentrated and balanced by good acid, tannins and 100% new oak. It's one of the finest California Sangioveses we've ever tasted and a steal at this price!

Qupe

Qupe 2001 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Reserve Block 11 - April 2003 Release
Price $25.00; Futures Price $19.99

Produced by proprietor Bob Lindquist, this big, full-flavored wine features the hillside grapes across from the winery planted exclusively for Qupe. It was aged in 100% new François Frères oak barrels and went through 100% malolactic fermentation. A slight smokiness in the nose leads to good glycerin in the glass and deep fruit flavors in the mouth balanced with good oak and acid. It is powerful and rich and a true bargain at $19.99!

Qupe 2001 Syrah, Bien Nacido - April 2003 Release
Price $25.00; Futures Price $19.99

A dark, intense wine with typically varietal black pepper and fruit in the nose and on the palate, plus the solid acid and good tannic structure necessary to balance the flavors. Finishes with panache!

Qupe 2001 Syrah, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate - August 2003 Release
Price $40.00; Futures Price $31.99

The biggest of them all, this powerful wine is deep and dark with chocolatey overtones in the nose and everything you'd expect a Qupe wine to be in structure - dense, spicy fruit flavors with excellent tannin balance and great length. A superior wine to age.


Special offering of 2001 Bien Nacido Hillside Estate Syrah

Size List Price Futures Price
Magnum (1.5 Ltr) $80.00 $64.00
Double Magnum (3 Ltr) $175.00 $140.00
Jeroboam (5 Ltr)S $285.00 $228.00



Qupe 2001 Syrah, 20th Anniversary Harvest - August 2003 Release
Price $50.00; Futures Price $39.99

Think "power" when you think of this wine. It was produced from the X Block of the Bien Nacido Vineyard, which is the oldest, original Syrah block, and shows the great depth of character befitting the celebration of Bob's 20th Qupe Harvest. Deep purple color and a sweet fruit and black pepper nose are followed by big fruit, firm tannin, complex structure and a big finish.

2001 Bordeaux Futures

We are pleased to offer "Futures" on the excellent wines of the 2001 Vintage in Bordeaux. Although it is not quite at the overall level of greatness of the 2000 Vintage, many of the red wines from 2001 are right on par with the 2000's, and some are even better! The 2001 Vintage for the sweet white wines of Bordeaux (Sauternes and Barsac) is considered to be outstanding!

You will find that the prices of many of the wines have come down on the 2001 Vintage, even greater than one might think given the quality of the wines.

Noted wine writer Robert M. Parker, Jr. wrote in his publication The Wine Advocate:

"My tastings suggest that 2001 has produced wines that are slightly denser than the 1999's (more concentrated), but also with higher levels of austere tannin. What I admire about the finest 1999's is their exceptional equilibrium, undeniable charm and finesse, and a balance that gives them immediate accessibility, yet suggests greater longevity than many might guess...For the red wines, one can...say it is a good, sometimes very good...vintage.

"With respect to Bordeaux's sweet white wines, the onset of botrytis was ideal, and the higher than normal acidity (because of the cool temperatures) resulted in a sensational vintage for many Sauternes and Barsac producers. Clearly, 2001 is the finest year for this region since the outstanding trio of 1988, 1989, and 1990...there is no question 2001 is a vintage of great complexity, ripeness, richness, freshness and delineation."

We have our offering of Red & White Bordeaux listed below (Red wines first, then white). Robert M. Parker, Jr. (RP) and/or Wine Spectator (WS) scores are listed with each wine along with pricing information and descriptions of the wines.

Wines are sold in Full-Cases (12 bottles) or 1/2 Cases (6 bottles) only.
White wines can be ordered in 1/2 bottles. See below offering for information.

To place your order please call us at 818-341-1234 or Outside California at 1-800-4-FINE-WINE, or stop by the store.

ALL ORDERS SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION.

2001 Bordeaux Futures
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Cantemerle
Haut Medoc
WS 89-91
$ 215.00
$ 17.92
$ 114.67
$ 19.11
A balanced and fruity red, with berry and currant character. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a clean, mineral aftertaste. Long finish. Very well-done. Almost 92-94. - W.S.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Carruades de Lafite
Pauillac
RP 88-90 WS 92-94
$ 330.00
$ 27.50
$ 171.43
$ 28.57
Once again Lafite's second wine, the 2001 Carruades de Lafite is an impeccably made effort. A blend of 50.4% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22.2% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, it represents 42.5% of Lafite's harvest. Revealing excellent red and black currant characteristics intermixed with hints of new saddle leather, wood, and spice box, it possesses a sweeter, more developed personality than its bigger sibling, and fine length. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2015. - R.P.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Charmail
Haut Medoc
RP 88-90
$ 160.00
$ 13.33
$ 83.12
$ 13.85
One of the Haut-Médoc's superb cru bourgeois properties, Charmail has been at the top of its game for over a decade. The 1002, a blend of 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc, enjoyed a 15-day cold maceration (5 degrees centigrade) prior to beginning fermentation. This appears to ensure extraordinary color as well as a perfumed, intense black fruit character in the aromatics. Dense blue/purple-colored, deep, and rich, with savory, exceptionally pure, well-delineated berry fruit, it will drink well for 10-12 years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2014. This overachieving estate is producing wines of classified growth quality. - R.P.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Cheval Blanc
St. Emilion
RP 92-94
$ 2430.00
$ 202.50
$ 1,262.34
$ 210.39
Fifty percent of the crop made it into the 2001 Cheval Blanc, which includes an unusually high percentage of Merlot (65%, along with 25% Cabernet Franc). As administrator Pierre Lurton told me, in this vintage the vines had to be extensively pruned (and crop-thinned), so yields were kept low. The Cabernet Franc vineyards produced 32 hectoliters per hectare, and the Merlot vineyards, 39 hectoliters per hectare. The cool September weather resulted in a late harvest for this estate. The 2001 has a lot in common with the 1999 and 1988. Its opaque ruby/purple color is accompanied by a sweet bouquet of menthol, ripe black currant, plum and cherry fruit, and an intriguing mineral characteristic. The wine is medium-bodied, with wonderful sweetness and purity, good definition, a light texture, and sweet tannin in the finish....it is a fruit-driven, dense effort with abundant quantities of vibrant acidity. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020. - R.P.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Clerc Milon
Pauillac
WS 92-94
$ 341.25
$ 28.44
$ 177.27
$ 29.55
Currants and lead pencil, with ripe fruit on the nose. Full-bodied and very strong, lots of tannins, but incredibly refined and polished. Almost classic in quality. Serious Clerc. Better than the 2000. -- W.S.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Cos d'Estournel
St.-Estephe
RP 91-94 WS 95-100
$ 670.00
$ 55.83
$ 348.00
$ 58.00
Young administrator Jean-Guilhaume Prats compares the 2001 Cos to the 1988 and 1979, classic efforts with good acidity, definition, and tannin. One of the vintage's greatest successes, this 2001 is one of the dozen or so wines that appear to be superior to their 2000 counterparts. A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot representing 40% of the total production, it boasts an opaque ruby/purple color as well as a sweet nose of cassis, spice, licorice, and vanilla. What makes it stand out in the company of other 2001's are its terrific multil-ayered texture and tremendous length. Prats is doing a lot of experimentation, including 12-15 days of cold maceration prior to fermentation, and aging the wine in barrels on it s lees...unusual for a Médoc estate of this size. The results speak for themselves. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2015. - R.P.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Ducru Beaucaillou
St.-Julien
RP 90-92 WS 92-94
$ 585.00
$ 48.75
$ 303.90
$ 50.65
A late harvest (October 1-12) produced a surprisingly fruit-driven, pure, up-front 2001 Ducru. Xavier Borie thinks this blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc is "better than the 1999, riper, denser, and fuller." When tasted next to the 1999, the only difference is a firmer style of tannin in the 2001, whereas the 1999 is pure charm and elegance. The 2001 is a medium-bodied, pure example displaying notes of red and black currants intermixed with minerals, spice box, and hints of cedar as well as toast. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2016. - R.P.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Faizeau Vieilles Vignes
Montagne St. Emilion
RP 88-90
$ 147.50
$ 12.29
$ 76.62
$ 12.77
Made by Dr. Alain Raynaud's sister, Chantal Lebreton, this wine is being produced from increasingly low yields in addition to riper and riper fruit. The 2001 exhibits a dense purple color as well as sweet aromas of black raspberries and cherries intertwined with hints of minerals and vanilla. Nicely-textured, pure, vibrant, and medium bodied, it should drink well for a decade. Bravo!
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Gloria
St.-Julien
WS 85-88
$ 230.00
$ 19.17
$ 119.48
$ 19.91
This has a very good core of berry, currant fruit, as well as silky tannins. Medium- to full-bodied. Almost 89-91. -- W.S.
Château
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Grand Mayne
St. Emilion
WS 92-94
$ 421.35
$ 35.94
$ 224.00
$ 37.33
Solid core of fruit and refined tannins. The character is complex, with berry, mineral and lemon grass. -- W.S.
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Haut-Brion
Pessac-Leognan
RP 92-94 WS 95-100
$ 1,620.00
$ 135.00
$ 831.00
$ 138.50
Haut-Brion's 2001 represents only 50% of the production. A blend of 52% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 12% Cabernet Franc, it is extremely perfumed, revealing notes of iron, plums, black currants, cherries, earth, and smoke. With excellent purity and medium body, it is a quintessential example of Haut-Brion's elegance and finesse. Lighter than either the massive 2000 or stunningly convincing 1998, the 2001 is another beauty from the brilliant father and son team of Jean and Jean-Philippe Delmas. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2019. - R.P.
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La Couspaude
St. Emilion
RP 89-91 WS 92-94
$ 468.75
$ 39.06
$ 243.51
$ 40.58
The French call this a vin gourmand, meaning a sensual, hedonistic offering designed to provide enormous pleasure. Jean-Claude Aubert is doing a far better job of integrating the wood than he has accomplished in the past. La Couspaude has always been a flashy, flesh-pot sort of wine that goes right to your hedonistic senses, but with the better integrated wood, one can appreciate the gorgeous purity of ripe black cherry and berry fruit in this opulently-textured layered, low acid, fleshy effort. Atypical for the vintage, it is a pure, perfumed, already drinkable 2001. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2012. - R.P.
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La Croix de Gay
Pomerol
RP 88-89 WS 89-91
$ 316.25
$ 26.35
$ 164.29
$ 27.38
A strong effort from this property, the 2001 was produced from low yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare. A blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc, this dark ruby/purple-colored Pomerol offers sweet cherry fruit along with subtle wood and earth notes. Medium-bodied and pure, with vibrant fruit, and a nicely-textured, medium bodied finish, this finesse-styled wine possesses excellent sweetness as well as palate presence. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.
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La Mission Haut- Brion
Pessac-Leognan
RP 90-93 WS 92-94
$ 1,041.25
$ 86.77
$ 540.91
$ 90.15
While it is virtually impossible to duplicate the surreal wine made at La Mission-Haut-Brion in 2000, the 2001 La Mission is an elegant, vibrant, well-defined effort with sweet, concentrated rich fruit. A blend of 62% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc, it boasts a dense plum/purple color along with a sweet perfume of mineral-infused black currant fruit with a hint of tar in the background. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, with good texture, sweet tannin, and a long finish, it is stylistically similar to the 1999, but with more fruit density as well as delineation. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018. - R.P.
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Lafite-Rothschild
Pauillac
WS 95-100
$ 1,620.00
$ 135.00
$ 831.00
$ 138.50
Fabulous for the vintage. Very grapey, with dark fruits and cured tobacco, leading to a cedar and berry undertone. Full-bodied, with round and rich fruit and big, velvety tannins, yet with all in reserve. A generous, seductive young wine that surprises you with its length. -- W.S.
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Latour
Pauillac
RP 92-94+ WS 95-100
$ 1,620.00
$ 135.00
$ 831.00
$ 138.50
A classic Lafite-Rothschild, the 2001 is a wine of concentrated elegance, finesse, and delicacy. This blend of 86.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13.5% Merlot (only 43% of the crop was acceptable) is reminiscent of the 1999, but it reveals additional tannin as well as a more austere finish. An impressive deep ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of cedar, black currants, lead pencil shavings, and subtle toasty oak. It is medium-bodied, with a nicely-layered mid-palate (something many 2001's are not yet revealing), admirable delicacy and precision, and a long finish. It will be drinkable at an early age, yet will last two decades. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2022. - R.P.
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Leoville-Barton
St.-Julien
RP 87-89+
$ 448.75
$ 37.40
$ 233.12
$ 38.85
The color is handsome dense ruby/purple. The nose offers up hints of black fruits, licorice, earth, and cedar....the barrel again process will promote additional texture and fat...Anticipated maturity 2008-2018. - R.P.
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Les Forts de Latour
Pauillac
RP 88-90 WS 89-91
$ 415.00
$ 34.58
$ 215.58
$ 35.93
The undeniably reliable second wine, the 2001 Forts de Latour, is a blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot, and represents 35% of the production. It exhibits abundant quantities of sweet tannin, medium body, admirable fruit extraction as well as ripeness, and plenty of cedar, black currant, and earthy fruit. It should drink well for 14-15 years. - R.P.
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Lynch-Bages
Pauillac
WS 89-91
$ 457.50
$ 38.13
$ 237.66
$ 39.61
Firm and balanced, with silky tannins and good fruit. Medium finish, with fine tannins and a fruity, currant aftertaste. -- W.S.
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Margaux
Margaux
RP 91-93 WS 92-94
$ 1,620.00
$ 135.00
$ 831.00
$ 138.50
A Cabernet Sauvignon-based offering (the blend was 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc), the 2001 Margaux is the result of a severe selection (35% of the crop made it into the grand vin). A deep ruby color is followed by aromas of sweet cassis fruit intermixed with licorice and subtle toasty oak. Elegant, medium-weight, and stylish, it is similar to the 1999 with seemingly more concentration and tannin. With beautiful balance as well as low acidity, it will be drinkable young. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018. - R.P.
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Montrose
St. Estephe
RP 90-91+ WS 92-94
$ 477.50
$ 39.79
$ 248.00
$ 41.33
Montrose is justifiable proud of having fashioned one of the vintage's most powerful and concentrated wines. Yields were a mere 32 hectoliters per hectare, and the 2001 Montrose (which represents 64% of the total production) is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. A classic effort in the style, according to the château, "of the highly successful 1955," it is backward, tannic, and impressively concentrated. It possesses good freshness, full body, high tannin, low acidity, admirable extract, and load of crème de cassis fruit intermixed with chocolate, liquid minerals, and earth. There is more noticeable tannin than in the blockbuster 2000. The 2001 will require a decade of cellaring to shed its tannic clout. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030. - R.P.
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Mouton-Rothschild
Pauillac
RP 91-93+ WS 95-100
$ 1,620.00
$ 135.00
$ 831.00
$ 138.50
A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc produced from small yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, 66% of the production made it into the 2001 Mouton. The entire Cabernet Sauvignon crop was harvested between October 8-10. While the 2001 does not posses the charm or finesse of the 1999, or the massive power and body of the virtually perfect 2000, it possess forward, evolved aromatics consisting of espresso, crème de cassis, Asian spice, licorice, and toasty oak. Low acid and high tannin result in an austere finish....For now, it is dominated by its Cabernet Sauvignon. Additional fat should emerge as the wine evolves in the barrel. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025. - R.P.
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Palmer
Margaux
RP 90-92 WS 95-100
$ 1,118.75
$ 93.23
$ 581.17
$ 96.86
An elegant rendition of Palmer, the 2001 reveals less power and muscled than the 2000, and possibly less charm than the 1999. This blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot exhibits a dense ruby/purple color as well as a stylish nose of flowers, black fruits, and new oak. TI offers a sweet attack, medium body, moderate tannin, and a crisp finish. Surprisingly, the acidity is lower in the 2001 than in the 2000. Fifty percent of the crop made it into the final blend. Yields were 44 hectoliters per hectare. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2015. - R.P/
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Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux
Margaux
WS 89-91
$ 337.50
$ 28.13
$ 175.32
$ 29.22
Lovely violet and lightly smoky, with a fresh fruit character. Medium- to full-bodied, with grapey character and a refined tannin structure. -- W.S.
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Pichon Baron
Pauillac
RP 88-89
$ 493.75
$ 41.15
$ 256.49
$ 42.75
This serious Pauillac reveals...herbaceous, cedary characteristics ... A dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by scents of red and black currants, medium body, attractive fat, sweet tannin.... It is an elegant , nicely concentrated effort... -- R.P.
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Pichon Lalande
Pauillac
RP 89-91+ WS 95-100
$ 670.00
$ 55.83
$ 348.00
$ 58.00
Proprietor Madame de Lencquesaing is proud of her 2001 Pichon Lalande. Only 37% of the production made it into the grand vin (a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and a whopping 14% Petit Verdot - an historic high for this varietal). Yields were 45 hectoliters per hectare. The normally late to mature Petit Verdot was actually harvested before the Cabernet Sauvignon, which was picked between October 2-14. The dense purple/blue/black-colored Pichon Lalande exhibits a spicy perfume offering scents of cedar, incense, earth, black currant and berry fruit. Firm, pure, and surprisingly more Pauillac in style than usual (many Pichon Lalandes reveal a silky, St.-Julien-like character), the 2001 does not have the power, volume, or size of the 2000. A strong effort for the vintage, it possesses high acidity as well as more noticeable tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2018. - R.P.
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Pontet Canet
Pauillac
WS 89-91
$ 341.25
$ 28.44
$ 177.27
$ 29.55
Bright and floral, with beautiful aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a pretty berry, mineral aftertaste. Very cool wine. Could move up a notch. -- W.S.
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Puygueraud
Cotes de Francs
WS 89-91
$ 116.25
$ 9.69
$ 60.00
$ 10.00
Ripe and soft, yet refined and caressing, with beautiful, focused fruit and a medium to long finish. A beauty. -- W.S.
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Vieux Chateau Certan
Pomerol
RP 92-95 WS 95-100
$ 928.75
$ 77.40
$ 482.47
$ 80.41
One of the stars of the vintage, Alexandre Thienpont has been at the top of his game since 1998. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the dense opaque purple-colored 2001 offers phenomenally sweet aromas of black cherry liqueur intermixed with charcoal, vanilla, new saddle leather, and a hint of fruitcake. It is full-bodied and opulently textured, with low acidity, ripe tannin and a remarkably layered, unctuous texture that has more in common with the 2000 than the 2001. Thienpont feels the unusual blend, with all the old vine Merlot (from vineyards planted in 1932, 1942, and 1959), has given the wine a profound depth and unctuosity that even the 2000 does not possess. This is a splendid achievement! Anticipated maturity: 2008-2025. - R.P.
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Clos Haut Peyraguey
1st Cru Sauternes
WS 95-100
$ 378.75
$ 31.56
$ 196.75
$ 32.79
Ultrathick. Like pure honey, yet spicy and wonderful. Full-bodied and supersweet; however, the lively acidity and botrytis spice carries it on for minutes on the palate. A fabulous Sauternes. -- W.S.
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Coutet
1st Cru Barsac
WS 95-100
$ 447.50
$ 37.29
$ 232.47
$ 38.74
Subtle, yet powerful. Class in a glass. Super clean and lively, with honey, maple syrup and apricot character. Full-bodied and oily, with medium to full sweetness and a spicy finish. Very, very spicy. -- W.S.
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De Malle
2nd Cru Sauternes
WS 95-100
$ 370.00
$ 30.83
$ 192.21
$ 32.03
Like crushed dried pineapples and apricots, with honey and spices. Full-bodied and superthick, yet spicy and sweet. Fabulous finish. -- W.S.
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Guiraud
1st Cru Sauternes
WS 95-100
$ 498.75
$ 41.56
$ 259.09
$ 43.18
You can spread this on toast. Lots of lemon rind, pineapple and honey on the nose. Full-bodied, very oily and spicy, yet backward and not giving much now. Nonetheless, superb potential. -- W.S.
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Lafaurie Peyraguey
1st Cru Sauternes
WS 95-100
$ 423.75
$ 35.31
$ 220.13
$ 36.69
Wow. Unbelievable. Loads of lush spice and honey, with syrupy aromas. Full-bodied and superthick, with masses of fruit and a long, long finish. I have to buy some of this! -- W.S.
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Nairac
2nd Cru Barsac
WS 95-100
$ 408.75
$ 34.06
$ 212.34
$ 35.39
Intensely botrytised, with loads of allspice and mineral character, yet lively and exciting. Full-bodied, racy and very long. Fresh sweetness. -- W.S.
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Rieussec
Sauternes
WS 95-100
$ 548.75
$ 45.73
$ 285.06
$ 47.51
The nose explodes with sweet, ripe fruits of dried pineapple, honey and flowers. Turns to sliced apple and melons. Full-bodied and sweet, yet amazing in flavor, with lemon rind, mineral, honey and pineapple. It goes on and on. Stunning. -- W.S.
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Suduiraut
1st Cru Sauternes
WS 95-100
$ 495.00
$ 41.25
$ 257.14
$ 42.86
Pure botrytis, with floral, spice and honey character. Very sweet yet fruity, with honey, dried pineapple and apple. Full-bodied and lively, with a long finish. Powerful. This is the essence of Sauternes. -- W.S.


All Sauternes and Barsac Prices are 750ml bottles

Add $1.15 per 1/2 bottle for Full Case Conversions to 1/2 bottles (24 1/2 bottles per case)

Add $1.20 per 1/2 bottle for 1/2 Case Conversions to 1/2 bottles (12 1/2 bottle per 6pk)


Chateau Montelena 2001 Futures Offering

March 1 is the official release date for Futures of Chateau Montelena 2001 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. We are pleased to re-present our offering. If you have already purchased some of these futures but feel you might like more, please give us a call.

Chateau Montelena 2001 Futures Program

We are thrilled to offer futures of what is being called the EXTRAORDINARY Chateau Montelena 2001 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. The Duke is proud of our long-term relationship with one of California's 'first-growth' wineries, Chateau Montelena. Our history of offering Futures on their Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, one of California's finest and long-lived wines, continues with the 2001 vintage. Here is your opportunity to acquire a world-class wine for significantly less than the release price, which is estimated to be $125.00.

750 ml Bottle - SOLD OUT!$69.50
Six-pack - SOLD OUT!$415.00
Other Sizes Available
Case of 12 375ml - SOLD OUT!$420.00
Magnum - SOLD OUT!$150.00
3 Liter Etched - SOLD OUT!$330.00
5 Liter Etched - SOLD OUT!$550.00
6 Liter Etched - SOLD OUT!$660.00


100% Deposit Required
Anticipated release - September 2004


Here is what some others have to say about Chateau Montelena and the 2001 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon:

Robert M. Parker, Jr., of The Wine Advocate: "Extraordinary. The greatness of this vintage is obvious in its ripe, explosive aromas of crème de cassis, licorice, minerals, leather and earth. This super-concentrated blockbuster possesses a sumptuous, multilayered palate feel, great purity, high levels of glycerin and alcohol, and sweet tannin. For my taste, this is the finest Cabernet Montelena has produced since 1997." (94-96 points)

Kiplinger's Personal Financial Magazine opines: 'We're suggesting that you use a futures contract to purchase a case of one of America's best Cabernet Sauvignons for less than it will fetch upon its release. The wine in question is Chateau Montelena, one of Napa Valley's most consistent wineries."

The Robb Report sees things in a similar light: 'In California, the 2001 Cabernet Sauvignons continue to capture the limelight. Unfortunately, you will not be able to purchase any of the serious Cabernets before 2004. That is, with the exception of Chateau Montelena, whose 2001 Cabernet futures are scheduled for release in March.'

Make sure you get your share of one of the planet's premiere Cabernet Sauvignons by calling us today at 818-341-1234 or outside California at 1-800-4-FINE-WINE.



Long Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon Pre-Sell


The lucky members of our Wine Association and their guests who attended the latest dinner at Posto Ristorante in January were able to taste the incredible Long Vineyards 2000 Cabernet Sauvignon as a barrel sample with their main course. We were pleased to offer the wine on as a "future" to those in attendance that evening. We are just as pleased to offer it to you today on a pre-sell basis.

The grapes come from Bob's property located on Pritchard Hill just east of St. Helena next to Chappellet, Bryant Family and the new Colgin Vineyard. If you believe in guilt by association, then his vineyard is guilty of producing some of the most outstanding fruit in Napa Valley. The wine showed exceptionally well at the dinner: the nose was full of luscious fruit; the wine itself had solid structure, but still had a supple mouth-feel; the finish was long and strong - just the qualities you have come to associate with a wine produced by Bob Long.

If you recall, The New York Times web page called the Long Vineyards 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon the "wine of the vintage in Napa Valley." The 2000 vintage only adds to that legend.

Long Vineyards 2000 Pre-Sell
750 ml bottle$49.99
6-Pack$299.50
Magnum (Limit 2)
(Only 48 Produced)		$120.00

50% deposit required
Release planned for March 15, 2003
Price at release expected: $60.00 - $65.00


Don't miss this opportunity to acquire a very scarce wine at a great price. Call us today.

Duke of Bourbon 818-341-1234 - Outside CA 1-800-4 FINE WINE

Life is a Cabernet!!!



Central Coast 2000 Futures Offering
Save up to 20%!





e are pleased to continue our special Central Coast Futures program with our offering of the excellent 2000 vintage wines from five very special wineries -- Au Bon Climat, Qupé, Ici/La-Bas, Hitching Post and Makor. We recently made the 2-1/2-hour ride up the California Coast to the Au Bon Climat/Qupé Winery in Santa Maria to taste all of these terrific wines in barrel.

he wines from the 2000 Vintage at Au Bon Climat, Qupé, Ici/La-Bas, Hitching Post and Makor are truly wonderful. 2000 was an outstanding growing year, according to both Jim Clendenen of Au Bon Climat & Ici/La-Bas and Bob Lindquist of Qupé. It was warm during August and then cool during October, giving the grapes excellent ripening conditions! Each year we make our way to the Au Bon Climat/Qupé Winery to taste the wines. This year we spent about four hours tasting and writing extensive notes, with a short break to enjoy an excellent lunch prepared by Jim Clendenen. We found that the wines of the 2000 vintage are loaded with luscious fruit, great body, intensity and finish. Of course, each wine has its own unique characteristics, but this is the first time in many vintages that we have tasted so many wonderful wines from so many different areas of the Central Coast. With this offering, you will have the chance to save up to 20% on these wines by purchasing them on "Future." We think you'll be intrigued by the tasting notes and we've also included a few photos from our tasting session!

Central Coast 2000 "Futures"
Ordering Instructions
• Minimum 3-bottle order for each wine. 100% Deposit Required • April/August 2002 Releases


Au Bon Climat
VintageWine2002 ReleaseRelease PriceFutures Price
2000Pinot Blanc, ReserveApril$20.00$15.99
2000Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills SelectionApril25.0019.99
2000Chardonnay, Talley Vineyards "Rincon"April25.0019.99
2000HildegardAugust35.0027.99
2000Chardonnay, Mt. CarmelAugust40.0031.99
2000Chardonnay, XXth AnniversaryAugust35.0027.99
2000Pinot Noir, La Bauge au DessusApril25.0019.99
2000Pinot Noir, Rincon & RosemaryApril40.0031.99
2000Pinot Noir, Rosemary's VineyardAugust50.0045.00
2000Pinot Noir, IsabelleAugust50.0045.00
2000Pinot Noir, Knox AlexanderAugust45.0039.99
2000Pinot Noir, Mt. CarmelAugust50.0045.00

Au Bon Climat 2000 Chardonnay, XXth Anniversary
FUTURES PRICE: $27.99 This outstanding replacement for the Nuits Blanches Chardonnay celebrates Au Bon Climat's 20 exciting and creative years of wine-producing with an exciting, complex wine. The grapes were grown on Jim Clendenen's Bien Nacido Estate vineyard and the wine was aged in over 50% new oak. A sensory evaluation reveals golden color, powerful aromas, incredible mouth feel with superb acid balance and flavors of ripe apricots, lemon zest, coconut milk and Burgundian-lees complexity. Dy-no-mite!

Au Bon Climat 2000 Chardonnay, Santa Rita Hills Selection
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 This blend of grapes from the Mr. Carmel, Sanford & Benedict and Clos Pepe Vineyards (all in the Santa Rita Hills region) makes a most welcome debut. Aged in only 35% new oak barrels (less than other Chardonnays), it exhibits light straw color, a big, rich, fruity nose and lean, mineral, pear, Chablis-like flavors... simply elegant.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Chardonnay, Talley Vineyard "Rincon"
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 This big, showy, rich wine from the Rincon section of Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande has a light golden color, a lovely fruity nose, delicious flavors of butterscotch and cream with great breadth, lots of oak, good balance and an excellent finish. It's a wonderful value and will age beautifully.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Chardonnay, Mt. Carmel
FUTURES PRICE: $31.99 Jim's most expensive Chardonnay is also his rarest, as only 250 cases were produced. Starting with 70 barrels, Jim selected just 10 of them from this bottling, making it a true reserve selection. The grapes grew in a very cool vineyard area and the wine was aged in 100% new oak. Add to that the Clendenen winemaking style and panache and the result is a full, rich fruity wine that is extremely well-balanced and finishes with great length and finesse. A beauty!

Au Bon Climat 2000 Hildegard
FUTURES PRICE: $27.99 Aromatic and powerful, the third vintage of this blend named after Charlemagne's wife and replicating his ninth-century wine from Corton-Charlemagne is comprised of 55% Pinot Gris, 40% Pinot Blanc and 5% Aligote. Its intriguing nose has the Pinot Blanc characteristics of marzipan, violets, flowers and perfume followed by mouth flavors of richness, creaminess and very good acidity... a terrific food wine.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Pinot Blanc, Reserve Bien Nacido
FUTURES PRICE: $15.99 Violets, vanilla, egg custard, golden delicious apple and Asian pear flavors invite you to enjoy this rich Pinot Blanc. Produced from new Oregon clones which originally came from Burgundy and Alsace, it is light in color with an appealing nose, good oak-acid balance and offers fuller, rounder sensations than many ABC Chardonnays.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Pinot Noir, La Bauge au Dessus
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 This fruit-driven wine offers flavors of cherries, berries and strawberries with the classic Bien Nacido herbs and spices. It is soft and easy to drink... the quintessential Central Coast Pinot Noir and a fine value.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Pinot Noir, Rincon & Rosemary
FUTURES PRICE: $31.99 Complexity is the key word to describe this delicious Pinot Noir. Our tasters found it to have excellent color and a lovely nose with rich, full spicy fruit flavors of wild plums and ripe blackberries, creamy and firm tannins and a long, luscious aftertaste. Very special.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Pinot Noir, Rosemary's
FUTURES PRICE: $45.00 Wow! This big, showy, powerful wine is already a hit with us. It exhibits rich color, wonderful berry, jammy character in the nose and rich, intense raspberry flavors complemented by creamy, round, balanced oak and tannins. Limited.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Pinot Noir, Isabelle
FUTURES PRICE: $45.00 Big, rich, elegant and luscious... this seventh vintage named for Jim & Morgan Clendenen's daughter lives up to its reputation. Produced from their best barrels of Pinot Noir from their best vineyards (Bien Nacido, Talley, Sanford & Benedict), it has everything you'd want in a California Pinot Noir... fruit, flavor, complexity, length and beauty. Limited.

Au Bon Climat 2000 Pinot Noir, Knox Alexander
FUTURES PRICE: $39.99 This namesake of the Clendenens' son is rich and robust with great fruit, smooth mouth-feel and a strong finish. Jim made a wonderful 50/50 blend from the best of his plantings from the Bien Nacido Vineyard (domestic Pinot Noir clones) and his own Le Bon Climat Vineyard (French Pinot Noir clones). It's the best "Knox" yet!

Au Bon Climat 2000 Pinot Noir, Mt. Carmel
FUTURES PRICE: $45.00 From the coolest growing region, yields for this unique wine were even lower than traditional Burgundy yields... less than half a ton per acre. Elegant and rich with intense concentration of fruit, it is smooth and drinkable now, yet has the potential to age the longest of ABC's 2000 Pinot Noirs (ten years plus). Another wow!


Jim Clendenen talking about his wines.
Bob Lindquist (Qupé), Jim Clendenen (Au Bon Climat), David and Mike (from the "Duke")!

Qupé
VintageWine2002 ReleaseRelease PriceFutures Price
2000Chardonnay, Bien Nacido ReserveApril25.0019.99
2001MarsanneApril15.0011.99
2001Viognier, Ibarra-Young VineyardApril25.0019.99
2001Bien Nacido CuvéeApril16.0012.80
2000GrenacheApril20.0015.99
2000Los Olivos CuvéeApril20.0015.99
2000Syrah, Bien Nacido VineyardApril25.0019.99
2000Syrah, Colson Canyon VineyardApril25.0019.99
2000Syrah, Whitehawk VineyardApril25.0019.99
2000Syrah, Bien Nacido Hillside EstateAugust40.0031.99

Qupé 2000 Chardonnay, Bien Nacido Reserve
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 Produced by Bob Lindquist from very ripe grapes, this rich, full-flavored wine was aged in 100% new François Frères oak barrels, went through 100% malolactic fermentation and had no filtration. The lovely nose hints of oak, ripe fruit, toasty hazelnuts and pears, which come through in the mouth for a wine that drinks beautifully and has a smooth, luscious finish.

Qupé 2001 Marsanne
FUTURES PRICE: $11.99 This Rhône blend of 81% Marsanne from the Ibarra-Young Vineyard and 19% Roussanne from the Stolpman Vineyard was whole-cluster pressed, completely barrel-fermented in older, neutral French oak and allowed to go through malolactic fermentation. The nose offers mineral, wet-stone aromatics with a touch of orange citrus. It is a lovely medium-bodied, crisp and fresh white wine.

Qupé 2001 Viognier, Ibarra-Young Vineyard
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 Here's a classic California Viognier from the moderately cool climate of the Santa Ynez Valley which, again, shows the Lindquist style of whole-cluster pressing, complete barrel-fermentation in François Frères French oak and malolactic fermentation. Aromas of honeysuckle, apricot, guava and a touch of mineral are followed by fresh fruit flavors, balanced alcohol and good acidity. Ready to be consumed this year.

Qupé 2000 Bien Nacido Cuvée
FUTURES PRICE: $12.80 This blend of 67% Chardonnay and 33% Viognier entirely from the Bien Nacido Vineyard in the Santa Maria Valley was produced very much like the Marsanne, but fermented in two-, three- and four-year-old French oak barrels. The ripe Viognier marries beautifully with the lower alcohol Chardonnay to make an aromatic wine with the structure of a good Chardonnay.

Qupé 2000 Syrah, Bien Nacido Hillside Estate
FUTURES PRICE: $31.99 Bob's best Bien Nacido Hillside Estate since 1996, this wine has rich, toasty, mocha aromas and rich, powerful, spicy/sweet fruit flavors with lots of extract and great length. A superior, elegant gem!

Qupé 2000 Syrah, Bien Nacido Vineyard
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 Formerly called Bien Nacido Reserve, this powerfully fruity wine just jumps out at you. It is big, deep, rich, deep, spicy and deep (did we mention that it is deep?)...and quite elegant, too!

Qupé 2000 Syrah, Colson Canyon Vineyard
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 Bob Lindquist produced only 190 cases of wine from this warm, rocky-soil, hillside-canyon site. The resultant wine is dramatic... a bigger, blockier style of Syrah with rich spice and great power.

Qupé 2000 Syrah, Whitehawk Vineyard
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 From another new vineyard designation for Qupé, this deep-colored, bold, spicy wine has strong flavor extracts and tannins and a good finish, but it is still a bit tight and will certainly benefit from some age. Only 120 cases were produced.

Qupé 2000 Grenache
FUTURES PRICE: $15.99 This big, juicy mouthful of wine is 100% Grenache from the Tablas Creek clone on the Purisima Mountain Vineyard in the Santa Ynez Valley. It has a bright, fruity nose, excellent body weight and good spice with a hint of sweetness. We recommend it highly.

Qupé 2000 Los Olivos Cuvée
FUTURES PRICE: $15.99 We couldn't be more pleased with this Rhône blend of 55% Syrah, 27% Mourvedre and 18% Grenache from the Ibarra-Young (68%) and Stolpman (32%) Vineyards. It exhibits deep, dark color - a rich, full nose - cherry cola and licorice flavors with just the right amount of spice - bold, yet subdued tannins - and an excellent finish. A major wine.

Qupé Syrah, Special Vineyard-Designated Packs
• 6-Pack - $114.00
2-Bien Nacido, 2-Colson Canyon, 2-Whitehawk
• 12-Pack - $265.00
3-Bien Nacido, 3-Colson, 3-Whitehawk, 3-Bien Nacido Hillside Estate


Jim Clendenen (ABC) preparing lunch for the crew and the "Dukester's"!
Bob Lindquist (Qupé) enjoys the aromas of his Bien Nacido Reserve Chardonnay!

Ici/La-Bas & Makor
VintageWine2002 ReleaseRelease PriceFutures Price
2000Ici/La-Bas Pinot Noir, OregonAugust25.0019.99
2000Ici/La-Bas Pinot Noir, MendocinoAugust25.0019.99
2000Ici/La-Bas Chardonnay, Dennison VineyardAugust25.0019.99
2001Makor Zinfandel, Rancho Arroyo GrandeAugust16.0012.80

Ici/La-Bas 2000 Pinot Noir, Oregon
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 Reminiscent of past vintages of Clendenen's Oregon Pinot Noirs, this is a rich mouthful of wine with flavors of sandalwood and allspice. Its smokiness and huge oak presence are attributable to its being aged in 100% new François Frères barrels. It is well-balanced and a great value.

Ici/La-Bas 2000 Pinot Noir, Mendocino
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 Our tasters found this to be an easy-drinking and appealing wine with nice color, spicy aromas, sweet ripe fruit flavors and a most satisfying finish. Definitely superior to the 1999 vintage.

Ici/La-Bas 2000 "Philippine" Chardonnay, Dennison Vineyard
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 This represents the entire harvest (10 barrels) from 13 acres of mature, organically-farmed Mendocino fruit grown near Booneville. The most Burgundian of the Ici/La-Bas Chardonnays, it presents flavors of peaches and Golden Delicious apples with touches of slate and mineral, firm structure, great length and excellent breed. Rare and rewarding.

Makor 2001 Zinfandel, Rancho Arroyo Grande
FUTURES PRICE: $12.80 This wine comes from an ideal site for growing Zinfandel, where the days are nice and warm and the nights are crisp and cool. Jim Adelman has produced a powerful wine with classic Zinfandel flavors of black cherry. It is aging in 50% new oak barrels and will be outstanding.


David, Frank Ostini (Hitching Post) and Ron
Bob Lindquist (Qupé), David & Mike

Hitching Post
VintageWine2002 ReleaseRelease PriceFutures Price
2000Pinot Noir, Santa Maria ValleyAugust25.0019.99
2000Pinot Noir, HighlinerAugust40.0031.99
2000Generations RedAugust18.0014.40

Hitching Post 2000 Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley
FUTURES PRICE: $19.99 Frank Ostini and Gray Hartley have produced a flavorful, juicy, top-quality Central Coast Pinot Noir from fruit grown on the Bien Nacido Vineyard (two-thirds) and Julia's Vineyard (one-third) and aged in 30% new oak. It displays good fruit and tannin character, is delicious to drink and has a superb finish.

Hitching Post 2000 Pinot Noir, Highliner
FUTURES PRICE: $31.99 This outstanding best-of-the-best wine was produced from three special vineyard sources - Bien Nacido, Sanford & Benedict and Riverbench. It saw 100% new oak, is loaded with fruity, spicy flavors and shows great depth and excellent balance. Restrained and elegant.

Hitching Post 2000 Generation Red
FUTURES PRICE: $14.40 One of our most popular all-around wines, this year's blend is 40% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Syrah. It shows good color, but is still a bit tight in the nose and mouth. Another seven months of aging should bring this youthful wine into its own and make it just as easy-drinking and enjoyable as past vintages.



2000 Bordeaux Futures Offering #8
We are pleased to present our eighth "Futures" offering of the highly-acclaimed wines from the 2000 vintage in Bordeaux. It appears that the 2000 vintage, the first vintage from the new millennium, is of "superstar" quality! There are many wines with very good to excellent scores that are very reasonably priced. According to Robert M. Parker, Jr. in the Wine Advocate, "the 2000 vintage has produced some of the most immense, black-colored, concentrated, powerful and tannic wines of the last thirty years. Moreover, the finest 2000s possess the most impressive length, structure, concentration and delineation that I have experienced in 23 years of tasting new Bordeaux vintages. ...the vintage appears to be remarkably consistent throughout all appellations, although the sweetest spots in 2000 are St.-Julien, Pauillac, and the sector straddling the Pomerol/St.-Emilion border."
According to James Suckling from the Wine Spectator, "...the 2000 vintage will certainly be remembered for its excellent quality. And it will always symbolize the new millennium. But this vintage could be more than a symbol. It could be a new beginning for Bordeaux, a global relaunching of what I believe is the greatest wine region in the world. This is Bordeaux's big chance...".

Our offering includes each wine's appellation, the score available to us from either the Wine Spectator (WS) or Robert M. Parker, Jr. (RP), reviews where available, and pricing.

Wines must be purchased by the case (12 bottles) or half-case (6 bottles). 100% Deposit is required. We will notify you if your order cannot be accepted. The wines are due to begin arriving for delivery in the Spring of 2003.


2000 Bordeaux Futures Offering #8
WINE
APPELLATION
SCORE
CASE PRICE
CASE/BTL.
6-PACK PRICE
6-PACK /BTL
Angélus
St.-Emilion
RP 96-98
$2187.01
$182.25
$1122.67
$187.11
The finest Angélus since the 1990 and 1989, in terms of pure classicism and potential longevity, the 2000 may ultimately surpass those two vintages. Unmistakable, this is a vin de garde, a huge, massive, firm extraordinarily well-delineated Angélus with terrific purity and freshness. The color is a saturated port-like purple/black. With airing, the reluctant aromatics reveal scents of licorice, truffles, blackberries, plums, créme de cassis, smoke and incense. The wine is excruciatingly tannic, but also phenomenally concentrated, full-bodied and rich. Paradoxically, it is viscous, yet has good acidity, one of the unusual characteristics of the 2000 vintage. This gives the wine freshness and delineation in spite of surreal levels of extract and richness. This looks to be one of the wines of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035. R.P.
WINE
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Beaumont
Haut-Medoc
WS 89-91
$153.25
$12.77
$78.67
$13.11
This is a beauty. Lovely aromas of berries, currants and cherries follow through to full-bodied palate, with juicy tannins and a long finish. W.S.
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Cantenac
St.-Emilion GC
WS 89-91
$189.61
$15.80
$97.33
$16.22
Bright plum and raspberry character throughout. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins, and a velvety, caressing finish. One to watch. W.S.
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Charmail
Haut-Médoc
RP 88-90
$202.60
$16.88
$104.00
$17.33
A star among the Médoc's cru bourgeois, Charmail's 2000 boasts a black/purple color as well as a sweet, seductive bouquet of licorice, blackberries, and cassis. Pure, medium-bodied, and loaded at the front end with moderate tannin in the finish, this full, concentrated Haut-Médoc will hit its peak in 2-3 years, and evolve nicely for 10-15.
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Clos de Marquis
St.-Julien
RP 88-90
-
-
$178.79
$29.80
The second wine of Léoville-Las-Cases, Clos de Marquis is frequently as good or better than many Médoc classified growths. The 2000 is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by a sweet nose of earthy black cherries and currants intermixed with minerals, spice box and vanilla. There is good underlying acidity, medium to full body, excellent to outstanding concentration and a structured, moderately tannic finish. It will require 3-4 years of cellaring and should age nicely for 15+ years. R.P.
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Clos de Prince
St.-Emilion GC
RP 88-90
$397.40
$33.12
$204.00
$34.00
The 2000 Clos de Prince, my first experience with this St.-Emilion, is stunning. Notes of coffee, blackberries, cassis and cola jump from the glass of this full-bodied, fat, chewy, ripe, dense, highly-extracted effort. With excellent balance, sweet tannin and enough acidity for delineation, it is best consumed during its first 10-15 years of life. It is unquestionably a sleeper of the vintage. R.P.
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Clos Fourtet
St.-Emilion GC
RP 90-92
$706.49
$58.87
$362.67
$60.44
A strong effort from this premier grand cru classé. Clos Fourtet's 2000 exhibits a black/purple color as well as an exotic, flamboyant bouquet of jammy black cherries and blackberries intertwined with licorice, smoke and new oak. Deep, opulent and sexy with low acidity, abundant glycerin and concentrated fruit, it will be hard to resist after bottling. Anticipated maturity: now-2020. R.P.
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Clos St. Julien
St.-Emilion GC
RP 88-89
$318.18
$26.52
$163.33
$27.22
The intriguing blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc reveals a creamy texture, considerable flavor authority, rich, up-front black cherry and toast notes, low acid, high glycerin, and ripe tannin. A sleeper of the vintage, it should drink well for 10-12 years. R.P.
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Corbin
St.-Emilion GC
RP 88-89
$289.61
$24.13
$148.67
$24.78
This sexy, explosively fruity effort may not have as much body and depth as previous Corbins, but it is opulent as well as precocious for a 2000, and flattering to taste. The deep ruby/purple color is followed by an array of black fruits in the up-front aromatics and flavor profile. This user-friendly, delicious, hedonistic St.-Emilion will provide abundant pleasure for a decade or more. R.P.
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Cos d'Estournel
St.-Estephe
WS 95-100
$1111.69
$92.64
$570.67
$95.11
Supercomplex, with Indian spices, violets and crushed berries. Full-bodied, with intense, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Best Cos since 1989-91. W.S.
WINE
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D'Aurilhac
Haut-Medoc

$149.35
$12.45
$76.67
$12.78
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Destieux
St.-Emillion GC
RP 88-90
$376.62
$31.39
$193.33
$32.22
I have known Christian Dauriac for nearly twenty years, and this is the finest Destieux he has yet produced. His new cellars have allowed him to tame some of the rustic tannin this wine often possesses. The 2000 offers a dense opaque purple color as well as a sweet nose of blackberry fruit intermixed with cherry liqueur and cassis. Smoke, earth, and oak are also apparent. In the mouth, the wine is full-bodied and rich, with moderately high manageable tannin, and the structure is not intimidating. This offering requires 3-4 years of cellaring; it should age well for 16-17 years. A sleeper of the vintage, this wine is generally reasonably priced...R.P.
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Ducru-Beaucaillou
St.-Julien
WS 95-100
$1359.74
$113.31
$698.00
$116.33
Super, raspberry character, with violet and minerals. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins. The finish goes on for minutes. Like the Ducru 1995, Wine Spectator's 1998 wine of the year. W.S.
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Duhart-Milon
Pauillac
WS 89-91
$293.21
$24.43
$150.27
$25.05
Very ripe currants--almost raisins--with spice on the nose. Full-bodied and juicy. A bit rustic, but rich. Velvety tannins. W.S.
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Faizeau Vielles Vignes
Montagne-St.-Emilion
WS 89-91
$181.82
$15.15
$93.33
$15.56
Very pretty, with polished tannins and medium body. A good amount of currant and berry character. From the family who makes La Fleur de Gay. Always a wine to watch. W.S.
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Ferrand-Lartigue
St.-Emilion
RP 89-90
$479.22
$39.94
$246.00
$41.00
The 2000 is an elegant, streamlined, more tannic version of Ferrand-Lartigue, which has been fashioning well-made clarets for nearly a decade. The 2000 shows beautiful notes of sweet red cherries intermixed with black currants, earth and copious quantities of toasty new oak. Initially, the wine appears somewhat internationally-styled, but a classic Bordeaux flavor profile emerges, along with finesse as well as abundant quantities of sweet red and black fruit. Moderately tannic, it is best cellared for 2-3 years (atypical for this estate), and drunk over the following 10-12 years. R.P.
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Figeac
St.-Emilion
RP 92-94
$1036.36
$86.36
$532.00
$88.67
Undeniably the finest Figeac since the great 1990, this estate appears finally to be living up to the responsibilities of its splendid terroir. Certainly the 1998, 1999 and 2000 make an impressive trilogy for Figeac. White always a wine of finesse, it can sometimes underwhelm tasters because of a sense of dilution. That is not evident in the gorgeous 2000, which boasts tobacco-tinged black currant fruit intertwined with Asian spices, new oak and earth, fabulous purity, medium to full body, gorgeous freshness and a long, concentrated, classy style. A wine of grace, purity, harmony and complexity, it is a sensational Figeac. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020. R.P.
WINE
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Gazin
Pomerol
RP 89-90+
$761.04
$63.42
$390.67
$65.11
Gazin's 2000 is a sterner, harder style than either the 1999 or 1998. Notes of new oak, saddle leather, plums, black cherries and cassis are noticeable underneath the heavy overlay of wood and structure. This is a muscular, concentrated, powerful wine with fine purity and richness. If everything comes together, it will merit an outstanding score...R.P.
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Gloria
St.-Julien
WS 89-91
$327.27
$27.27
$168.00
$28.00
A pretty, juicy wine, with velvety cherry and toasted oak character. Medium- to full-bodied, with good tannins and a medium to long finish. W.S.
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Haut-Brisson
St.-Emilion
RP 89-90
$255.84
$21.32
$131.33
$21.89
Another sleeper of the vintage, this excellent St.-Emilion estate has fashioned a beautifully pure, medium to full-bodied, opaque purple-colored wine offering a moderately intense bouquet of melted licorice, graphite, blackberries and cassis with a hint of new oak in the background. Deep, chewy, full-bodied and elegant, with vibrant acidity as well as moderate tannin in the long finish, it will be at its finest between 2003-2015. R.P.
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La Couspaude
St.-Emilion GC
RP 90-92
$748.05
$62.34
$384.00
$64.00
There are 3,000 cases of this St.-Emilion micro-cuvée, a blend of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. Dense ruby/purple-colored, with lavish quantities of toasty new oak as well as blueberry, kirsch liqueur and currant scents, this medium to full-bodied 2000 possesses outstanding concentration and noticeable, but sweet tannin. Because of a stronger tannic backbone in addition to slightly elevated acidity, this wine may ultimately turn out to be more classic as well as longer-lived than previous efforts. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2018 . R.P.
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La Dominique
St.-Emilion
RP 88-91
$577.92
$48.16
$296.67
$49.44
This soft, easy to drink 2000 is similar to the 1990, but more diffuse. Dense purple colored, with a candied orange, prune, raisin, blackberry and cherry-scented bouquet revealing noticeable new oak, this medium to full-bodied St.-Emilion possesses a certain over-ripeness as well as excellent purity and a lush finish. If it takes on more delineation and structure, it will merit and outstanding rating. Anticipated maturity: now -2015. R.P.
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La Fleur de Jauge
St.-Emilion
RP 90-91
$305.31
$25.44
$160.29
$26.72
A perennial best value entry, this consistently well-made St.-Emilion still sells for a song. The 2000 appears to be the finest wine yet produced. What is so impressive about La Fleur de Jauge is its purity, symmetry and elegance. A deep purple color is followed by sumptuous aromas of minerals, black cherries, cassis and subtle new oak. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and natural tasting , with a long finish, it will be drinkable upon release and will age nicely for 10-14 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage. R.P.
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La Fleur-Morange
St.-Emilion
RP 88-91+
$989.61
$82.47
$508.00
$84.67
A new discovery, this 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc garage wine, made from a 5-acre parcel of 60-year old vines, has been aged in 100% new oak and subjected to such creative qualitative treatments as extensive crop thinning, micro-bulloage, pigeage, and aging on its lees. The result is an impressive, medium to full-bodied, layered, concentrated, unevolved, grapy wine. There is admirable depth, sweetness, glycerin and concentration to this opaque purple-colored effort. I would not be surprised to see it burst forth over the next 6-12 months. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2020. R.P.
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La Gomerie
St.-Emilion GC
RP 92-94
-
-
$734.17
$122.36
Potentially as superb as the spectacular 1998, this 100% Merlot from a 38-year old, 6.2-acre vineyard will spend 18 months in 100% new oak before being bottled with neither fining nor filtration. The 2000 possesses more structure, tannin and delineation than previous vintage, but there is no shortage of explosive concentration. The opaque purple color is followed by aromas of sweet, creamy black raspberries, kirsch liqueur and blackberries. Full-bodied and dense, with superb concentration, surprisingly vibrant acidity for such a ripe wine, and a long, moderately tannic yet voluptuous finish. It will be accessible upon release and will evolve well for 15-18years. This is Merlot at its most exotic, concentrated, hedonistic and powerful. R.P.
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La Gurgue
Margaux
WS 89-91
$218.18
$18.18
$112.00
$18.67
A lovely, polished 2000, with currant, mineral, and floral character, very fine tannins and a fresh, lively finish. Well done. W.S.
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La Tourette
Pauillac
WS 92-94
$395.45
$32.95
$203.00
$33.83
Plenty of chocolate, spice and berry character. Full-bodied, with rich tannins that build on your palate. It goes on and on. Very well done. W.S.
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Lagrange
St.-Julien
WS 89-91
$403.90
$33.66
$207.33
$34.56
Very perfumed, with licorice and currant character. Full-bodied, with racy tannins and a long, fresh finish. Very fine indeed. A pretty Lagrange. W.S.
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Lanessan
Haut-Medoc
RP 88-90
$205.19
$17.10
$105.33
$17.56
This underrated Médoc consistently produces wines of fifth-growth quality. The sleeper 2000 is tannic yet juicy, structured and intense, with copious quantities of black currant fruit tinged with cedar and damp earth notes. Medium to full-bodied, pure and classic, it will be at its peak between 2006-2016. R.P.
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Larrivet Haut Brion Rouge
Pessac-Leognan
RP 90-92
$401.30
$33.44
$206.00
$34.33
Christine (a dead-ringer for a young Michelle Phillips) and Philippe Gervoson have greatly increased the quality of the wine from this splendidly situated estate in Pessac-Lèognan. Improvements began in 1996 and the estate has hit peaks in both 1998 and 2000, although 1999 and 1997 are also fine wines. The 2000 Larrivet-Haut-Brion, a blend of equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon (Michel Rolland is the consulting oenologist), is an impressive sleeper of the vintage. A dense opaque purple color is followed by aromas of minerals, spices, black cherries and currants. Complex notes of incense and licorice also emerge. On the palate, the wine is opulent, full-bodied and earthy, with sweet tannin, low acidity and superb concentration as well as purity. This is a beauty! Anticipated maturity: 2003-2020. R.P.
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Lascombes
Margaux
RP 90-92
$422.08
$35.17
$216.67
$36.11
This estate was recently sold to an American consortium, which has put Dr. Alian Raynaud (of Quinault l'Enclos and La Fleur de Gay). Yves Vatelot (proprietor of the over-achieving generic Bordeaux, Reignac), and Bruno Le Moine (formerly of Montrose) in charge of the winemaking. It is clearly an estate to watch closely given the immense investment being made in the vineyard and winery, as well as the strict selection process first employed in the 2000 vintage. Only 30% of the crop went into the 2000 Lascombes, and the final blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot has produced the finest Lascombes in over 35 years. Lascombes' 2000, a sleeper of the vintage, exhibits a deep ruby purple color as well as sweet, concentrated, jammy black currant fruit intermixed with dried herbs, earth, cedar and spice. This deep, velvety-textured, charming sexy wine has such low acidity and ripe tannin that it will be hard to resist young. Anticipated maturity: now-2016. R.P.
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Léoville-Las-Cases
St.-Julien
WS 94-96
$1957.78
$163.15
$978.89
$163.15
A sleek, super-concentrated, pure Léoville-Las-Cases has once again been produced. Yields were approximately 47 hectoliters per hectare, and only 35% of the crop was utilized in the grand vin. This wine is dominated by it's high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (76.14% with the balance being 14.40% Cabernet Franc and the rest Merlot). Opaque black/purple-colored, with a reticent but promising bouquet of créme de cassis, blackberry and cherry liqueur, vanilla, minerals and spice box, this medium to full-bodied, rich 2000 explodes on the back of the palate with high tannin as well as zesty acidity. A backward vin de garde, it will require 8 - 10 years of cellaring. Jean-Hubert Delon thinks his 2000 will match the prodigious wines produced in 1996, 1990, 1986 and 1982, although the style is different. R.P.
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Le Plantey
Côtes de Castillon
Duke 90+
$161.22
$13.44
$82.82
$13.80
We personally tasted a barrel sample of this wine at the Duke of Bourbon, and flipped over it! Only 50 cases are available for all of California! Hard to pass up it was so delicious and drinkable. We scored it a 90+.
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Lynsolence
St.-Emilion GC
RP 90-91
$742.86
$61.90
$381.33
$63.56
This St.-Emilion garage wine's 5-acre vineyard is planted with 100% Merlot (the vines average age is 35 years). It sees malolactic in new oak, and benefits from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare. Neighboring Monbousquet and Valandraud share similar sandy, gravelly soils. There are 625 cases of this potentially outstanding 2000. A deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by sweet scents of black cherries, blackberries, vanillin, minerals and a touch of scorched earth. This medium to full-bodied plump, opulently-styled St.-Emilion initially comes across as a fruit-bomb, then settles down to reveal surprising structure, definition and length. With outstanding purity and a long mouthfeel, it will be at its finest between 2003-2015.
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Marjosse
Bordeaux
RP 88-89
$153.25
$12.77
$78.67
$13.11
The manager of Cheval Blanc, Pierre Lurton, owns this estate. Always a reliable value, the 2000 is the finest Marjosse he has yet produced. A blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc, its gorgeous deep ruby/purple color is followed by a perfumed, sweet, smoky bouquet revealing overripe cherries, plums, and currants. Deep, velvety-textured and low in acidity, this plump, hedonistic generic Bordeaux will drink beautifully for 3-4 years. There are nearly 10,000 cases of this superb value and sleeper of the vintage. R.P.
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Monbousquet
St.-Emilion
RP 94-96
$1445.45
$120.45
$742.00
$123.67
Monbousquet, proprietor Gérard Perse's first St.-Emilion acquisition, was known for producing soft, Beaujolais-styled efforts best consumed during their first 7-8 years of life. That all changed beginning in 1994, with Perse fashioning one phenomenal wine after another. Perse feels the 2000 Monbousquet is his finest to date, but it is hard to see how this wine could be better than the 1999, 1998 or 1995. However, there is no question it is loaded. Perse' secret is low yields (under 20 hectoliters per hectare), the oxygenation of the wine's lees, aging on the lees, little racking and no fining or filtering. Less exotic but more powerful, concentrated and classic than previous vintages, the 2000 (7500 cases) is a blend of 70% Merlot, 20 % Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It boasts an opaque purple color reminiscent of dry vintage port. The toasty new oak, so much a controversial component of previous vintages, is better integrated in 2000. The wine is sweet (abundant cherry, black currant, and blackberry notes) and full-bodied, with remarkable delineation, enormous concentration and virtually perfect balance, symmetry and purity. This spectacular wine clearly transcends is terroir. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. R.P
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Moulin St.-Georges
St.-Emilion GC
RP 89-91
$377.92
$31.49
$194.00
$32.33
Readers who can neither afford nor invest the requisite patience in Ausone should seek out the proprietor Alain Vauthier's other estate of note, Moulin St.-Georges (a 17.5 acre vineyard - the same size as Ausone). Made in the style of Ausone, it emphasizes pure, authentic blackberry, black raspberry and currant fruit with a touch of minerals and wood. The 2000 is deep, structured, moderately tannic, and impressive. More backward than previous vintages, it is a high class, elegant offering to drink between 2003-2014.
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Olivier Rouge
Pessac-Leognan
RP 88-89
$268.83
$22.40
$138.00
$23.00
A sexy, lush effort, this deep ruby/purple colored, medium bodied 2000 exhibits plenty of grapy, black currant fruit, smoke, tobacco and spice box aromas. Rich, with excellent purity as well as low acidity and ripe tannin in the finish, it will drink well upon release and over the following decade. It is the finest Olivier in more than 25 years. R.P.
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Palmer
Margaux
RP 92-94+
$1857.14
$154.76
$953.33
$158.89
Palmer has been producing compelling wines over the last three vintages (the 1999 is sensational). Harvested between September 21 and October 7, the 2000 is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot. Forty-five percent of the production made it into the grand vin, with the balance going into their very good second wine, Alter Ego de Palmer. The 2000 Palmer is a massive vin de garde exhibiting abundant amounts of the vintages' high tannin. However, readers should not worry about it turning out like the austere 1975. It possesses a dense purple color, powerful yet ripe, provocative notes of plums, black cherries, coffee and new saddle leather and huge fruit concentration. One of the most backward Palmers I have tasted, it exhibits a sweet mid-palate as well as well-integrated, ripe tannin. The 2000 is a perfect contrast to Palmer's sexy, supple 1999. Potential purchasers will need patience, but it should be one of the longest live Palmers made in the last three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2040. R.P.
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Pavie
St.-Emilion
RP 95-96+
$2670.13
$222.51
$1370.67
$228.44
This wine is behaving more and more like the Lafite-Rothschild of St.-Emilion, at least since 1998. Under the inspired leadership of Gérard Perse (who has invested enormous sums of money in both the vineyard and winery), Pavie has produced prodigious wines in each of the last three vintages. Perse, an outsider to Bordeaux, may not have many friends among other châteaux owners, but consumers should be flocking to support his efforts, not only at Pavie, but at Pavie-Decesse, La Clusière and his home property, Monbousquet. If wine is to be judged by what is in the bottle, Pavie has become a fabulous first-growth quality estate, offering extraordinary elegance married to awesome levels of richness. It is too soon to proclaim that the 2000 is better than the 1999 or 1998, but it is unquestionably a more backward effort with additional structure and tannin. At the same time, the concentration is fabulous. Structured, with an opaque ruby/purple color, Pavie's 2000 exhibits aromas of liquid minerals, black cherry liqueur, cassis and flowers. The wine is full-bodied yet extraordinarily precise, with uncanny elegance, fabulous purity and astonishing length. Although elevated, the tannin is sweet as well as nicely integrated, However, this 2000 will require considerable patience, unlike the more supple, fleshier 1999, or classic 1998. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040. Except for some of Bordeaux's provincial knuckleheads (who resent outsiders), this is widely acclaimed as one of the region's most singular and greatest wines. R.P.
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Pavie-Decesses
St.-Emilion
RP 93-96
$1331.17
$110.93
$683.33
$113.89
Pavie-Decesse has never produced better wines than those fashioned under the helmsmanship of Gérard Perse and his consulting winemaker, oenologist Michel Rolland. Pavie-Decesse has a noble terroir, producing sweeter, more approachable wines than its bigger, more famous sibling, Pavie. Part of this is attributable to the blend. Whereas Pavie is a blend of 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, Pavie-Decesse is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The fabulous 2000 Pavie-Decesse is more approachable than its prestigious sibling. The color is an opaque black/ruby. The nose offers up aromas of melted licorice, incense, smoke and jammy blackberry and cherry fruit. Unctuously-textured, with lower acidity and less structure than Pavie, this super-concentrated offering should be drinkable within 4-5 years, and keep for 20-25. It is a better bet for earlier consumption than the more structured, backward, formidable Pavie. This is a magical elixir that satiates both the hedonistic and intellectual senses. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2025. R.P.
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Pavillon Rouge de Châtaeu Margaux
Margaux
RP 89-90
$542.86
$45.24
$278.67
$46.44
Margaux's second wine, Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux, has improved greatly. The 2000, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, is a supple, delicious, flavorful effort. One of the finest Pavillons made to date, it should merit at least a 90-point score when bottled. R.P.
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Petite Village
Pomerol
RP 90-92
$816.88
$68.07
$419.33
$69.89
A striking bouquet of candied black fruits, allspice, cinnamon and herbs jumps from the glass of this dense purple-colored Pomerol. The intriguing fragrance reveals notes of mincemeat as it sits in the glass, providing an exotic element to this 2000. The wine is rich, ripe and full-bodied, with outstanding purity, concentration and thickness. Drink this in-your-face Pomerol now and over the next 15-16 years. R.P.
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Pontet-Canet
Pauillac
RP 92-95
$712.99
$59.42
$366.00
$61.00
A spectacular effort from Pontet Canet, the 2000 rivals its 1996, 1993 and their stunning 1994. The opaque ruby/purple-colored 2000 offers a gorgeously pure, intense bouquet of blackberry liqueur, cassis smoke and Asian spices. In that respect, it is similar to Mouton-Rothschild. The Pontet Canet displays a firm, classic feel in the mouth, high tannin, medium to full body, exceptional concentration as well as purity and a long finish. Bravo! Anticipated maturity: 2007-2030. R.P.
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Puygueraud
Côtes de Francs
WS 89-91
$134.03
$11.17
$68.69
$11.45
Really fine, with a solid concentration of fruit and silky tannins. Full-bodied, with plenty of berry and cherry character. Tight wine. A special cuvée from a great value estate. W.S.
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Reignac Cuvée Speciale
Bordeaux
RP 90-91
$280.52
$23.38
$144.00
$24.00
Reignac is the reference point for what can be achieved in Bordeaux's less prestigious appellations. Proprietor[s] Stephanie and Yves Vatelot (who [are] now assisting Alain Raynaud in making Lascombes) have turned out their finest wine to date...that's saying something given how good Reignac has been over the last 5-6 years. This awesome, generic Bordeaux boasts a dense purple color as well as a sweet nose of crème de cassis intermixed with mineral, pain grillé and spice box aromas. Amazingly concentrated, rich and full-bodied, with sweet tannin and a long finish, this 2000...believe it or not...is of classified growth quality. If you don't believe me, insert it in a blind tasting against some of the best classified growths and see for yourself. It is a sleeper of the vintage. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2015. R.P.
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Yon Figeac
St.-Emilion GC
RP 89-92
$374.03
$31.17
$192.00
$32.00
One of the most favored sectors in the 2000 vintage included the vineyards between Figeac and Cheval Blanc, as well as those on the Pomerol border (i.e. La Conseillante and L'Evangile). The 2000 Yon-Figeac, the finest effort yet produced by this estate, is a sleeper of the vintage. Moreover, it should be released at a reasonable price. A big wine for this cru, despite some substantial tannin, it offers deep layers of smoky cassis and blackberry fruit. A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, it boasts superb purity, a miltilayered personality, gorgeous aromas and a long, structured, powerful, concentrated finish with admirable purity. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016. This is a very serious wine. The good news is that this is a relatively large vineyard of 62 acres, planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Consequently, availability should be assured. R.P.


2000 Bordeaux Magnum Futures Offering

Brane-Cantenac (Margaux) RP 91-93 SOLD OUT
This is the greatest Brane-Cantenac since 1961. This famous property, which has long underperformed, has been resurrected over recent vintages, particularly since 1998. The dense ruby/purple-colored 2000 offers complex, elegant, floral notes intermixed with black currant, cherry, smoke and earth. Rich and velvety-textured, with a long impressive, seamless finish, this pure, concentrated, mouthfilling Brane-Cantenac is a tribute to the young Henri Lurton, who has done a terrific job in reestablishing this estate to its rightful pedigree. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. R.P.
Carruades de Lafite (Pauillac) WS 92-94 SOLD OUT
Tobacco, with intense violet and berry aromas. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a long, succulent and flavorful finish. Best Carruades since 1995. W.S.
Clerc Milon (Pauillac) RP 90-92+ $85.00/magnum
A massive Pauillac, the 2000 Clerc Milon (a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot) displays zesty acidity, high tannin and impressive levels of extract as well as richness. Its dense plum/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of smoke, coffee, blackberries, barbecue spices and licorice. The attack is sweet, but then the tannin kicks in as does the wine's surprising acidity. Full, powerful and long, it will require patience, atypical for Clerc Milon. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2035. R.P.
Clos de Marquis (St.-Julien) RP 88-90 $65.00/magnum
The second wine of Léoville Las Cases, Clos de Marquis is frequently as good or better than many Médoc classified growths. The 2000 is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its opaque ruby/purple color is followed by a sweet nose of earthy black cherries and currants intermixed with minerals, spice box and vanilla. There is good underlying acidity, medium to full body, excellent to outstanding concentration and a structured, moderately tannic finish. It will require 3-4 years of cellaring and should age nicely for 15+ years. R.P.
Grand Mayne (St.-Emilion) RP 91-93+ $99.50/magnum
It will be interesting to compare Grand Mayne's 2000 with their spectacular 1998. The latter wine may ultimately inch out the 2000 in terms of pure levels of extract and a thick, unctuous style, but the 2000 is nearly its equal, with higher acidity as well as more noticeable tannin. The opaque purple-colored, full-bodied wine reveals sweet mineral-infused, blackberry and cassis aromas and flavors, superb ripeness, fresh lively acidity that provides uplift as well as delineation and a long, chewy, ripe, tannic finish. Although it will not be as approachable young as the 1998, the 2000 should mature gracefully. It may have even greater longevity because of the higher acid profile and more elevated tannin level. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025. R.P.
Lascombes (Margaux) RP 90-92 SOLD OUT
This estate was recently sold to an American consortium, which has put Dr. Alian Raynaud (of Quinault l'Enclos and La Fleur de Gay), Yves Vatelot (proprietor of the over-achieving generic Bordeaux, Reignac), and Bruno Le Moine (formerly of Montrose) in charge of the winemaking. It is clearly an estate to watch closely given the immense investment being made in the vineyard and winery, as well as the strict selection process first employed in the 2000 vintage. Only 30% of the crop went into the 2000 Lascombes, and the final blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot has produced the finest Lascombes in over 35 years. Lascombes' 2000, a sleeper of the vintage, exhibits a deep ruby purple color as well as sweet, concentrated, jammy black currant fruit intermixed with dried herbs, earth, cedar and spice. This deep, velvety-textured, charming sexy wine has such low acidity and ripe tannin that it will be hard to resist young. Anticipated maturity: now-2016. R.P.
Lynch-Bages (Pauillac) RP 94-96 SOLD OUT
A prodigious Lynch-Bages, the finest wine to emerge from this popular château since the 1989 and 1990, the 2000 exhibits a saturated purple color as well as exploding aromatics of new saddle leather, crème de cassis, creosote, truffles and oak. A sweet entry reveals a full-bodied, concentrated, succulent style with tremendous class as well as charm. This mouthfilling, lush, super-concentrated, gorgeously pure Lynch-Bages stains the palate. It will undoubtedly firm up during its barrel aging, or after bottling, but it offers a hedonistic mouthful of massive Pauillac at present. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025. For statisticians, it is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot aged in 70% new French oak. R.P.
Pavillon Rouge de Chateau Margaux (Margaux) RP 89-90 $89.99/magnum
Margaux's second wine, Pavillon Rouge de Château Margaux, has improved greatly. The 2000, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, is a supple, delicious, flavorful effort. One of the finest Pavillons made to date, it should merit at least a 90-point score when bottled. R.P.
Pichon-Baron (Pauillac) RP 94-96 SOLD OUT
The finest effort from this estate since their terrific back-to-back vintages of 1989 and 1990, the perfumed, opaque purple-colored 2000 exhibits classy, complex aromas of incense, black fruits, vanillin and spice box with a touch of charcoal in the background. On the attack, this full-bodied, impeccably balanced wine is powerful and sweet with high levels of glycerin, superb concentration, beautifully integrated acidity and tannin and a spectacularly long, layered finish. It is a profound effort from this second-growth Pauillac. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2030 R.P.
Siran (Margaux) WS 92-94 SOLD OUT
This reliable cru bourgeois has once again turned out a chunky, robust, muscular offering with plenty of spicy new oak, a deep ruby/purple color, notes of licorice, incense, black currants and dried herbs, excellent definition, medium body and moderate tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2018. R.P.




All wines are subject to prior sale. Orders will be confirmed when we receive confirmation from our supplier.

Scores Legend: RP=Robert Parker, Jr.; WS=Wine Spectator

This list will be updated as more wines become available and/or sell out.

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