By Julie Carpentier
A vintage to be remembered…
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A combination of ideal weather conditions and improvements in vineyard management and winemaking placed 2000 among the great Bordeaux vintages of all time. Quality was high throughout the region, and the wines of 2000 show remarkable consistency.
The vintage started with a cold, winter (especially January) followed by a mild, warm, March. Then the vineyard suffered a massive outbreak of mildew; one of the worst seen in the Bordeaux wine region in decades. Flowering took place later than usual. June was cold, damp and some (not much) sun. Then, all the right pieces seemed to fall into place during the summer! Starting at the end of July, Bordeaux benefited from two months of perfect, warm, dry, weather that was filled with sunshine, even followed by drought-like conditions during August. September was bone dry and for the first two weeks, sunny and hot. That year, the harvest officially started September 20th. The 2000 Bordeaux harvest was conducted in perfect weather conditions overall. For most estates, the 2000 harvest was over by October 10th.
2000 was much more successful for red Bordeaux wines than it was for either dry, white Bordeaux or the sweet, white Bordeaux wines. For reds, 2000 is a vintage of powerful wines, and although the tannins are the highest on record, they are neither aggressive nor herbal. These wines are a perfectly nice drink at this advanced stage in their life: delightful freshness, gentle tannins and a seriously impressive harmony.
Our “Bordeaux Terroirs” is an unique opportunity to acquire some of these memorable 2000’s and succumb to our selection of some of the best 2000 clarets.
“Bordeaux Terroirs” Wine o’clock
Tuesday 29th of November at 2pm on the dot
