Château Haut-Bergey

Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend 2000

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I need to start w/ a little preamble.

For me, Pessac-Leognan was a late comer Bordeaux region. The last one I gravitated to in my 26 yr Bordeaux experience.

Nearly all the previous 2000 Bordeaux’s I’ve had up to this point needed a lot more cellaring. Mostly 1st & 2nd Growths, some 3rd. This 2000 started lean…lacking depth & a bigger tannin profile. But that is not entirely uncharacteristic for older Pessac’s. It seemed slightly more late in its drinking window. It picked up weight in the decanter at 2 1/2 hours and then showed more weight & depth w/ my Ribcap.

This started elegant w/ soft Bordeaux characteristics. Beauty & elegance as I understand it in Bordeaux’s from this region and this kind of age. But lacked 2000 earthiness & depth. For me, this is a 3rd tier Pessac producer, my terminology. Not up there with Haut Bailly or Pape Clement and of course Haut Brion.

2000’s up to this point have shown great depth & deep characteristics. Most needing longer than anticipated aging.

This was beautiful, elegant but lean based on previous definitions. Early on it seemly felt like it was a drink up in the next 3 yrs w/o the steak. With a longish decant & steak, more 7-10 yrs.

The nose shows muddled to slightly stewy; dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, some mushroom notes, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles-top soils with dark, red, withering flowers.

The palate shows beautiful elegance with nothing that bites back. Perfectly resolved velvety tannins. Ripe, juicy, somewhat ruby fruits. Yet, have slightly stewy characteristics. Dark currants, blackberries, black cherries, both plums to pudding, poached strawberries, black raspberries and haunting blueberries, red cola, dark chocolate, softly layered & even baking spices; clove, nutmeg, cinnamon & vanillin, mid, dark, Asian spices, dry herbs, dry leather-tobacco, softened, nearly sweet graphite, moist clay, hints of pepper, rich, darkish soils with dry leaves, charcoal, volcanic ash, steeped tea, limestone/sandstone, dry twig, dry pebbles, dry top soils with dark, red, withering flowers, near perfect acidity, well balanced w/ softened structure/tension, great length and an elegant finish that goes on and on and long sets on spice & clay.

Almost new cork and little to no sediment.

92-93 with a long decant & a rich, fatty steak-Ribcap. First taste after pouring into the decanter, 90.

Photos of; Haut-Bergey, Paul Garcin-Managing Director and Francois Prouteau-Cellar Master. — 2 days ago

Scott@Mister, Roni and 8 others liked this

Château Fayat

Pomerol Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2019 vintage. A relatively new estate, composed by buying 3 estates(Vieux Bourgneuf, Prieurs de la Commanderie, and Commanderie de Mazeyres), and renamed after the owner Clement Fayat (who also owns La Dominique and Clement Pichon). Looks a bit older than expected. Very floral nose. Medium-bodied, with red fruit, fresh acidity, slightly rustic tannin, and good length. Gets better with air. Very cheap for Pomerol in a local supermarket ( 29,90 euro),a nice bottle of wine, but nothing really special for Pomerol. — 2 years ago

Tom, Eric and 1 other liked this

St. Clement Vineyards

Oroppas Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Vinod Peris

9.0

Lovely wine. Nice and clean notes of peppermint and cherry. Dry with a nice smooth finish. — 3 months ago

Rolf Binder/Veritas

Clement 1309 Mourvedre Blend

Yury Glazkov

9.3

Nice characteristically Châteauneuf blend, only a bit lighter 13.5%, easier in the palette, and very nicely smoothed in time 1998 drank in 2025 — a year ago