Château Haut-Bergey
Pessac-Léognan Red Bordeaux Blend
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France
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.
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.
One of the better values from the great 2000 vintage...Château Haut-Bergey from #PessacLeognan. Still drinking at its peak and showing its age in the best way. Black currant, cigar box, smoke, violets, and coffee. Lots of floral elements. Medium bodied and lots of finesse. Fine tannic structure. Good minerality on the medium length finish. An interesting wine from Pessac that at times seemed to masquerade as a wine from Margaux. There is enough depth of fruit and tannic structure for this to keep going for at least a few more years.
One of the better values from the great 2000 vintage...Château Haut-Bergey from #PessacLeognan. Still drinking at its peak and showing its age in the best way. Black currant, cigar box, smoke, violets, and coffee. Lots of floral elements. Medium bodied and lots of finesse. Fine tannic structure. Good minerality on the medium length finish. An interesting wine from Pessac that at times seemed to masquerade as a wine from Margaux. There is enough depth of fruit and tannic structure for this to keep going for at least a few more years.
2 people found it helpfulJul 26th, 2016
This was surprisingly great with the pernil. Don't think the winemaker intended to be paired with Cuban pork but it went so well together.
This was surprisingly great with the pernil. Don't think the winemaker intended to be paired with Cuban pork but it went so well together.
1 person found it helpfulDec 25th, 2015Big departure from the first two Bordeauxs but nice in its own right. Al lot more fruit in the nose and palate.
Big departure from the first two Bordeauxs but nice in its own right. Al lot more fruit in the nose and palate.
1 person found it helpfulNov 29th, 2015
Drinking at its peak. Lots of tobacco with some mineral favors. A good value but not a wow wine. Enjoy with beef.
Drinking at its peak. Lots of tobacco with some mineral favors. A good value but not a wow wine. Enjoy with beef.
Jun 21st, 2017
I suspect this wine had the best night of it's life. Excellent balance and structurally sound. Well integrated tannins mixed with black fruit and only a touch of oak.
I suspect this wine had the best night of it's life. Excellent balance and structurally sound. Well integrated tannins mixed with black fruit and only a touch of oak.
Mar 11th, 2017Thick, round, ripe, juicy; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, cherries, hint of blue fruit, rich, warm, moist, black earth, wet stone, soft leather, black tea, black roast coffee, dark fresh florals, limestone, high acidity and long, ripe, fruit finish. Good but missing slightly on the mid palate.
Thick, round, ripe, juicy; blackberries, dark cherries, plum, cherries, hint of blue fruit, rich, warm, moist, black earth, wet stone, soft leather, black tea, black roast coffee, dark fresh florals, limestone, high acidity and long, ripe, fruit finish. Good but missing slightly on the mid palate.
Jan 21st, 2017Dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, menthol, eucalyptus, a little green pepper, pronounced dark earthiness, tobacco, dry stone, nice acid, very resolved tannins, smooth and elegant but the finish falls short.
Dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, menthol, eucalyptus, a little green pepper, pronounced dark earthiness, tobacco, dry stone, nice acid, very resolved tannins, smooth and elegant but the finish falls short.
Dec 4th, 2016
Toast ;(
No fruit left to give
Toast ;(
No fruit left to give