2000 Cordeillan- Bages

Sadly, there are just under 10,000 bottles made of this wine, which comes from a vineyard adjacent to the luxury hotel/restaurant of the same name. This is probably the best vintage I have ever tasted of Cordeillan Bages. It exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color and notes of tobacco smoke intermixed with creme de cassis, licorice, and incense. The wine is dense, medium to full-bodied, and ripe, with sweet tannin and a long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.

Good bright ruby. Dusty aromas of currant and licorice, with a suggestion of leathery brettanomyces. Then sweet and fresh in the mouth, with nicely delineated flavors of currant, plum and minerals. Finishes with sweet tannins and lingering ripe flavors. Good material here.