2000 Grand Corbin Despagne

Very bright fruit on the nose, with berry and fresh blackberries. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a licorice and spice character. Slightly hollow midpalate now, but should develop nicely. Best after 2005. 8,500 cases made.-James Suckling, Wine Spectator 2003

This has been a property to watch since the late nineties. All of the recent vintages have represented a relatively virile, muscular, tannic style of St.-Emilion. The black/purple-colored 2000 is a sleeper of the vintage. Revealing aromas of plum, wood smoke, iron, blackberries, licorice, underbrush, and cassis, this full-bodied, layered, powerful, muscular St.-Emilion has some tannin to shed, but its finish reveals considerable persistence. It is a strong, virile, broodingly impressive effort. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018. Wine Advocate.April, 2003