moderately priced 2000 Bordeaux for cellar

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Congratulations!

My guess is that WS originally posted a barrel sample score, with a range (89-91). It probably came in at 89, and they left the high end of the orginal range (which is already a little dishonest).

Prices are a bit high, at least compared to what I paid in NY on release.

2 notes on 2000 Chateau Tronquoy-Lalande (St. Estephe) showed quite nicely for a $14 bdx. Nice balance of fruit, tannins, and acid, thick cassis and black cherry fruit. Needs time. Showed better late Th night (Fri AM) as I had a glass as I came in from another work obligation. B+ //The Bordeaux had a surprising amount of structure for a $14 wine. Nice nose of black fruit and flowers, some apparent but very ripe tannins, dense black cherry and plum fruit. Really quite nice, showing better at the end of the meal. Putting other bottles to bed for a while. B+

Don't have a note on the La Louviere on this computer, but I really liked it. Classically structured Pessac, mineral/graphite over a medium bodied wine, could use some time. Not a wine to age 25 years, but should be nice in 8-10. Another wine that could use a little time is the 2000 Lanessan, currently on sale at Zachys at $15 or so.

Other 2000s I've liked a lot under $40 and which could use some cellaring include du Tertre ($25), Dauzac ($32), Clos Rene ($25), La Fleur du Bouard ($20, a more modern style).

You might try Zachys, Sparrow Wine, Astor, Calvert-Woodley, Gary's, Wine Library, Rochambeau. And as you're going to cellar and are in no hurry, some West Coast retailers like K & L, Wine Exchange, Premier Cru might be worth looking at. You can wait till April and have shipped ground - shipping charges will probably be same or less as what you might pay in sales tax buying locally depending on state.

Good luck! Dale

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Wine Spectator has not given Ch. Beaumont a 91 point score that I can find. It may have been a barrel tasting score, however there are no barrel tasting scores for Ch. Beaumont on the website so my guess is that this was a bit of trickiery. I would ask the retailer whether they put the scores out, or whether the distributor puts the scores out. In Alabama, the distributors typically will put shelf talkers on their wines and there have been cases of some getting put up with mis-leading information (normally a different vintage, or a limited production misplacement). If the merchant says they put them out, then I would find another merchant. If they say the distributor, then I would point this out to them.

2000 is being hailed as probably the best vintage ever in Bordeaux, and there are a lot of great wines under $40 for this vintage. A few that I have bought quantities of include: La Fleur de Bouard, Prieure-Lichine (about $42 in Alabama), Rauzan-Segla, and Larrivet-Haut-Brion (about $45).

Beycheville has always been outstanding. Haven't had the 2000, but every other vintage I've ever tried has been great.

Dale, I surfed wine-searcher on Steve's recommendation, and

All, thanks for your help. I have a case of Admiral Beycheville waiting or me, and I'm looking for the right Fronsac to have shipped. Dale, I surfed wine-searcher on Steve's recommendation, and I would give my front teeth for some of the prices that you posted. I'm guessing that you got them on futures?

I've been reading a lot of posts, and saw some interesting ones on Argentinian Malbecs. Are there still good values in these wines? Also, which vintages are good for Argentina, and, for that matter, Chile, Australia, and South Africa? I have not found much information on "good" years for other that France and California. Thanks again for all of your help!

Andy

The prices on the Tronquoy Lalande and du Tertre were futures. The others were mostly on release at Rochambeau, but most have sold out (I think they got later-tranche offerings of a few, so Dauzac is about $35 now). Good Fronsac choices might include Les Trois Croix, Fontenil, de Carles, La Vieille Cure.

Those aren't the areas I know the best, others may know more. I do have an impression that 1999 was particularly successful in both Chile and Argentina. Australia is a huge place, and Barossa weather may not be the same as Hunter Valley or whatever. As a VERY rough idea, the best recent Oz vintages seem to be 2001, 1998, & 1996 (I guess Parker says 2002 also).

Dale

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