Château Tertre Roteboeuf 2000

(bottled in August of 2002) Bright ruby-red. A cocktail of roasted berries and cherry on the nose, with superripe notes of espresso, truffle and spices. Sweet, dense and very deep, with voluptuous flavors of red berries, black cherry, chocolate, meat and spices. Pliant and extremely generous wine with lovely fruit. Finishes with huge, ripe, mouthcoating tannins and intriguing notes of minerals and torrefaction.

This is drinking perfectly today. Splash decanted, from the get-go, it was easy to spot the flowers, black raspberries, herbs, spice, mint, and tobacco in the perfume. The concentrated, lush palate delivered waves of spicy black cherries, raspberries, herbs, and espresso that lingered with lift and energy on the finish. Drink from 2024–2035.

Just about pure perfection, the 2000 Château Tertre Roteboeuf is showing gorgeously today, with a youthful ruby hue as well as spectacular notes of red and black fruits, white truffle, spice box, and exotic flowers. It's full-bodied and concentrated, yet it stays light on its feet and has silky tannins, an incredible sense of opulence, and awesome length. This is Saint-Emilion magic all the way. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15-20 years.

Very dark garnet. As with any barrel sample, a plummy Merlot note, plenty of licorice, and a warm touch of terroir spice. Long, well-balanced palate with gingerbread tones, Irish moss, rich yet beautifully elegant, elongated body, a peppery note lending verve, delicate sweet vanilla pod note, malt, black currant, lots of ripe cassis, dark chocolate tones, chopped figs, toasted sesame, and a lavish aromatic profile in a powerful finish.

01: Very dark garnet. As always already from the barrel, a plummy Merlot “drug” with plenty of licorice and warm terroir spice. Long, well-balanced body; gingerbread touch, Irish moss, rich yet beautifully elegant, elongated body, a pepper note lending breed, delicately sweet vanilla pods, malt, black currant, lots of ripe cassis, black chocolate note, chopped figs, toasted sesame, lavish aromatics in a powerful finish. 07: Here I sit. At the kitchen table at Tertre-Rôteboeuf with Miloute and François Mitjaville. We’ve tasted a lot, and also drunk a lot. It’s 2:00 p.m., and as the last wine this absolutely brilliant 2000 arrives on the table. You smell it and understand what it means to be alone among the best. This wine cannot be compared. It’s a loner that tastes only the way a great Tertre-Rôteboeuf can. An orgy of red fruits, exotic woods, cardamom, musk, dried dates, dense, heavy and yet light; you sip and the aromas explode into a perfume reminiscent of Moroccan souks. An unforgettable moment, calming, emotional — right in the middle of the hectic en primeur season.

Sweet, velvety, complex bouquet of raisins, dried fruit, cinnamon, vanilla bean, damson plums, cherry compote. Velvety, creamy, opulent, sweet palate with concentrated sweet aromas, a creamy, generous structure, fine tannins, and a very long, dense, full finish. 19/20 drink - 2040

Delicately fruity and floral, playing with great subtlety on a very gentle oxidation, this is a wine without aggression yet devilishly artistic, extraordinarily refined.

Open nose with truffle, herbs, a hint of dark tobacco, liquorice, and a touch of leather; behind that, ripe fruit and tobacco. On the palate it’s elegant, finely drawn and taut; the fruit is perfectly ripe, the acidity brings lift, the whole is elegant and balanced, with impressive length and a peppery, spicy finish.

My all-time favorite vintage of Tertre-Roteboeuf, the 2000 should age much more consistently than the rather irregular 1990 or the top-notch 1989. The 2005 should give it a run for its money down the road, but at present, this wine is performing fabulously well. It boasts a dense ruby/purple color along with notes of kirsch liqueur and licorice. This St.-Emilion could pass for a great Chateauneuf du Pape or top-notch Musigny, although it has more power and depth than a burgundy, and none of the peppery/garrigue characteristics of a Rhone. Nevertheless, there is a sweet character from the high glycerin level as I suspect the alcohol content exceeds 14%. Velvety textured and full-bodied, but surprisingly youthful, this stunningly rich wine can be drunk now, but promises to last another two decades.