2000 Pichon-Lalande, Pauillac

SKU #1005561 96 points James Suckling

I love the nose of cedar and fruit, with hints of sweet tobacco and plums. Full and round, with pretty dense fruit and a long, silky finish. Complex and beautiful. You could drink it now, but I would still wait. This continues to evolve in the glass, showing notes of porcini. This could be the new 1982. (4/2012)

96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

I find this to be a spectacular Pichon Lalande. Dense purple in color, with loads of coffee, mocha, creme de cassis, and chocolate notes, this is a somewhat unusual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and a whooping 10% Petit Verdot, with a little bit of Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot certainly gives the wine more of a tapenade, floral note, which I think can be interpreted by some as herbal. (RP) (6/2010)

96 points Wine Enthusiast

Madame de Lencquesaing's estate has produced a stunner in 2000. The perfumes, delicate and sensuous, give it class, style and make it very memorable. It is delicious now, but there are tannins there, and deep, intense fruit flavors, waiting to develop slowly and surely. (RV) (6/2003)

95 points Wine Spectator

This has pronounced bay and cassis bush aromas that impart lots of peppery and herbaceous lift, but this is hardly on the lean side as there's a well of gorgeously pure currant and blackberry fruit notes at the core. The finish is sleek and glistening as an iron note takes over. Drink now through 2028. (JM, Web Only-2016)

94 points Vinous

Good full medium ruby. Rather wild aromas of plum, black raspberry, lead pencil, tobacco, minerals and roasted game. Sweet, thick and complex, with very ripe, mellow flavors of black raspberry, truffle, roasted herbs, espresso and tobacco. Will rely more on its firm tannins than its rather soft, harmonious acids for longevity. This very persistent wine may be starting to shut down in the bottle, but it displays the lovely penetrating sweetness of the year. (ST) (5/2003)

92 points Wine & Spirits

No tasting note provided. (12/2003)

Decanter

Fine, youthful fragrance, lots of crushed black fruits. Lots of purity and ripeness, almost succulent fruit, then classic, firm tannins, great length, class and balance. Drink from 2010. (JR) 18/20 points (11/2010)