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Best Wines of 2000: Which Wines to Buy in 2000?
The 2000 vintage is considered an exceptional vintage in many wine regions, notably in Bordeaux, Burgundy, California, and Rhône. The climatic conditions of the year allowed for quality harvests, with good grape maturity. The wines of 2000 are characterized by great concentration, beautiful structure, and excellent aging potential, especially for the Grands Crus.
Bordeaux 2000: A Classic Vintage with Great Longevity
The 2000 vintage in Bordeaux is often compared to great classic years like 1982 or 1990. The conditions of the year allowed for ideal grape maturation, offering rich and concentrated wines, but also balanced, with beautiful acidity and a well-present tannic structure. This vintage is exceptional for the Grands Châteaux, which produce wines that will improve over time.
Best Wines:
- Château Margaux (Médoc): A wine of great elegance, with aromas of black fruits, cedar, and violet, and a silky tannic structure.
- Château Lafite Rothschild (Pauillac): A complex wine, with notes of black fruits, cedar, graphite, and tobacco.
- Château Latour (Pauillac): A powerful wine, with aromas of black fruits, leather, and licorice, and an impressive tannic structure.
- Château Cheval Blanc (Saint-Émilion): A complex and rich wine, with aromas of red fruits, violet, and undergrowth.
To Buy: The Grands Châteaux of Bordeaux, such as Château Margaux, Château Lafite Rothschild, and Château Latour, for their great aging capacity and development potential over the years.
Burgundy 2000: A Vintage of Great Quality, With Expression
In Burgundy, the 2000 vintage produced rich and concentrated wines, notably the Pinot Noirs from the Côte de Nuits and the Chardonnays from the Côte de Beaune. The conditions of the year allowed for good grape maturity, creating high-quality wines, balanced, with beautiful aromatic complexity. The best producers have produced wines that stand out for their finesse and depth.
Best Wines:
- Domaine de la Romanée-Conti (Côte de Nuits): A complex and refined wine, with aromas of black fruits, flowers, and undergrowth, and a silky texture.
- Domaine Leflaive (Puligny-Montrachet): A Chardonnay of great richness, with notes of yellow fruits, hazelnut, and fresh butter.
- Domaine Armand Rousseau (Gevrey-Chambertin): An elegant Pinot Noir, with aromas of black cherry, licorice, and undergrowth.
- Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé (Musigny): A refined and complex wine, with aromas of red fruits, rose, and undergrowth.
To Buy: The Pinot Noirs from Côte de Nuits and the Chardonnays from Puligny-Montrachet and Chablis for their complexity and aging potential.
Rhône Valley 2000: A Powerful and Very Aromatic Vintage
The 2000 vintage in Rhône Valley is one of the best of the decade, with rich, powerful, and very aromatic wines. The Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage are particularly successful, offering concentrated wines with beautiful freshness. The climatic conditions allowed for beautiful grape maturation, giving structured wines, with aromas of black fruits, spices, and garrigue.
Best Wines:
- Château de Beaucastel (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): A powerful and complex wine, with aromas of black fruits, garrigue, leather, and licorice.
- Guigal (Côte-Rôtie): An elegant and structured wine, with notes of black fruits, violet, pepper, and chocolate.
- Domaine Jean-Louis Chave (Hermitage): A dense and powerful wine, with aromas of black fruits, chocolate, leather, and licorice.
- Domaine du Pegau (Châteauneuf-du-Pape): A concentrated wine, with aromas of ripe fruits, tobacco, spices, and a beautiful tannic structure.
To Buy: The Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Hermitage for their richness, complexity, and aging potential.
Piedmont (Italy) 2000: An Exceptional Vintage for Nebbiolos
The 2000 vintage in Piedmont was exceptional for the Barolos and Barbarescos. The wines are powerful, concentrated, but also elegant, with beautiful freshness and great complexity. The best producers managed to produce wines of great finesse, with aromas of red fruits, rose, leather, and spices, accompanied by a well-integrated tannic structure.
Best Wines:
- Gaja (Barbaresco): A refined and elegant wine, with aromas of red fruits, rose, and tobacco.
- Vietti (Barolo): A powerful wine, with notes of black cherry, licorice, leather, and chocolate.
- Pio Cesare (Barbaresco): A complex wine, with aromas of red fruits, violet, leather, and licorice.
- Bruno Giacosa (Barbaresco): An elegant wine, with notes of red fruits, earth, and licorice.
To Buy: The Barolos and Barbarescos for their complexity, finesse, and aging capacity.
California 2000: A Powerful and Complex Vintage
The 2000 vintage in California was warm, but the grape maturation went well thanks to favorable climatic conditions. The Cabernets Sauvignon from Napa Valley are particularly successful, with rich and powerful wines, but also elegant and complex. The Pinots Noirs and Chardonnays are also remarkable, offering beautiful freshness and complex aromas.
Best Wines:
- Opus One (Napa Valley): A wine of great richness and complexity, with aromas of black fruits, cedar, chocolate, and tobacco.
- Robert Mondavi (Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon): An elegant wine, with notes of blackcurrant, pepper, and cedar.
- Harlan Estate (Napa Valley): A powerful and structured wine, with aromas of black fruits, tobacco, and spices.
- Kistler (Sonoma Coast Chardonnay): A Chardonnay of great elegance, with aromas of yellow fruits, hazelnut, and brioche.
To Buy: The Cabernets Sauvignon from Napa Valley and Sonoma Coast for their richness and aging potential.
Champagne 2000: An Exceptional, Very Complex Vintage
The 2000 vintage in Champagne is considered an exceptional vintage, with rich, complex, and very balanced wines. The vintage Champagnes of 2000 are characterized by aromas of ripe fruits, brioche, hazelnut, and flowers. These champagnes are ready to be enjoyed, but they will continue to improve over time.
Best Wines:
- Dom Pérignon (Vintage Champagne): A Champagne of great elegance, with aromas of fresh fruits, brioche, and flowers, and beautiful minerality.
- Krug (Vintage Champagne): A rich and complex Champagne, with aromas of ripe fruits, brioche, hazelnut, and beautiful freshness
