I recently moved over some older wines from my drink later chiller to my drink now chiller. I generally select any domestic Cabernet Sauvignon that are over 10 years old, and Bordeaux at 20 or more years old. I found four bottles of 2000 Bordeaux that I figured may need to be opened sooner over later, and this was one of those bottles: the 2000 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux grown in Margaux, France.
My first observation was that the cork was easy to remove and very clean with no red veins climbing from the bottom to the top – which would signal a leakage that could destroy the flavor.
Upon opening and initial tasting, I determined that the fruit was fresh and required no decanting. Initial notes are from that first opening:
Color: Dark purple with a very dark brown and wide edge (due to age) and completely opaque.
Aromas: I got whiffs of black cherry liqueur, plum, blackberry, baking chocolate, crushed fall leaves, pipe smoke, tree bark, and dusty earth.
Flavor: Starting with dark berry jam, then blue to black fruit, cracked black pepper, a very rich mouthfeel, and the tannins were super firm and drying for this 26 year old. Tried it again 30 minutes later and the fruit seemed to be reversing in age; it was now fresher and the fruit was brighter.
I left the bottle open and had it again one hour later – since I initially opened it – with tri tip, potatoes, and baked beans. With the food, and the time the bottle had been opened, I thought there was more spice, and that same dry quality. (Of note to me is any wine that changes with food means I’ve got something to think about, ponder on and share in an article. It’s very important to me, and it should be for any wine drinker, to note the changes in the glass upon first pour to the last.)
Conclusion: I found the wine at its turning point. Maybe it had been in our chiller on its own for too long, maybe not. I don’t think I’ll be waiting much longer to try the other 2000s I had pulled.
Average price on this bottle is currently $279 according to Wine Searcher although (I did see the same vintage offered at $249 from Total Wine.) More information can be found on the Wine Searcher website here.
The Pavillion Rouge is the second label for Chateau Margaux. According to their website, “While it shares the elegance and nobility of the Grand Vin, Pavillon Rouge offers a more immediate expression. On the palate, it charms with the purity of its fruit, the finesse of its tannins and a freshness that carries the finish with harmony. Over time, it develops greater complexity, revealing its remarkable ageing potential, which can reach 30-40 years depending on the vintage…Produced since the 17th century, Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux is the estate’s historic second wine and the oldest second wine in the Médoc. It has borne the name Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux since the 1906 vintage.”
Website: https://chateau-margaux.com/en/vins/pavillon-rouge-du-chateau-margaux
Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in the first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Proof Awards since 2022 (submit via https://proofawards.com) Cellarmasters, LA Wine Competition, Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits. Follow on Instagram and Facebook.
