Dark purple and opaque. Lot of dark fruit and overwhelming cherries. Tannins are extremely sweet while it coats the mid-palate nicely it has an extremely short finish.
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Opened a bottle of this last night. Tight with some cedar on the nose. Tannic and oaky, but had I checked Tanglenet's notes from January of this year, I would have known that. 
Nice mouthfeel was the only redeeming quality I could give it. I enjoyed this wine much more on release. If you have any, hold it and hope there is still some fruit left when the tannins soften.
2000 Château Haut-Bages Libéral - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (4/11/2011)
Opened over the weekend with filet. I don't like where this wine has gone. The tannins have softened considerably and the fruit was also very light and soft. Thought this wine would have taken longer to get to this stage. Notes of porcini mushrooms and berries. Have to try another bottle soon to see if this was an isolated bottle or not. 86 points.
VM
Opened over the weekend with filet. I don't like where this wine has gone. The tannins have softened considerably and the fruit was also very light and soft. Thought this wine would have taken longer to get to this stage. Notes of porcini mushrooms and berries. Have to try another bottle soon to see if this was an isolated bottle or not. 86 points.
VM
As it happens, I also opened one of these over the weekend and was underwhelmed. I think it may improve with time, but the fruit is quite chunky right now. I think i rated it 87P.
Wanted to taste it next to a 2000 Lascombes, but that bottle was corked.
I'm taking it all as a sign to keep my hands of the '00 vintage for a few more years.
Cheers,
Otis
Wanted to taste it next to a 2000 Lascombes, but that bottle was corked.
I'm taking it all as a sign to keep my hands of the '00 vintage for a few more years.
Cheers,
Otis
In this category ( I know one is Margeaux and one Pauillac but they are at a comparable level in my mind), the Prieure Lichine has been showing better than the HBL for the least couple years in my opinion and is a a superior wine
On the whole, the 2000's aren't really there yet. I've tried a bunch of smaller grand crus from Medoc and right bank but haven't found any of them particularly giving (were we all taken for a vintage of the millenium ride? Nah, it's just that the wines are too young to drink...)
Anyway, I tried a 2001 HBL this past weekend which was still very primary - blackcurranty and grapey, some good tannins, herbaceous and earthy. Very good but really needs 2 - 4 more years before tucking in properly.
Anyway, I tried a 2001 HBL this past weekend which was still very primary - blackcurranty and grapey, some good tannins, herbaceous and earthy. Very good but really needs 2 - 4 more years before tucking in properly.
BirD!
The 2001 HBL is a very tidy wine. Quite well-composed. Perhaps even better than the '00.
Cheers,
Otis
The 2001 HBL is a very tidy wine. Quite well-composed. Perhaps even better than the '00.
Cheers,
Otis
quote:Originally posted by BirDungy:
(were we all taken for a vintage of the millenium ride? Nah, it's just that the wines are too young to drink...)
You're not suggesting the Bordelais were being disingenuous, are you? Never. Fine upstanding customer oriented bunch.
2000 Château Haut-Bages Libéral - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (12/4/2013)
Opened a bottle of this last weekend when Eyesintime was in town. Not decanted. 4th time I have had this wine from the case I purchased on release but it has never quite lived up to what I expected when I tasted it on release. Crimson color. An earthy texture. Starting to pick up some secondary notes and depth. Notes of toasted oak, mint, leather and black fruit. Moderate tannins. Feel free to open these if you have any but it should also hold for a while longer and still has some room for improvement. 90 points.
VM
Opened a bottle of this last weekend when Eyesintime was in town. Not decanted. 4th time I have had this wine from the case I purchased on release but it has never quite lived up to what I expected when I tasted it on release. Crimson color. An earthy texture. Starting to pick up some secondary notes and depth. Notes of toasted oak, mint, leather and black fruit. Moderate tannins. Feel free to open these if you have any but it should also hold for a while longer and still has some room for improvement. 90 points.
VM
VM
Thanks for the update, encouraging that this looks likes it's on the up.
I can't help feeling that if the materials were there when tasted very young then, by all accounts and assuming balance and good winemaking, that they should still be there when the wine has reached its peak. The big question is how long that takes and sounds like there may be a year or two to go yet.
Patience to all.
BirD
Thanks for the update, encouraging that this looks likes it's on the up.
I can't help feeling that if the materials were there when tasted very young then, by all accounts and assuming balance and good winemaking, that they should still be there when the wine has reached its peak. The big question is how long that takes and sounds like there may be a year or two to go yet.
Patience to all.
BirD
Seemed to be kind of in-between stages in its evolution. A nice drink now, but I'd hold if I had any as I think it will improve. 90 pts.
quote:Originally posted by eyesintime:
I'd hold if I had any as I think it will improve.
I'm hoping that you and I are correct about this since I have 8 more bottles from the case I bought.
VM
Most of the 2000s I've had -- similar in price range -- I think are just entering their drinking windows. I'd wait another year or two to open the next one. Based on that bottle, the time isn't going to hurt it and I'd be surprised if it didn't improve.
I agree with the comments above, this just isn't quite ready to go just yet. I've been enjoying many of the <$20 2000s the past year or so. I don't have much in the way of classified growths from 2000, but what I do have will rest until 2015+, if not a bit longer.
2000 Château Haut-Bages Libéral - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/29/2013)
Post-holiday dinner w/eyesintime (Anvil Club): A nice mix of red and black fruit aromas with graphite and spice undertones. Medium-bodied and coming along quite nicely, featuring flavors of black currants, earth, spice and herbs. Medium+ finish. (90 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
2000 Château Haut-Bages Libéral - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (11/29/2013)
Post-holiday dinner w/eyesintime (Anvil Club): A nice mix of red and black fruit aromas with graphite and spice undertones. Medium-bodied and coming along quite nicely, featuring flavors of black currants, earth, spice and herbs. Medium+ finish. (90 pts.)
Posted from CellarTracker
I paid $20 per bottle for a case of this 5th growth wine on futures. I think current vintages sell for about $50.
VM
VM
2000 Château Haut-Bages Libéral
Not decanted. Heavy sediment. 9th time I have had this wine. It was a nice earthy wine with softer tannins when first tried. This faded in the glass after about an hour or two. I have 2 more which I should open soon. 89 points.
VM