2000 Cote Rotie Belle Helene
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Tasting notes
Lighter ruby-hued, the 2000 Côte Rôtie La Belle Hélène is a more medium-bodied, elegant, silky Côte Rôtie offering incredible complexity in its sweet red and black fruits as well as notes of white truffles, menthol, saddle leather, and hints of smoked game. All about elegance and finesse on the palate, it has elevated acidity, which throws off the balance a touch (which is common in these older vintages), good purity of fruit, and outstanding length. It’s not going to get any better yet should easily evolve for another decade.
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Robert Parker
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
The renowned Belle Helene cuvee is fashioned from a northern Cote Rotie hillside vineyard in a sector called Rozier. Aged 30 months in 100% new French oak with little racking, it is bottled without any clarification. Of the single vineyard Cote Roties, this offering comes closest to resembling one of Guigal’s “La-La’s.” The 2000 Cote Rozier Cuvee Belle Helene is a fleshy, sexy, soft, opulently-styled effort possessing more concentration than most of its 2000 peers. More flamboyant and showy than the monumental 1999, the rich, deep ruby/purple-colored, medium-bodied 2000 offers notes of cassis, licorice, pepper, and white flowers. This harmonious, seamless, extraordinary Cote Rotie should provide immense pleasure over the next 10-12 years. Importer: Robert Kacher Selections, Washington, DC; tel. (202) 832-9083
The renowned Belle Helene cuvee is fashioned from a northern Cote Rotie hillside vineyard in a sector called Rozier. Aged 30 months in 100% new French oak with little racking, it is bottled without any clarification. Of the single vineyard Cote Roties, this offering comes closest to resembling one of Guigal’s “La-La’s.” The 2000 Cote Rozier Cuvee Belle Helene is a fleshy, sexy, soft, opulently-styled effort possessing more concentration than most of its 2000 peers. More flamboyant and showy than the monumental 1999, the rich, deep ruby/purple-colored, medium-bodied 2000 offers notes of cassis, licorice, pepper, and white flowers. This harmonious, seamless, extraordinary Cote Rotie should provide immense pleasure over the next 10-12 years. Wine Advocate.June, 2003
(from the estate's Cote Roziers holding of 45-to-50-year-old vines, just above La Landonne) Deep ruby. Very suave, nuanced aromas of black raspberry, currant, leather, game and flowers; this is aging in all new barrels yet comes across as less oaky than the regular cuvee Lush, sweet and harmonious, with superb texture and insidious flavor intensity for the vintage. Finishes with big but sweet tannins.