2000 Château Tertre Roteboeuf

Just about pure perfection, the 2000 Château Tertre Roteboeuf is showing gorgeously today, with a youthful ruby hue as well as spectacular notes of red and black fruits, white truffle, spice box, and exotic flowers. It's full-bodied and concentrated, yet it stays light on its feet and has silky tannins, an incredible sense of opulence, and awesome length. This is Saint-Emilion magic all the way. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15-20 years.

The 2000 Tertre-Rôteboeuf is instantly captivating on the nose of gushing red cherries, crushed overripe strawberry, orange pith and violet scents, very Burgundy-like in terms of purity and very well defined. The palate is harmonious, sensual, silky-smooth and kept on an even keel by its fine acidity. Notes of allspice, black pepper and clove emerge. If I were to quibble, maybe it does not quite deliver the complexity you might anticipate on the finish, yet texturally this is an irresistible Saint-Émilion with grace and poise. (NM)

A bit of bottle deposit. Still very deep crimson. Sweet and spicy with a sandalwood note. Still quite a bit of tannin but masses of sweet richness on the palate. Long and fresh. No hint of oak (JR)