Château Laville Haut Brion, Pessac Léognan, 2000

Pale green-tinged color. Low-toned aromas of grilled nuts, oatmeal and honey; less fruity than the 2001. Fat and broad; in a rather dumb stage today, and showing more earth and nut tones than the brisk citrus fruit and floral aromas it displayed from barrel. This wine is often difficult to taste in the year following bottling, so I wouldn't be at all surprised if it merited a 90+ rating several years hence. The '99 Laville, retasted next to this '00, was both richer and brighter than the bottle I tasted last spring, and rated a solid 92. But it's hard to believe that the 2000 will turn out as well.