The 2000 Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarrosse was tasted from two bottles directly from the cellar. The first was oddly vegetal, but the second chimed with previous encounters. Sensual red cherries, raspberry preserve, rose petal and hints of black truffle feature on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with mint-tinged red berry fruit, displaying fine depth and focus and fanning out gently on the white pepper and orange peel finish. This is worth seeking out. Sept 2021

I often lament the fact that only the 1990 and 2009 are wines that fully showcase this extraordinary terroir. However, the 2000 is no “Ugly Betty,” so to speak. It showed extremely well in the tastings, with the tell-tale notes of flowers, crushed rock, blueberry and camphor well-displayed. Full-bodied, rich, long, and just beginning to shed its cloak of tannin, this is quite an impressively endowed Beausejour-Duffau that can be drunk in 1-2 years or cellared for another 25 or more.

Beautiful and sweet. A joy to taste. Lovely berry, floral and hints of vanilla on the nose and palate. Medium- to full-bodied, with fine tannins and a caressing, delicious finish. Best after 2010. 1,665 cases made. (James Suckling)

Bright red-ruby. Extravagantly ripe nose combines redcurrant, coffee bean, five-spice powder, stewed tomato and exotic oak scents; slight resiny whiff of surmaturite Then silky and bright in the mouth, with plump, dense red berry flavors framed by healthy acidity. Finishes long and broad, with chewy, ripe tannins. This has been nicely opened up by its elevage

On the red fruit side with herbs, licorice, truffle and leafy aromatics, the wine is fully developed. Medium bodied, soft, fresh and with a dusty, red fruit and olive palate presence, this is easy to drink today. However, it is not a wine to hold. Enjoy it over the next 4-5 years. Tasted March 2019