Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 29/06/2010 Made in an over-the-top style that seems to get more classic as the wine ages, this special cuvee from the Fombrauge vineyard (made by Michel Rolland for Bernard Magrez) reveals a dense plum/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of camphor, creosote, blackberries, blueberries, espresso roast, graphite, and toasty oak, and a phenomenally layered, full-bodied, rich mouthfeel. I thought this 2000 would be close to full maturity by 2006, but it remains surprisingly youthful. It should drink well for 20-25 more years. Bravo! This is sheer nectar of the vine from proprietor Bernard Magrez's Chateau Fombrauge. One of the vintage's superstars, this prodigious effort continues to put on weight and richness. From the bottle, it may be even more impressive than it was from cask. An unctuously-textured blockbuster, with a wealth of fruit, and a sumptuous bouquet of spring flowers, espresso, blackberry liqueur, minerals, and toasty oak, it is full-bodied and seamless with extraordinary intensity, purity, and symmetry. It is rare to find a wine this fat and concentrated, particularly from Bordeaux. As it sat in the glass, an intense note of graphite emerged, but the oak (it was aged and went through malolactic in 100% new oak) has nearly disappeared! Where did it go? Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020.

Made in an over-the-top style that seems to get more classic as the wine ages, this special cuvee from the Fombrauge vineyard (made by Michel Rolland for Bernard Magrez) reveals a dense plum/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of camphor, creosote, blackberries, blueberries, espresso roast, graphite, and toasty oak, and a phenomenally layered, full-bodied, rich mouthfeel. I thought this 2000 would be close to full maturity by 2006, but it remains surprisingly youthful. It should drink well for 20-25 more years. Bravo!

Saturated ruby. Musky aromas of black raspberry, violet, game and burning tobacco. Intensely flavored, firmly structured and tightly wound, but seems a bit dried by the extraction. Seems rather tough today and not showing its personality. But undeniably concentrated. Finishes with somewhat gritty tannins.