Pichon-Longueville Lalande Pauillac 2000

97 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot, 6% Cabernet Franc). A knockout wine that competed for the bottle of the tasting. At 24 years old the tannins still place you firmly in Pauillac, as do the lush cassis and grilled blueberry fruits, and the layers of liqourice root, cigar, campfire, and sandalwood. 50% new oak. Harvest September 21 to October 9. Owned in 2000 by May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, who had been in place since 1978 and remains at 98 years old one of the great figures of Bordeaux. Thomas Doh Chi Nam was technical director, as he was from 1992 through to 2011. It's been three years since I last tasted this vintage, and it's even better than it was then, really a wine to celebrate. Alcohol 13%. Drink: 2024-2035. (3/8/24)"

96 points Robert Parker: "Sitting next to my former colleague, Pierre Antoine Rovani, at one of the tastings, he commented that he didn’t like the striking green note in the aromatics of this wine, which I didn’t detect at all, and a subsequent bottle at another tasting did not reveal it either. I do think there is a hint of bay leaf and a meatiness to it. In short, I find this to be a spectacular Pichon Lalande. Dense purple in color, with loads of coffee, mocha, creme de cassis, and chocolate notes, this is a somewhat unusual blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and a whooping 10% Petit Verdot, with a little bit of Cabernet Franc. The Petit Verdot certainly gives the wine more of a tapenade, floral note, which I think can be interpreted by some as herbal. This is a rich, opulent, stunning Pichon Lalande that is beginning to drink beautifully, yet should continue to improve for at least another 10-15 years and last 30 or more years. Drink: 2020-2050. (Jun 2010)"

96 points Wine Enthusiast: "Madame de Lencquesaing's estate has produced a stunner in 2000. The perfumes, delicate and sensuous, give it class, style and make it very memorable. It is delicious now, but there are tannins there, and deep, intense fruit flavors, waiting to develop slowly and surely. (Jun 2003)"

96 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2000 Pichon Lalande is deep garnet-brick in color. It rolls out of the glass with easy-breezy scents of potpourri, dried cherries, fruit cake, and star anise, with wafts of sandalwood and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate is in a sweet-spot with loads of intermingled dried berries, floral, and exotic spice notes framed by soft, powdery tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Alcohol 13%. Drink: 2022-2040. (11/17/22)"

96 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "Of all the 2000s tasted in the line-up, this was the one that was most evolved, with melted tannins and exotic saffron spice notes. It’s a beautiful wine, very classic Pauillac, full of tertiary hints of truffle, soft menthol and undergrowth - signatures of an older Bordeaux wine that is wonderful to drink now. It’s probably the most perfect of the five for cracking open over the next few years but may not have the staying power of the others. Interesting to note how much higher the pH is here (3.85) than Leoville (3.5) considering it’s practically next door. 10% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Harvest 21 September 21 to 9 October. Drinking Window: 2019-2038. (10/16/19)"

96 points (18/20) La Revue du Vin de France (Jan 2006).

95 points Wine Spectator: "Classic character. Intense aromas of currant and minerals follow through to full-bodied palate, with loads of velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Some people find this herbaceous, but it reminds me of a currant bush more than something green. This character is due to a higher percent of Petit Verdot than normal. Muscular Pichon. Best after 2010. (3/31/03)"

95 points Falstaff Guide (11/21/14).

95 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Splash decanted, it took only 20 minutes before all the gorgeous, black currants, chocolate mint, cigar wrapper, tobacco, spice box and cassis to shine through on the nose and palate. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, some tannin remains. The wine finishes with spice, fruit, olives, pepper and herbs. Drink now or wait a decade. (Aug 2021)"

94 points Stephen Tanzer (International Wine Cellar): "Good full medium ruby. Rather wild aromas of plum, black raspberry, lead pencil, tobacco, minerals and roasted game. Sweet, thick and complex, with very ripe, mellow flavors of black raspberry, truffle, roasted herbs, espresso and tobacco. Will rely more on its firm tannins than its rather soft, harmonious acids for longevity. This very persistent wine may be starting to shut down in the bottle, but it displays the lovely penetrating sweetness of the year. (May 2003)"