The 2000 Bahans Haut-Brion is fully mature, but I had indicated that back in 2003, giving it an anticipated maturity date of 2005-2016. Its smoky, soft berry fruit and notes of fresh porcini mushrooms intermixed with cigar tobacco and black currants are complex. This complexity is followed by a fleshy, elegant, silky wine to drink over the next 5-6 years. Haut-Brion can be among the trickiest Bordeaux to taste young, often needing a full decade before the extraordinary complexity that marks this terroir begins to emerge. I was thrilled to see how well both the second wine, Bahans Haut-Brion, and Haut-Brion performed in this tasting, and both scores are slight upgrades.

Berry, tobacco and coffee aromas. Medium- to full-bodied, with lots of flavor and a silky and luscious finish. A tasty second wine. Best after 2007. -JS