2000 Chateau Chauvin Saint Emilion Grand Cru

This is a very intriguing wine. Chateau Chauvin is located very close to Chateau Cheval Blanc and aside from the typical Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines associated to the St-Emilion terroir, it has a small percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. Even the label resembles somehow the one of Cheval Blanc.

2000 Chateau Chauvin St Emilion

The wine was rather charmless in the first few hours upon opening. The color is dark red-garnet with no signs of evolution. The nose is well developed and initially shows aromas of light red fruit, but vey spicy, smoky, mixing hot stones with graphite and some green bell pepper. However, after 3-4 hours this is a totally changed wine and it becomes very interesting: it gets a deep, rich floral character, losing the fruity aromas: it is the first wine I taste that feels like someone stuffed a bouquet of fresh, blue Hyacinth and smokey charcoal (very intriguing) in the glass. Medium to full bodied on the palate, with assertive tannins and a firm grip, lively, and flavors of graphite, spices and cigars ash. Medium finish, mint tea freshness, slightly bitter aftertaste, with green coffee bean and again cigars ash. I loved the deep floral character of this wine, but if you are looking for a fruit driven wine this should not be your pick. It needs a good dose of breathing in a decanter. 13.5% alc (90-91/100)