I have many memories of drinking this wine is the past; I’ve even had some old bottles that I have thought are quite good. It has always been a large-scale wine, but this vintage is just too heroic.
Cabernet Sauvignon 2000, Cape Mentelle
A very hot, ripe, alcoholic nose (it is 15%) with stewed, jammy fruit. There is some French oak character there as well. This just smells a bit fiery. The palate has reasonable structure, plenty of fruit, and a hot alcoholic burn on the finish that seems a bit too much like hard work. I suppose there is a degree of complexity to it, but any refinement has been baked out of it. Since I am not the biggest fan of Cabernet, nor over-ripe wines, I don’t suppose this is really the wine for me.
What has happened to elegance? Where can one find subtlelty? We are living in a dark age!