keep
Lacks the complexity, age-worthiness and ripeness of 97 and 99, but there’s more of it
Weather Conditions
‘Challenging’ is the common winemaker’s assessment of the vintage. This actually means difficult and uneven in quality overall. A dry spring led to normal budbreak and excellent set. A blistering heatwave in early June reduced the crop, but cool weather prevailed to slow ripening. A cold rainy October created a schizoid vintage.
Best Appellations
Cabernet in warm regions – Rutherford, Alexander Valley, Calistoga, Santa Cruz – ripened better and are richer than those in cool or high elevation sites which struggled to ripen. Overall 2000 is a good vintage with modest depth and character. Similar to 1998, it lacks both the layered complexity and age-worthiness of 1997 and the showy, ultra-ripe character of 1999. The best news is that the quantity is much higher than that of 1999.
Best Producers
Beaulieu Private Reserve, Ridge Monte Bello, Silver Oak, Stag’s Leap, Joseph Phelps, and Dalla Valle.
