2000 Chateau Le Gay Pomerol, France

A powerful, firm, chunky offering with a dense plum/purple color, notes of Chinese black tea intermixed with vitamins, minerals, earth, black currants, and cassis, this 2000 is a relatively rugged, tannic, old-style wine that should develop well in spite of moderately high tannin and a hint of rusticity. As I said last year, those with 19th century tastes will go ga-ga over Le Gay's 2000. P.S. Le Gay was sold in 2002 to Catherine Pere-Verge, who has hired Michel Rolland. Rolland believes that Le Gay can become one of the great Pomerols of the appellation given its terroir and history of extraordinary wines in the late forties.