Chateau Barreyres 2000

Chateau Barreyres (Haut-Médoc) 2000: Lovely, deep, purple-tinged dark red hue. Initially very withdrawn on the nose, but after some time it begins to emerge from its shell. There's smoky, mineral and stony edged blackcurrant fruit, with perfumed violets. Expectations are raised, and pleasingly there's no disappointment on the palate, which has obvious weight and rounded sweetness, and is filled with more smoky blackcurrant fruit. Beautiful structure, tannins with a touch of grip, and cracking acidity. What a package! Eminently approachable, but will repay cellaring. 16.5+/20 (9/5/03)