Saint-Julien
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Terre du Lion comes from, and is made and bottled by, one of the greatest Chateau of Bordeaux. In fact, it’s one of the only three Bordeaux estates to have made a Parker and Wine Spectator 100-point wine in the 2000 vintage. And all of this Chateau’s Grand Vin comes from a vineyard called “Grand L’Enclos”, which it shares equally with probably the greatest of the First Growths. (Our supplier says it looks like “a buttocks”, with a drainage ditch separating the two halves.) What’s generally thought to be the Chateau’s “second wine” is in fact entirely separate (though still superb) vineyards – which are among those of the Leoville-Poyferre and Barton, and the two Pichons.
Until the 1996 vintage, whatever wine from “Grand L’Enclos” which wasn’t included in the Grand Vin was simply sold off in bulk. But since then, when the Grand Vin is assembled and bottled, the best part of what doesn’t’ make the cut is bottled as “Terre du Lion.” The label says “mis en Bouteille a la Propriete pour B.C.V.” (Our supplier).
What you have here is clear Classified Growth – quality wine, from a First Growth-quality vineyard, at a generic Saint-Julien price. Which is simply incredible!
The 1999 is clearly the best Terre du Lion to that point. It is a typically good 1999 – with much less color and flash than the 2000. It’s also a more classic claret style and one very much suited to food. It deepens and improves even more than the 2000 after a day in the open bottle. This is brilliant and extremely classy Bordeaux. Any serious critic should rate this at least 90 points!
The 2000 vintage is much darker, richer, and more impressive. (This is what just missed the cut of being a 100-point wine.). But again, despite its obviously sumptuous qualities, I find something reassuringly classic about this. It’s not a slick or facile 2000 Bordeaux, by any means. And through drinkable now, I’m confident it will be really special in 3 to 5 years.
