From 375ml.
Purple black in color, not opaque. Restrained iodine nose just giving hints of black fruits. More fruit makes its presence in the palate where the wine shows good balance, medium length and well integrated tannins, but is still very, very restrained and exibiting a slightly sour characteristic which for me is typical of wines that are 'closed for lunch'. Four hours of coaxing brought little improvement, but I do have a bit left over for tonight, we'll see what a day makes. Initially 90+ points.

i look forward to the rest of your notes. i have a case on the way.

No difference in four hours? Wow... do post an update...... :-)

Not much difference tonight either, except the body of the wine has increased significantly which I'm glad to see and bodes well for the future. Otherwise, it's currently shut down pretty hard. Not touchin' another one for a good while.

as per parker's notes, i have my 1st one set for 2006, is this to early in your opinion?

I had this about 2 months ago, and it definately was hard to coax any flavors out of it, but it sure had a nice mouthfeel.

The vacu-vined remainders where not too much different the second night. Look forward to this one in a few years.

My early feeling on these Ant is it's going to be a while. I sure ain't no expert here, but I think '06 is going to be too early (that's why I'm glad I found some half bottles! ), but we can hope. I have a box and change of the Charmail in magnums as well as a box and change of this so I hope this vintage isn't tooooo long lived, I'd at least like to taste the lesser wines in their prime.

stealth-most of the 2000 big boys or their excellent seconds are probably in the sleeping phase. in the meantime its best to drink the early birds like plaisance, fontenil, fombrauge, cap de faugeres, grand pontet, la vieille cure, etc.

i think i am going to crack a fombrauge and grand pontet soon.

Thanks ant, I will try that next time, which probably won't be for a while.

Fombrauge was drinking ok last month, but needed a good three hours in the decanter.

For $17 (futures) what a bargain!

i paid $21 for the fombrauge. i think i'm going to open one tonight if i feel better

Opening one will make you feel better.

i just hate to waste the great nose of a decent st. emilion

A friend of mine wasted one of these the other night...and I gladly partook... Still closed, but no where near as bad as the last time. My notes aren't going to be extensive as it was a late arrival in a long night, but it drank well, showed good balance and good promise for later down the road. From 750ml.

thanks steallth for another update. my case is still resting near the bottom of the pile.