8 y.o. in my experience can be the most difficult time to drink a Claret as the youthful aspects (I hesitate to call it fruit, as Bx should only be muscle and bone!) have disappeared but the aged aspects haven't yet appeared. I guess it says something of the excellence of the Pichon-Lalande '00 that it is stunning also now, though it isn't as expressive as it was when younger.
I haven't been as enamoured with the '00s as most Claret drinkers. In fact, I have found most of them too ripe to my taste, so I only had one in my cellar - this Pichon-Lalande. Sadly my economical situation dictated that I had to get rid of a bottle (which was kindly opened in my presence, however).
It was simply stunning. The nose was full of classic Pauillac aromas: wet clay, herbs, baked beans (not a classic descriptor, I know...); though fully ripe this wasn't about sexy, primary fruit but rather of the stereotypical old-style aromas of pencil-shavings and blackcurrant leaves.
The palate is very refreshing and leafy, it is rather tannic but the fruit makes it deceptively drinkable despite its youth. I really love the green but ripe aromas of this wine and am very sorry to see my one bottle go.
-Otto
