After the potentially perfect 1999 Cote Rotie, it is not surprising that the 2000 Cote Rotie (100% Syrah from 20-60-year old vines) seems merely mortal. While it lacks the fatness and majestic depth of the 1999, the 2000 reveals adequate tannin, an earthy, olive, and black currant-scented nose, a good, but uninspiring mid-palate, and a dry finish. If the prolonged elevage sur-lie works as well as Michel Tardieu hopes, the mid-palate should fill out. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016. The gregarious, talented Michel Tardieu was exceptionally enthusiastic about his 2000 southern Rhones, but decidedly less impressed with those from the north. His criticism mirrored those of other serious producers, namely that there were too many grapes, and that the high yields made it nearly impossible to achieve great richness unless there was draconian crop thinning, something many producers were not prepared to do given the fact it was a millennium vintage. While the 2000 Tardieu-Laurent offerings are excellent for the vintage, they are significantly less concentrated and textured compared to the awesome 1999s. Importers: Martin Scott Wines, Little Neck, NY; tel. (516) 327-0808 and Stacole Fine Wines, Boca Raton, FL; tel. (561) 998-0029