There are 250 cases of the 2000 Hermitage, a more elegant, finesse-styled effort compared to the blockbuster 1999 and 1998. The wine is concentrated for the vintage, offering a deep purple color followed by notions of licorice and creme de cassis, sweet tannin, low acidity, and a forward, plump, concentrated style. This well-balanced Hermitage will be drinkable at a younger age than the compelling 1999. 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