Between Two Saints - 2000 Pauillac

The Appellation Pauillac (pronounced POY-ack for anglophones) is wonderful, but very expensive.  It is situated Just South of St Estephe and Just North of St Julien, two of the most wonderfully delicious Bordeaux wines ever produced.  ("It is hard to find a bad saint" - Pierre Gourdon, 2002) So it is to be expected that a Pauillac is going to be good, and the year 2000 was an exceptional year all around Bordeaux.  So back in 2001, I bought about 40 bottles from a colleague who had lived in France, but had moved to the US, and who was liquidating his Cave (pronounced "calve" - the cool and dark place where you keep your wine, not a place for oil painting on wet walls or a "man cave") of recently purchased French wines "at cost" to his friends.  One of the bottles I picked up, was a 2000 Pauillac, for about $15 at the time.  It turned out to be a Barons De Rothschild Lafite, which retails for about $100,  now a days

Dr Desert Flower and I wanted to get out of the house, and not worry about work, and have a delicious meal, so we made a reservation at Coup Des Tartes, on 16th in Downtown Phoenix.  It is a BYOB place, and has a wonderful menu - I had the Filet Mignon and DDF had the salmon (was a special, not yet on the Winter menu), and we split the Brie Brulee as an appetizer (which was big enough to be a meal in and of itself).  I took the Pauillac, as well as a Portes De Bordeaux, Just In Case the Pauillac had turned in the 11 years and move to Phoenix since we first bought it.

The Pauillac was superb.  The meal was delicious.  The company, exquisite.  No baby sitter required.  No valet parking attendant to deal with.  Convenient location, friendly staff, a remarkable meal, with a fantastic wine.  I can't afford a $100 bottle, but I can afford a $15 one that matures into a $100 bottle, and then have it with the love of my life.  We shared 1/2 a glass with Coup Des Tartes owner Ron Pacioni, and complimented him on his restaurant, staff, and menu.  Good wine is best shared with good friends and good food.