In my opinion it is very unfair to line up the 2000 VPs together with some more and less developed VPs as the 2000s are totally in the reduction phase right now. If one is not aware of this, he might come to the conclusion, that the 2000 is not such a good vintage after all.
Back to the facts: these wines are not too much fun to drink now. The 2000 Vesuvio was breathing for 4 hours+ before I first tasted it: inky-black colour with no reflections; no signs of age, except the missing of the reflections. The nose was very closed with a complex structure somewhere underneath. On the palate the wine was fairly flat with all the good stuff somewhere hidden and not integrated. Average aftertaste with good alcoholic balance.
I presume the 'Reduction' phase is the one also refered to as 'Closed'. I think I know what is meant by that, ands I certainly recognise the taste. But does anyone fancy going for a definitive explanation?