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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.3 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 405 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by joshdrinkswine2008 on 12/31/2023 & rated 93 points: Really enjoyed this. Deep depth of flavor. Chocolate, mocha, black berry, soil, leather. Probably past its prime but really enjoyable. (508 views) | | | Tasted by Vinobc on 3/26/2023 & rated 90 points: Slow-ox for 3 hours, nice ruby color with a little bricking. Oaky nose predominated on opening, but it faded, leaving lots of plum. The palate had tart fruit with fully resolved tannins. Good, but not great. (1510 views) | | | Tasted by The Wine Monkeys on 1/21/2023 & rated 88 points: Nose of dried dark fruit, some leather, smoke and mild herbaceousness. Palate to match with medium dry finish and medium tannins. Lacks depth and complexity but it’s not bad overall. Seems to be in the downward phase of its life. (1646 views) | | | Tasted by Radboy on 1/14/2023 & rated 93 points: Sweet fruit and nice balance with some tannins still present. (1665 views) | | | Tasted by Sanlucar on 11/20/2022 & rated 89 points: Very light and minimal flavors. This 2003 is probably the least impressive Chateau Monbousquet I've ever had, and I had three bottles with consistently underwhelming results. If you have any of this, drink it ASAP because it's really falling apart. (1958 views) | | | Tasted by mxpbuy on 10/15/2022 & rated 93 points: Slow ox for 2 hours. Blueberry, mocha, blackberry, vanilla Oak, touch of dried herbs. Very smooth. Less than a teaspoon of sediment. Very enjoyable. (1755 views) | | | Tasted by Purple Tooth on 10/14/2022 & rated 90 points: Not my cup o tea...If blind, the oak floating from the top takes me to Napa. Then I taste, It could be a 2006 or 2007 Napa wine of 100 dollars or so in value that has not aged well. The grip and structure is clearly Napesque, with much tannin and stewed fruit. Then the acidity kicks in and then that makes me think a 2006/07 Brunello. Then I sniff the glass and realize that this ia another ambitious St. Emilion. Not a fan, and I would say, this is ok and on the decline for me. DRINK (1640 views) | | | Tasted by aerosol on 10/9/2022 & rated 89 points: Pinot Peter below nailed my experience. the wine opened fruit forward and then changed to more classic Bordeaux. I get a nose of orange peel, or maybe grapefruit with leather with dark cherry on the palate with hint of mint and tobacco and maybe cocoa. This wine is in a great place and probably won't get better. Also, not an exceptional Bordeau either but it was good for now and drink right away. (1002 views) | | | Tasted by Pinot Peter on 8/19/2022: Deep red with no orange rim, good acidity, nose of leather and cassis. A good sweetness with a soft tannin residual. Mature flavours of dark chocolate, coffee, tobacco, ripe dark cherry. Good length. Very enjoyable and impressive ....but this has a more mature flavour profile then my preferred drinking window. (992 views) | | | Tasted by AlexHop on 5/26/2022 & rated 90 points: Nice, great age, still substance but smooth. Not complex but solid (1122 views) | | | Tasted by BVal on 3/27/2022 & rated 92 points: Color/App: deep ruby core -> moderately deep ruby/garnet rim. Great nose of plums and cherries, cedar and some tobacco. Lush and full bodied, this showed particularly well vs. the '95 Chateau Margaux next to it. Group concluded that the Margaux was either too young still or the hardness of the (overrated) '95 vintage was to blame. (1104 views) | | | Tasted by Radboy on 12/25/2021 & rated 92 points: Fabulous wine. (1336 views) | | | Tasted by bordeauxman777 on 9/5/2021 & rated 93 points: in a perfect place right now. Baby fat gone and what is left is a pure magic. Despite many claims that this is too hot of the vintage, this Monbo is another elegant, well balanced, medium body and absolutely delicious Saint Emilion. Very lovely! (1745 views) | | | Tasted by advinm41 on 5/27/2021 & rated 91 points: Delicious!! slightly overripe vintage but has enough acidity and backbone to support the sweetness (1901 views) | | | Tasted by IlonaN on 5/14/2021 & rated 92 points: Still youthful and somewhat tannic, but shows lots of fruit and complex palate after a couple of hours of air. Sadly, my last bottle of this vintage. (1648 views) | | | Tasted by gothamfreerider on 11/15/2020 & rated 91 points: I think monbousquet generally underrated. The heat and ripeness of this vintage interefares with aging forming complexity. Smoked cherries and blueberries on the nose, juxtaposition of smooth and ripe texture. Enjoyable. (2346 views) | | | Tasted by Mr T on 10/25/2020: Good not great
Fruit a little muted and decent flavors but a little flabby (1996 views) | | | Tasted by sylviap on 9/11/2020: Wonderful, full bouquet, with notes of wood and plum. Nice complexity, well-balanced. (1918 views) | | | Tasted by robmatic on 7/22/2020 & rated 92 points: Huge bouquet, wood, olive and some tropical notes. Powerful in the mouth, with full body and plenty of acidity. Sharp and packed with flavor. Peak of maturity. (1855 views) | | | Tasted by SacramentoCharlie on 7/14/2020 & rated 91 points: plum, cedar, leather, tobacco. Lots of layers and complexity with a silky long finish. In the window or just a nudge past. drink up (1787 views) | | | Tasted by gbbwino on 5/9/2020 & rated 95 points: This is a stellar wine & has aged beautifully. Mature but not over the hill. Similar characteristics as prior tasting note. Well balanced & elegant profile with silky tannins. Wonderful wine & sad it’s my last bottle. Have 1 more ‘06 so I just bought some ‘16 at local store to restock. Will be looking for more. (1782 views) | | | Tasted by Mr T on 2/10/2020: Popped this after we killed the '99 from same producer and again, easy to drink, but not as complex or interesting as the older wine. 1/2 is still in the fridge and will see how it has held up (2053 views) | | | Tasted by achasd on 1/4/2020 & rated 91 points: This is a very nice expression of vintage. Opened at the restaurant, by the time 15 minutes had elapsed, it was drinking well. Some cassis, berries but muted. Held up well through a 2-hour meal. Drink now. (2056 views) | | | Tasted by Francophile1 on 12/21/2019 & rated 90 points: Tasted blind. Fully mature with classic Bordeaux aromas in the glass and copious amounts of secondary notes of tobacco, saddle leather, and cedar. On the backend, it has a touch of band-aid with a long finish. Drink up. The fruit won’t last much longer in this wine and it will very soon turn into an old leather shoe. (2076 views) | | | Tasted by cnordstr on 7/23/2019 & rated 92 points: Oak, yes. Fruit, yes, not fading IMHO. Tannins, present yes, but fine and round. Alcohol, sure, heaty, yes a bit. But still a very good 2003 wine. (2580 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| The World of Fine Wine, December 2007, Issue #18
(Château Monbousquet) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2005, IWC Issue #120
(Chateau Monbousquet Saint Emilion) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2004, IWC Issue #114
(Chateau Monbousquet Saint Emilion) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (3/21/2009)
(Château Monbousquet) Dark red violet color; tart plum, lead pencil and leather nose; tasty, black fruit, plum, mineral and sage palate; medium-plus finish 93 points | By Jon Rimmerman
Garagiste (5/7/2008)
(MONBOUSQUET) Wednesday SPECIAL Dear Friends, I would normally save something like this for a Friday but I only have until tomorrow morning in France to lock this up so here goes... Looking for Bordeaux to drink tonight and over the next decade? This pristine parcel has just come up and I jumped at the chance. Bordeaux is often looked upon as over-priced and elitist and this wine is an example of a mid-priced wine that packs a huge punch. As the top wine from this estate, it is still priced fairly and there are many in the New World that should take this pricing policy more seriously (how many top California Cabernet’s are this price - not many). The 2003 Monbousquet has an array of complex aromatics and tell-tale Franc-like elements that make this akin to baby Tertre Roteboeuf. While just now coming out of its shell, this wine has many fine days ahead and I believe it will last longer than originally predicted (it went into a shell after bottling and should be left alone for another 1-3 years - although it is starting to drink well now). A top buy in the crazy Bordeaux market and one that Right Bank collectors and California Cabernet enthusiasts would be very glad to own: We have one parcel of this wine at this price, directly from the cellar - it has been sitting undisturbed since bottling at 54 degrees: 2003 Chateau Monbousquet Grand Vin (St. Emilion) br /> ” STRICT LIMIT 24/person until we run out Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Bord8699 | By Jon Rimmerman
Garagiste (1/7/2008)
(Monbousquet) 2003 Monbousquet Dear Friends, I’ve received a disproportionate number of inquiries about this wine over the weekend and there had to be a reason - hundreds of you didn’t open one of these on Friday night? I finally figured it out (it received the highest rating in the recent EWS tasting posted a few days ago on the Parker board) and I’m not going to pass judgment just because everyone wants something that was highly rated. So, here you go... I’m typing this on the train so I can’t cut and paste the reviews but the scores are below. ONE SHIPMENT ONLY at this price, which should be about the same as in France (or lower) This parcel has perfect provenance, directly form the source - stored under ideal conditions since release: 2003 Monbousquet (St. Emilion Grand Cru/rouge) Thank you, Jon Rimmerman Garagiste Seattle, WA Bord8790 |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of The World of Fine Wine and Vinous and RJonWine.com and Garagiste. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Monbousquet Producer website - Read more about Chateau Monbousquet2003 Château Monbousquet13.5% alcohol, 32 hectoliters/hectare, 60% merlot, 30% cabernet franc, and 10% cabernet sauvignon, according to Robert Parker.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanLibournais Libournais (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) - Read more about St. Emilion and its wines - Read more about Pomerol and its wines
Saint Emilion Grat Classified Growth, Classified Growths, Grands Crus Classes, GCC
In 1954, while the "Graves" growths had just published their own classification, the wine syndicate of Saint-Emilion, composed by wine growers, brokers and wine traders with the approval of the INAO - Institut National des Appellations d'Origine (A.O.C), decided to work on a classification for the wines of Saint Emilion. Initially, four grades were defined. These were reduced to two - First Great Classified Growth (A and B) and Great Classified Growth - in 1984.
As of Medoc's 1855 historical grading, the Saint-Emilion Great Classified Growth classification is not only based on qualitative criteria by tasting the wines on a ten years period previous to the assessment, but also on commercial considerations such as:
- sales price levels
- national and international commercial distribution
- the estate's reputation on the market
Properties who don't manage to join the club of about sixty Classified Growths are given the denomination of Great Growth ("Grand Cru"), while the remaining wineries of the A.O.C are simply reported as "Saint-Emilion". It is to be noted that the owners must officially apply to appear in the official classification. Thus for example the famous Chateau Tertre-Roteboeuf, whose quality and reputation would easily justify to be listed among the First Great Classified Growths, does not appear here by the will of its owner, François Mitjaville.
The Saint-Emilion Great Growth classification was revised in 1969, 1985, 1996 and 2006. The only two guaranteed vintage (A.O.C) who can apply to the classification are the "Saint-Emilion Grand Cru" and "Saint-Emilion" areas.
By grading 61 properties, the 2006 revision confirmed many growths from the former classification, but also caused a number of surprises and a few inevitable disappointments. Many observers thought that the impressive progression of Perse's Chateau Pavie since 1998 would be rewarded by an upgrade into the First Great Classified Growths (A) category, but finally such was not the case.
Among the estates promoted to the First Great Classified Growths B category are Chateau Troplong-Mondot and Pavie-Macquin, whose efforts made since the Nineties fully justify their new grade. It should be noted that no First Great Classified Growth was relegated to the lower Great Classified Growth class.
Promoted growths from the status of Great Growth ("Grand Cru") to Great Classified Growth ("Grand Cru Classe") are: Chateaux Bellefont-Belcier, Destieux, Fleur Cardinale, Grand Corbin, Grand Corbin-Despagne and Monbousquet.
The demoted growths from the status of Great Classified Growth to Great Growth are: Chateaux Bellevue, Cadet Bon, Faurie de Souchard, Guadet Saint-Julien, La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Belivier), La Tour du Pin-Figeac (Moueix), Lamarzelle, Petite Faurie de Soutard, Tertre Daugay, Villemaurine and Yon-Figeac. If the recent samples of some of the above mentioned properties may justify their current downgrade, there are great chances that estates like Bellevue, Tertre Daugay or Yon-Figeac will be upgraded to their previous rankings by the next revision in 2016 as the progresses noted after 2000, but not entering in the range of vintages (1993 - 2002) appointed for the criteria of selection for the 2006 classification, are noticable.
The two following estates have completely disappeared from the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classification: Curé-Bon-la-Madeleine (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Canon) and La Clusière (integrated meanwhile to Chateau Pavie).
Finally, no estate considered as "garagiste" has integrated the classification. Valandraud, Mondotte, Le Dome, Bellevue-Mondotte or Magrez-Fombrauge have, for the least, the potential to be ranked as Great Classified Growths. In sight of the very fine quality reached by the above mentioned estates in recent vintages as well as all the innovative wine making methods used by the "garagistes", it remains to be seen whether the authorities will dare to cross the line in 2016..?St. Émilion Grand Cru Les Vins de St. Émilion (Syndicate Vitocole de Saint-Emilion) – Read about St. Emilion
Vins de Bordeaux:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot
Soil: Sandy soils with alluvial gravel deposits
Surface Area: 4,160 ha |
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