The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like gooseberry, raspberry, black currant (cassis), blueberry, forest floor, mushroom and cedar. It tastes like forest floor, mushroom, plum and black currant (cassis). The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
In der Nase reife Waldbeeren, etwas Zedernholz. Am Gaume schön eingebettete Tannine, zurückhaltende Zedernholz- und Ledernoten. Gute Reife trotz erstaunlich präsenter Frische. Optimale Trinkreife.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not too bad bearing in mind the context of the vintage: the fruit still tastes slightly burnt with notes of raisins blending with those of blackberries, there is still a pleasant silkiness with some spicy St.Julien-like notes, but overrall the impression is weak and charmless, like a rather poor and tired St.Julien from a vintage like 76. Not a good example of Belgrave and there are many better 03s. If you have some I'd drink them quick, if you haven't any I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful bouquet with cassis and other dark berries and some vanilla. On the palate dark and red berries, sweet spices and some vanilla again. Good acidity and pleasant tannin with still a pleasant bite. Not really exclusive, but really a textbook, well above average Haut Medoc. Maturity stage now, but without any doubt it can last another 2 - 3 years as well. This was my last bottle and that is ok.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has the ripeness which is typical of the vintage. It has blackcurrant fruit, some spiciness and good weight, and is nicely rounded. Not complex, but a good wine for now and a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PWS (@ My place: Four Bordeaux.): Creamy bouquet with some dark fruits, graphite and vanilla. On the palate creamy dark fruits, some bell pepper, good acidity and tannin with a good bite and a bit drying. Ok complexity without being really exclusive. Early maturity now. Probably showing a bit more around 2016.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite an improvement since my previous bottle. Medium bodied, soft, almost silky, but still with character and backbone. A bit short, however. Initially slightly tanic and the wine improved over the following 4 days. Wait 2-5 years. The 91 pts is from day 4. At 20 euro this was a bargain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was expecting the worst so I suppose this was almost a nice surprise. The nose is fairly discreet, the fruit is pinched, drying and tasting of raisins, but there is a certain silkiness to the body which is not unpleasant. Not in the same league as the 2004, for example, because the fruit of the 2004 tastes so much fresher, but the 2003 is at least drinkable. I would certainly hurry up though since this tastes at least five years older than it is.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Weekly tasting group #058; Bordeaux left bank 2001, 2002 and 2003. (@ VD): Creamy cassis and some bell pepper as well in the bouquet. Also beautiful oaky flavors. On the palate dark and red forest fruits, chocolate and vanilla. Firm acidity, tannin and bitterness. Medium to full bodied and a fairly short finish. Very good wine but needs a few more years of ageing. Around 2015 or 2016?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite nice at the moment. The wine shows classical Bordeaux aromas in the nose, is quite open from the start. One can definitely tell that this wine is from a hot vintage. Especially on the palate. The wine has some size and body, but the tannins are a bit bitter and rough, even though the wine is on point right now. This will not go away I think, its a flaw of the 2003 vintage at wineries that didn't manage their canopy well enough. Over all, the wine shows nice aromas of black currant, tobacco leafs, ripe red peppers and coffee. On the palate - as said above - it's a bit rough. Good and quite long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
slight evolution on the rim. nose of jammy fruit, plum and cherry, not well defined. some cedar coming in the mouth too. OK drink, but nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vertical tasting Belgrave 06-05-04-03-02-01-00-99-98-86 Carmine red. Closed nose at first. After a while this wine offers some cassis, cherry, nutmeg and vanilla. The palate offers good concetrated fruit, again cassis and cherries. Medium full body, refreshing acidity and coating tannins. A bit alcohol heat on the finish, but everything is very nicely balanced. We all agreed this was the WOTN, allthough the 2005 will probably be even better in a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was extremely disappointed in this wine....have had other vintages...don't remember which at the moment...but that is beside the point. This wind had an ok nose...decent fruit...but on the palate was tart and what I would describe as almost bitter. I wondered if this wine wasn't a flawed bottle...but it doesn't give that impression...just an awful vintage. I would try another vintage in the future becauase I have had decent bottles in the past....NOT this vintage!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not decanted bottle. Almost black color and still very closed and young nose. After some aeration, hints of red fruits, licorice and earth. Absolutely needs decanting for at least 2 - 3 hours. Full-bodied with sweet tannins and layers of red fruits, vanilla and spices on the palate. Wonderfull effort fron this Chateau!!! Needs cellaring for 5 - 6 years and it will be a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
dirty old barrels and poor hygeine mar what is otherwise might have been an ok bordeaux. much too much unpleasant funk. ive had other wines of theirs and i really wish this chateau could be downgraded. it doesnt deserve the designation of grand cru classe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This estate has been improving ever since 2000 – and I think has been underrated to begin with as I remember enjoying a 1988 and a thoroughly delicious 1996. The 2003 possesses a nice fresh nose of menthol and cassis, with a chewy palate and good structure, with good fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
7/27/2023 - Chrysostomus wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful, fresh, tertiary aromas, good balance between sweetness and acid. In a good spot now and for a few more years. Only short decant needed…
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/18/2022 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing red currants, cooked cherries, oak, spices, vanilla, herbs, licorice, cloves, dark coffee, pencil lead, earth, wet leaves and bitter vegetables.
Medium finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
This 19 year old has a lot of fruits still, and needs time to open up properly (1 hour), so be patient.
Showing great complexity at this point. Tasty and interesting.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
A blend of 46% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Aged in (50% new) French oak barrels.
13% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$60.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2019 - Mipesu Likes this wine: 88 Points
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are medium. There is moderate sediment in the bottle. It smells like gooseberry, raspberry, black currant (cassis), blueberry, forest floor, mushroom and cedar. It tastes like forest floor, mushroom, plum and black currant (cassis). The body is medium. The wine has smooth texture. The wine finishes long. The wine has medium acidity.
In der Nase reife Waldbeeren, etwas Zedernholz. Am Gaume schön eingebettete Tannine, zurückhaltende Zedernholz- und Ledernoten. Gute Reife trotz erstaunlich präsenter Frische. Optimale Trinkreife.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2019 - Mipesu wrote: 89 Points
Flechten Moos Röstaromen.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2018 - Denis.chabot480@gmail.com Likes this wine:
Perfect
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2018 - blackymouton Likes this wine: 89 Points
Absolut trinkreifer Bordeaux, der sich exzellent entwickelt hat. Dunkle Schokolade, Kaffee, Tannine fein eingebunden.
Hat mir sehr viel Spaß gemacht.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2016 - Brett Pitt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Good
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2016 - Julian Marshall Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Not too bad bearing in mind the context of the vintage: the fruit still tastes slightly burnt with notes of raisins blending with those of blackberries, there is still a pleasant silkiness with some spicy St.Julien-like notes, but overrall the impression is weak and charmless, like a rather poor and tired St.Julien from a vintage like 76. Not a good example of Belgrave and there are many better 03s. If you have some I'd drink them quick, if you haven't any I wouldn't touch this with a barge pole.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2016 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Beautiful bouquet with cassis and other dark berries and some vanilla. On the palate dark and red berries, sweet spices and some vanilla again. Good acidity and pleasant tannin with still a pleasant bite. Not really exclusive, but really a textbook, well above average Haut Medoc. Maturity stage now, but without any doubt it can last another 2 - 3 years as well. This was my last bottle and that is ok.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/6/2015 - La Grappe wrote: 88 Points
This has the ripeness which is typical of the vintage. It has blackcurrant fruit, some spiciness and good weight, and is nicely rounded. Not complex, but a good wine for now and a few more years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2014 - Eriksen Vejle wrote: 85 Points
Complex and unstructured for my taste
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/22/2014 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
PWS (@ My place: Four Bordeaux.): Creamy bouquet with some dark fruits, graphite and vanilla. On the palate creamy dark fruits, some bell pepper, good acidity and tannin with a good bite and a bit drying. Ok complexity without being really exclusive. Early maturity now. Probably showing a bit more around 2016.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2013 - Sundbyberg wrote: 91 Points
Quite an improvement since my previous bottle.
Medium bodied, soft, almost silky, but still with character and backbone. A bit short, however.
Initially slightly tanic and the wine improved over the following 4 days.
Wait 2-5 years. The 91 pts is from day 4. At 20 euro this was a bargain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2013 - Julian Marshall wrote:
I was expecting the worst so I suppose this was almost a nice surprise. The nose is fairly discreet, the fruit is pinched, drying and tasting of raisins, but there is a certain silkiness to the body which is not unpleasant. Not in the same league as the 2004, for example, because the fruit of the 2004 tastes so much fresher, but the 2003 is at least drinkable. I would certainly hurry up though since this tastes at least five years older than it is.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2013 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Weekly tasting group #058; Bordeaux left bank 2001, 2002 and 2003. (@ VD): Creamy cassis and some bell pepper as well in the bouquet. Also beautiful oaky flavors. On the palate dark and red forest fruits, chocolate and vanilla. Firm acidity, tannin and bitterness. Medium to full bodied and a fairly short finish. Very good wine but needs a few more years of ageing. Around 2015 or 2016?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/19/2012 - Sir-Harrie wrote: 91 Points
In der Nase angenehm nach Frucht, am Munde harmonisch, rund nach Kirsche, Heidelbeer, etwas Zedernholz, länger nachhaltiger Abgang
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2012 - Christion wrote: 90 Points
Quite nice at the moment. The wine shows classical Bordeaux aromas in the nose, is quite open from the start. One can definitely tell that this wine is from a hot vintage. Especially on the palate. The wine has some size and body, but the tannins are a bit bitter and rough, even though the wine is on point right now. This will not go away I think, its a flaw of the 2003 vintage at wineries that didn't manage their canopy well enough. Over all, the wine shows nice aromas of black currant, tobacco leafs, ripe red peppers and coffee. On the palate - as said above - it's a bit rough. Good and quite long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2011 - Sundbyberg wrote: 88 Points
Signs of a good wine, but needs more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/20/2010 - elledeca wrote: 87 Points
slight evolution on the rim. nose of jammy fruit, plum and cherry, not well defined. some cedar coming in the mouth too. OK drink, but nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2010 - TimmyR wrote:
Vertical tasting Belgrave 06-05-04-03-02-01-00-99-98-86
Carmine red. Closed nose at first. After a while this wine offers some cassis, cherry, nutmeg and vanilla. The palate offers good concetrated fruit, again cassis and cherries. Medium full body, refreshing acidity and coating tannins. A bit alcohol heat on the finish, but everything is very nicely balanced. We all agreed this was the WOTN, allthough the 2005 will probably be even better in a couple of years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2008 - pinotluvr wrote: 83 Points
I was extremely disappointed in this wine....have had other vintages...don't remember which at the moment...but that is beside the point. This wind had an ok nose...decent fruit...but on the palate was tart and what I would describe as almost bitter. I wondered if this wine wasn't a flawed bottle...but it doesn't give that impression...just an awful vintage. I would try another vintage in the future becauase I have had decent bottles in the past....NOT this vintage!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2007 - balassis wrote: 90 Points
Not decanted bottle. Almost black color and still very closed and young nose.
After some aeration, hints of red fruits, licorice and earth.
Absolutely needs decanting for at least 2 - 3 hours.
Full-bodied with sweet tannins and layers of red fruits, vanilla and spices on the palate.
Wonderfull effort fron this Chateau!!!
Needs cellaring for 5 - 6 years and it will be a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/10/2007 - cormyr wrote: 81 Points
dirty old barrels and poor hygeine mar what is otherwise might have been an ok bordeaux. much too much unpleasant funk. ive had other wines of theirs and i really wish this chateau could be downgraded. it doesnt deserve the designation of grand cru classe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/23/2006 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 90 Points
This estate has been improving ever since 2000 – and I think has been underrated to begin with as I remember enjoying a 1988 and a thoroughly delicious 1996. The 2003 possesses a nice fresh nose of menthol and cassis, with a chewy palate and good structure, with good fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2004 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Ch. La Lagune: Opaque purple; int. nose; big forest, cigar box, cassis, swt leather(fresh); silky med+ bod, grt. mth of same flavors; integrated t’s, med. fin. w/some hi-notes.***Great classic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment