The last time I enjoyed this wine was at 10 years, back in 2013. I love the way his has developed over the ensuing ten years. At twenty years, this is mature, soft, supple and elegant. Given its age, the wine was not decanted, but opened about 30 mins prior to dinner. Slight bricking at the edges, but there’s still a clear, solid, deep ruby core. Mature and complex aroma and flavor profile: old leather, drying tobacco, dying red flowers, powdered cocoa, spicy red currants, stewed red raspberries, crushed day old cherries, mixed herbs, and iron infused rocks. Structural elements are completely integrated and perfectly balanced. Medium intensity on the palate and a medium plus finish. Worked with the chargrilled, thick cut pork chop and Brussels sprouts casserole. Drink now, unlikely to improve with further cellaring. Can be enjoyed for another 1-2+ years depending on cellar conditions.
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From a magnum. Wine was substantially similar to my tasting notes of late 2017. The wine had just started to lose a bit of color but had really increased in the chocolate notes, both in the nose and on the palate. This wine is super fragrant during decant. Diners from across the room (social distancing you know) were intrigued by the wafting aromas.
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From a magnum. Another pre-Christmas dinner with friends. Wine was consistent with my earlier notes of 11/17/17 and 12/8/17. Wonderful wine which lasted throughout the leisurely-paced dinner, again without losing any fruit or balance.
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From a magnum. Pre-Christmas dinner with friends. Entirely consistent with my notes from 11/17/2017. Dinner lasted longer tonight. Wine was still delicious and had lost none of its charm 5 hours after decant.
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Dinner for Bob. Decanted for two hours from two magnums. Wine was clear, almost purple in the bowl with a thin rim of amber starting to show on the edge. In the glass, the nose was ripe plums, mulberries and kahlua. The elegance of this wine was apparent even from smell. In the mouth, it was silky and deep: ripe Queen Anne plums, vanilla and toffee. Balance was just a bit soft, and the medium finish ended with toffee-like sweetness. The wine stayed strong throughout the meal and was very enjoyable.
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I am finding that the Right Bank offers a round, full grape-ness that is becoming attractive to this palate. This 2003 had a lot of that, along with being very well integrated front to back.
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Cette bouteille bue sans aération, autour d'une grande tablée, n'a pas bénéficié de toute les attentions qu'elle méritait. Mais le verre que j'ai pu goûter m'a offert un vin d'une très grande finesse, présentant des tanins très élégants, soyeux et raffinés. Ce remarquable toucher de bouche, c'est finalement tout ce que j'attends d'un beau pomerol! A regoûter dans des conditions plus épanouissantes pour le vin, nul doute que carafé, il aurait gagné en puissance et en relief...
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Drinking great tonight. The only noticeable vintage ripeness is on the nose where there is a fair amount of dark sweet fruit. The palate is smooth, fresh and elegant. Cassis and tobacco dominate. Seems like it is just entering its prime window. very tasty and excellent given the vintage. 91+
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Still very young and primary....oak not integrated yet. Needs 5+ years in the bottle. If you have this one, hold it for a while. Fruit, coffee, and oak, but not yet singing in the same key.
Edit: after several hours of air, the oak recedes, but the wine loses complexity as it harmonizes. 86-87 points.
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Decanted. Medium bodied claret style. Initially, this is closed and a bit woody, but after an hour or so in the decanter it begins to open and the oak blows off; aromas become more perfumed. Definitely improves over a three to four hour period. Graphite, and black olive initially, but evolves toward coffee, cherry, spicy plum, dark berries, black earth, coffee, and dark chocolate as it sits and aerates. The flavors are underscored with a still grippy tannic structure. Lots of complexity. Very nice finish. Needs another five years, or a multi-hour decant over the short term. Far better than my experience with the 2002 Chateau Nenin.
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Dense dark fruit, sweet but restraint and not super ripe like some 03 bordeauxs. Cedar, tobacco and rather smooth. Tannins are not shy and drying, but rather fine. This is a lovely wine overall.
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2003 Bordeaux Tasting at Wine Watch (Ft. Lauderdale, FL): Bottle was opened the previous evening in preparation for a retail tasting. This wine had one of the lovliest noses of the day, but it faded away in the mid-palate and short finish. Light to medium body. Another example of the irregularity in the Right Bank in 2003.
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10/7/2023 - wmccone54 wrote: 92 Points
The last time I enjoyed this wine was at 10 years, back in 2013. I love the way his has developed over the ensuing ten years. At twenty years, this is mature, soft, supple and elegant. Given its age, the wine was not decanted, but opened about 30 mins prior to dinner. Slight bricking at the edges, but there’s still a clear, solid, deep ruby core. Mature and complex aroma and flavor profile: old leather, drying tobacco, dying red flowers, powdered cocoa, spicy red currants, stewed red raspberries, crushed day old cherries, mixed herbs, and iron infused rocks. Structural elements are completely integrated and perfectly balanced. Medium intensity on the palate and a medium plus finish. Worked with the chargrilled, thick cut pork chop and Brussels sprouts casserole. Drink now, unlikely to improve with further cellaring. Can be enjoyed for another 1-2+ years depending on cellar conditions.
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8/13/2020 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a magnum. Wine was substantially similar to my tasting notes of late 2017. The wine had just started to lose a bit of color but had really increased in the chocolate notes, both in the nose and on the palate. This wine is super fragrant during decant. Diners from across the room (social distancing you know) were intrigued by the wafting aromas.
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12/22/2017 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 89 Points
From a magnum. Another pre-Christmas dinner with friends. Wine was consistent with my earlier notes of 11/17/17 and 12/8/17. Wonderful wine which lasted throughout the leisurely-paced dinner, again without losing any fruit or balance.
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12/8/2017 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 89 Points
From a magnum. Pre-Christmas dinner with friends. Entirely consistent with my notes from 11/17/2017. Dinner lasted longer tonight. Wine was still delicious and had lost none of its charm 5 hours after decant.
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11/17/2017 - OenophilistMN Likes this wine: 89 Points
Dinner for Bob. Decanted for two hours from two magnums. Wine was clear, almost purple in the bowl with a thin rim of amber starting to show on the edge. In the glass, the nose was ripe plums, mulberries and kahlua. The elegance of this wine was apparent even from smell. In the mouth, it was silky and deep: ripe Queen Anne plums, vanilla and toffee. Balance was just a bit soft, and the medium finish ended with toffee-like sweetness. The wine stayed strong throughout the meal and was very enjoyable.
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6/12/2016 - up4wine wrote: 89 Points
I am finding that the Right Bank offers a round, full grape-ness that is becoming attractive to this palate. This 2003 had a lot of that, along with being very well integrated front to back.
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1/11/2016 - Raage Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cette bouteille bue sans aération, autour d'une grande tablée, n'a pas bénéficié de toute les attentions qu'elle méritait. Mais le verre que j'ai pu goûter m'a offert un vin d'une très grande finesse, présentant des tanins très élégants, soyeux et raffinés. Ce remarquable toucher de bouche, c'est finalement tout ce que j'attends d'un beau pomerol!
A regoûter dans des conditions plus épanouissantes pour le vin, nul doute que carafé, il aurait gagné en puissance et en relief...
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11/23/2015 - pifcho Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking great tonight. The only noticeable vintage ripeness is on the nose where there is a fair amount of dark sweet fruit. The palate is smooth, fresh and elegant. Cassis and tobacco dominate. Seems like it is just entering its prime window. very tasty and excellent given the vintage. 91+
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9/7/2015 - vinophobic Likes this wine: 90 Points
Could use a couple more years but showing great typicity.
Day Three Update: Starting to sing as the previously overly drying tannins settle down.
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11/30/2014 - Swaggering Beaunie Likes this wine:
Still very young and primary....oak not integrated yet. Needs 5+ years in the bottle. If you have this one, hold it for a while. Fruit, coffee, and oak, but not yet singing in the same key.
Edit: after several hours of air, the oak recedes, but the wine loses complexity as it harmonizes. 86-87 points.
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5/19/2014 - jbm wrote: 88 Points
Smooth and soft, but alcohol did not feel in balance. Not much structure to the wine. On day 2, better balance but no real depth.
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12/15/2013 - wmccone54 wrote: 90 Points
Decanted. Medium bodied claret style. Initially, this is closed and a bit woody, but after an hour or so in the decanter it begins to open and the oak blows off; aromas become more perfumed. Definitely improves over a three to four hour period. Graphite, and black olive initially, but evolves toward coffee, cherry, spicy plum, dark berries, black earth, coffee, and dark chocolate as it sits and aerates. The flavors are underscored with a still grippy tannic structure. Lots of complexity. Very nice finish. Needs another five years, or a multi-hour decant over the short term. Far better than my experience with the 2002 Chateau Nenin.
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11/10/2010 - Hazeo wrote: 90 Points
Dense dark fruit, sweet but restraint and not super ripe like some 03 bordeauxs. Cedar, tobacco and rather smooth. Tannins are not shy and drying, but rather fine. This is a lovely wine overall.
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2/3/2007 - vinole wrote: 88 Points
2003 Bordeaux Tasting at Wine Watch (Ft. Lauderdale, FL): Bottle was opened the previous evening in preparation for a retail tasting. This wine had one of the lovliest noses of the day, but it faded away in the mid-palate and short finish. Light to medium body. Another example of the irregularity in the Right Bank in 2003.
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