As to my personal taste, this was spot on ( à point ), no need for further cellaring.
+ Preparation : 1/2 bottle via Coravin ( day 1) and 1/2 bottle pop and pour ( day 2 ) + Colour : for 15+ years, surprisingly still quite vibrant red, slightly discolouration around edges and watery rim + Nose : coffee, vanilla, refined woody, fine green dried herbs, cherry, black fruits, coco, black pepper, cherry liquor + Taste : fine, subtle, some heat, a bit dry, black fruits, tobacco, earthy, complex + Finish : long, the herbs get you, still some juice left, very tasty
Again, to personal taste, this is at peak for me. Blind would have guessed St. Emilion, but nevertheless its Pomerol !
Mathijs
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Its been while since I popped a cork off off my case of this...Glad I waited. This has turned into a nice surprise with lots of perfume. The palate seems a bit St. Emilion rather than pomerol because it seems a bit contrived by charred wood, giving it some SE smokiness. Never the less, a beaut, but not a Pomerol of my memory. Drink or Hold, at peak.
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Soft and clean on the nose, with blackcurrant, plum, earth, cedar oak, and a touch of vanilla. High acidity, medium(+) body, medium(+) tannins already quite integrated. Medium finish. A gentle and restrained wine, which just avoids being too much so. Drink now and over the next few years.
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Double decanted and left in bottle for two hours before drinking it. It was a nice red color with no indication of moving to Garnet or Brick. The lip was a little thin which came with the age. The nose was black berry, black cherry, plum with some chocolate and hints of vanilla. It was medium bodied with a silky texture and balanced tannins. Mid palate was a little floral, with earth, dark cherry and plum. The finish was mid length in finish. I have one bottle left and will hold for a year or so.
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This wine has certainly gained weight since our last visit 18 months ago...
Showing maturity with its ambering edges and clarity, with increasing viscosity over 3 hours. Given its 2003 signature, it is full of ripe fruit, intertwined with overripe fruit, and for that reason should be enjoyed sooner rather than later. Tasting notes include cherries, reclaimed oak, and pomerol.
My experience with LAP is that the wines tend to be light bodied and elegant and very enjoyable as long as they are not matched with opulent wines in the same evening. I have also seen these wines reach a maturity, a decline, and a resurge to greatness, such as the 1995. Given the price and the pedigree, I find this a bargain and a great dinner party wine.
Drink it over next 3 years and save a couple bottles for 10 years.
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Night 1: not a whole lot going on at all, very muted nose and the palate, while having a seductive texture, had no fruit to speak of and a very strong taste of graphite on the finish. 79 pts Night 2: began to open up and actually taste like more along of what I had hoped. The fruit was there,but very disjointed and over the course of the evening began to taste slightly oxidized. 84 pts Overall - Highly disappointing. I was never expecting anything mind blowing due to the vintage however I was expecting more. I would say if you have it to decant it for a couple hours and drink now.
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Mouiex: Fruits du bois; forest strawberry, soft leather, cocoa, rasp.; very easy entry, frt. in mth and then t’s come on--plenty of earth, lots of a’s, long stingy fin.
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7/7/2022 - Odedis.Wine.reviews Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.
Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity.
Showing red and black fruits with earth, tobacco, oak, licorice, eucalyptus, herbs, light vanilla, black tea and black pepper.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity and a soft mouthfeel.
This 2003 vintage is showing very nicely now. Drinks very young, and feels more like a 5 years old.
Good right out of the bottle, and better with an hour of airtime.
This delicious 19 year old Merlot is peaking now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next 10 years.
Good by itself or with food. I paired it with a pizza with arugula, cherry tomatoes and prosciutto.
A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged in French oak barrels (40% new) for 16 months.
13% alcohol by volume.
92 points.
$75.
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11/30/2019 - Mathijs81 Likes this wine: 91 Points
As to my personal taste, this was spot on ( à point ), no need for further cellaring.
+ Preparation : 1/2 bottle via Coravin ( day 1) and 1/2 bottle pop and pour ( day 2 )
+ Colour : for 15+ years, surprisingly still quite vibrant red, slightly discolouration around edges and watery rim
+ Nose : coffee, vanilla, refined woody, fine green dried herbs, cherry, black fruits, coco, black pepper, cherry liquor
+ Taste : fine, subtle, some heat, a bit dry, black fruits, tobacco, earthy, complex
+ Finish : long, the herbs get you, still some juice left, very tasty
Again, to personal taste, this is at peak for me. Blind would have guessed St. Emilion, but nevertheless its Pomerol !
Mathijs
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1/6/2019 - Cikgoo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Spicy, juicy, more leftbank Medoc like infact, but still have that merlot silkiness
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5/13/2018 - Purple Tooth wrote: 91 Points
Its been while since I popped a cork off off my case of this...Glad I waited. This has turned into a nice surprise with lots of perfume. The palate seems a bit St. Emilion rather than pomerol because it seems a bit contrived by charred wood, giving it some SE smokiness. Never the less, a beaut, but not a Pomerol of my memory. Drink or Hold, at peak.
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1/15/2017 - ozyloy wrote: 90 Points
Soft and clean on the nose, with blackcurrant, plum, earth, cedar oak, and a touch of vanilla. High acidity, medium(+) body, medium(+) tannins already quite integrated. Medium finish. A gentle and restrained wine, which just avoids being too much so. Drink now and over the next few years.
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12/12/2014 - AlphaL Likes this wine: 92 Points
Double decanted and left in bottle for two hours before drinking it. It was a nice red color with no indication of moving to Garnet or Brick. The lip was a little thin which came with the age. The nose was black berry, black cherry, plum with some chocolate and hints of vanilla. It was medium bodied with a silky texture and balanced tannins. Mid palate was a little floral, with earth, dark cherry and plum. The finish was mid length in finish. I have one bottle left and will hold for a year or so.
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11/12/2014 - lkatz Likes this wine: 90 Points
I've enjoyed drinking this wine. It matured nicely, while not a standout it certainly drank well...my last bottle
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3/30/2014 - Purple Tooth wrote: 90 Points
This wine has certainly gained weight since our last visit 18 months ago...
Showing maturity with its ambering edges and clarity, with increasing viscosity over 3 hours. Given its 2003 signature, it is full of ripe fruit, intertwined with overripe fruit, and for that reason should be enjoyed sooner rather than later. Tasting notes include cherries, reclaimed oak, and pomerol.
My experience with LAP is that the wines tend to be light bodied and elegant and very enjoyable as long as they are not matched with opulent wines in the same evening. I have also seen these wines reach a maturity, a decline, and a resurge to greatness, such as the 1995. Given the price and the pedigree, I find this a bargain and a great dinner party wine.
Drink it over next 3 years and save a couple bottles for 10 years.
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2/13/2014 - ELH wrote: 90 Points
Decanted in the glass for half hour. Plums and cassis but somewhat muted, soft leather, touch of earthiness. Restrained on the nose.
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11/4/2013 - lkatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
drank very well....smooth with muted fruit and a little musty but all combined for a very enjoyable bottle of wine
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11/10/2009 - Giladog wrote: 89 Points
Quite good in my opinion, relative to the reviews. I would say that it is balanced, and mature, drinking well now.
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3/28/2009 - BarnyardFunk wrote: 84 Points
Very muted all around. Cherry vanilla strawberry on the nose. On the mouth, graphite, dark cherries and plastic eraser.
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3/28/2009 - junglejuice wrote: 84 Points
Night 1: not a whole lot going on at all, very muted nose and the palate, while having a seductive texture, had no fruit to speak of and a very strong taste of graphite on the finish. 79 pts
Night 2: began to open up and actually taste like more along of what I had hoped. The fruit was there,but very disjointed and over the course of the evening began to taste slightly oxidized. 84 pts
Overall - Highly disappointing. I was never expecting anything mind blowing due to the vintage however I was expecting more. I would say if you have it to decant it for a couple hours and drink now.
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4/2/2004 - peternelson wrote: 91 Points
Mouiex: Fruits du bois; forest strawberry, soft leather, cocoa, rasp.; very easy entry, frt. in mth and then t’s come on--plenty of earth, lots of a’s, long stingy fin.
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