Bordeaux 2003 – 20 Years On – 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted (some wines would have needed it). Observations: 1) 2003 is not a good vintage. The wines don’t have the depth and elegance of good years. But I was positively surprised, that while it’s clearly a hot year, there are less overripe, over-extracted and prematurely dying wines than in 09/10. Still, there is no comparison to how Chateauxs handle hot years today. 2) Compared to five other vintage retrospectives, the 2003 came in last place (lower average score than 2011), with just Chateau Margaux reaching a group score above 95pts. 3) Margaux wines showed best, with the typical immediate charm, while St. Estephe and Pauillac have potential but will need more time (and/or would have needed more air). 4) Right bank wines did not show as good with some alcohol showing and a few wines being on a downhill path. I would not chase 2003 right banks.
TN: Sadly, this was corked. I like the more recent vintages under the helm of Pouthier a lot but hardly have any experience with older vintages. Hence, it would have been fun to taste this.
Group average: - pts Group rank: Shared 29th out of 29 reds
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Grand Bordeaux 2003 horizontal tasting (Fribourg): Bordeaux 2003 vintage horizontal hosted by a private collector and moderated by Jean-Marc Quarin. Main observations: 1/ Average quality is acceptable, but weighted down by various low-lights, esp. on the right bank. 2/ In general a tannic vintage, lacking balance. 3/ Top 3 wines were Lafite, Mouton and Margaux (all 95). See the tasting story for a complete overview and additional vintage comments.
Tasting note: Corked unfortunately. mostly cardboard and hard to find anything else.
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This fully mature Pessac-Leognan from an estate in Graves neighboring Chateau Haut-Brion offers a dense crimson colour and lovely aromas of dried cranberries, mint leaf and fresh lavender. It is medium to full-bodied with fine notes of dark fruit and milk chocolate shaving. The finish is moderate. Not the best value at £40 but nonetheless a very pleasant drinking experience. Drink now.
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From a magnum. My last of the vintage. Decanted 3 hours. Still pretty firm and not as supple as the Pontet Canet 2002. Some nice wood, leather and spice.
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Au début le nez n'était pas tout à fait clean, des notes de réduction, de cuir et de champignons...assez animal et végétal!!! Un peu mieux avec l'aération! En bouche, chocolat et beaux tannins "nobles" en prime!!! Finale moyenne! Un vin assez évolué et sur son plateau...à surveiller pour l'évolution!
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From a magnum. Decanted 1 hr. Youthful. Comparing this to a previous tasting from a 750ml, I did not get some of the nuances. Perhaps bottle variation or because of the larger format. This was medium bodied with a firm structure, medium tannins and a lingering finish. I won't drink my other magnum until 2015.
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Some creamy dark red and black fruits on the nose with a touch of earthy barnyard- not as much as other bottles I've had. Seductive cedar notes and a bit of tobacco leaf. Classic Pessac Bordeaux on the palate. Great mouthfeel and fruit. Love the backbone that this wine always shows. Great acid on the finish. Very nice as always.
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5/7/2023 - Cailles wrote: flawed
Bordeaux 2003 – 20 Years On – 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted (some wines would have needed it). Observations: 1) 2003 is not a good vintage. The wines don’t have the depth and elegance of good years. But I was positively surprised, that while it’s clearly a hot year, there are less overripe, over-extracted and prematurely dying wines than in 09/10. Still, there is no comparison to how Chateauxs handle hot years today. 2) Compared to five other vintage retrospectives, the 2003 came in last place (lower average score than 2011), with just Chateau Margaux reaching a group score above 95pts. 3) Margaux wines showed best, with the typical immediate charm, while St. Estephe and Pauillac have potential but will need more time (and/or would have needed more air). 4) Right bank wines did not show as good with some alcohol showing and a few wines being on a downhill path. I would not chase 2003 right banks.
TN: Sadly, this was corked. I like the more recent vintages under the helm of Pouthier a lot but hardly have any experience with older vintages. Hence, it would have been fun to taste this.
Group average: - pts
Group rank: Shared 29th out of 29 reds
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3/20/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: flawed
Grand Bordeaux 2003 horizontal tasting (Fribourg): Bordeaux 2003 vintage horizontal hosted by a private collector and moderated by Jean-Marc Quarin. Main observations: 1/ Average quality is acceptable, but weighted down by various low-lights, esp. on the right bank. 2/ In general a tannic vintage, lacking balance. 3/ Top 3 wines were Lafite, Mouton and Margaux (all 95). See the tasting story for a complete overview and additional vintage comments.
Tasting note:
Corked unfortunately. mostly cardboard and hard to find anything else.
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1/31/2023 - Tao wrote: 90 Points
Colour: Dark ruby red, slightly watery brick rim
Nose: Intense, strong wild berry fruits, a touch of game, a touch of leather, wild mushrooms.
Palate: Earthy fruits in substantial size, meaty in texture, and a little dull at this stage.
I suspect it needs a bit more time for the ageing, I'll take the 'Wait and see' approach!
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8/21/2020 - Pancreatitis wrote:
Utterly delicious mature Bordeaux, truffle, hoisin, mushroom, treading between secondary and tertiary but quite Burgundian.
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12/6/2015 - Wineguy76 wrote: 89 Points
This fully mature Pessac-Leognan from an estate in Graves neighboring Chateau Haut-Brion offers a dense crimson colour and lovely aromas of dried cranberries, mint leaf and fresh lavender. It is medium to full-bodied with fine notes of dark fruit and milk chocolate shaving. The finish is moderate. Not the best value at £40 but nonetheless a very pleasant drinking experience. Drink now.
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12/21/2014 - plitton wrote: 90 Points
From a magnum. My last of the vintage. Decanted 3 hours. Still pretty firm and not as supple as the Pontet Canet 2002. Some nice wood, leather and spice.
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1/26/2013 - plitton Likes this wine: 91 Points
Terrific. Some notes of vanilla in a rich, complex palate. Should continue to age well through 2017.
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3/5/2011 - maxima wrote: 89 Points
Au début le nez n'était pas tout à fait clean, des notes de réduction, de cuir et de champignons...assez animal et végétal!!! Un peu mieux avec l'aération!
En bouche, chocolat et beaux tannins "nobles" en prime!!! Finale moyenne!
Un vin assez évolué et sur son plateau...à surveiller pour l'évolution!
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6/22/2010 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
From a magnum. Decanted 1 hr. Youthful. Comparing this to a previous tasting from a 750ml, I did not get some of the nuances. Perhaps bottle variation or because of the larger format. This was medium bodied with a firm structure, medium tannins and a lingering finish. I won't drink my other magnum until 2015.
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9/7/2009 - MatthewF wrote:
Some creamy dark red and black fruits on the nose with a touch of earthy barnyard- not as much as other bottles I've had. Seductive cedar notes and a bit of tobacco leaf. Classic Pessac Bordeaux on the palate. Great mouthfeel and fruit. Love the backbone that this wine always shows. Great acid on the finish. Very nice as always.
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4/4/2009 - Surfdoc wrote: 89 Points
Med-dark purple. Earthy barnyard, hay and cassis nose. Wet stone, pencil lead and cassis on the palate with well rounded tannins.
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5/22/2006 - redsauced wrote: 90 Points
Complex, earthy, fruit showed after a few hours. Worth waiting for.
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4/20/2006 - plitton wrote: 92 Points
Sams Wine and Spirits Highland Park Grand Opening Private Tasting: Earthy, musky nose with lots of olives. Delicious tannin structure--complex with lots of layers. Should age very well.
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4/1/2004 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Ch. Carbonnieux: Alcoholic; bright berries; med. bod & t’s; good bal, a bit light, though, maybe earlier ager?
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