2003 Château Valandraud

Community Tasting Notes (24) Avg Score: 92.4 points

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  12/4/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 93 Points

  Valandrau vertical (1991-2020) (Fribourg): Selected tasting notes from a complete Valandraud vertical (1991-2020) hosted by a collector with an estate representative. Main observation was that both the work the estate did during the transition phase 2000-2012 is clearly bearing fruit in more recent vintages, further helped by warmer growing seasons that are favorable for this cool site in St Emillon. Additional comments included in the tasting story.
  
  Tasting note:
  This was decanted prior to serving. a spicy peppery element, fresh herbs, a ripe and pretty extracted fruit of cherry, earthy base notes but rather faint. a fresh palate, good presence and adding leather to the decent length finish. the amount of oak adds a rustic and plump element, but otherwise enjoyable and still in check.

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  5/7/2023 - Cailles wrote: 88 Points

  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: Very ripe dark berries, dark red berries. Too ripe on the nose. Animalistic. On the palate ripe dark and dark red berries. Less over the top than the nose would suggest. Ripe fruit and minerality but not much more. Quite elegant, even though the tannins are a bit drying. With a bit of air this took a turn for the bad and dried out. At first 90pts, later 84pts.
  
  Decanting: It didn’t develop well with air.
  
  Group average: 87.5 pts
  Group rank: Shared 27th out of 29 reds

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  3/20/2023 - sirpat00 wrote: 80 Points

  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:
  Slightly cooked fruit and beef juice like notes. There are some nicer, sweet features, but not enough to save this. Same on the palate. Too cooked and acidity is taking overhand. Very end of life from a drinking window perspective I found and a disappointing Valandraud.

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  12/21/2022 - Burgnick wrote: 90 Points

  Decanted for 3 hours before serving. Plum fruit, cassis, dried prunes and earth on the nose. Palate is fresh but pruney. While I absolutely adore the 95,97,98 vintage of the more classic Valandraud, the 03 is not my preference stylistically as it it too modern.

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  4/12/2019 - stevenc.rees@gmail.com Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Definitely a newer style; Very tasty but needed to open up over an hour or so. Ready now.

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