2003 Château Barreyres

Community Tasting Notes (3) Avg Score: 81.5 points

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  12/22/2007 - ianpaling wrote:

  This week's wine, the Chateau Barreyres 2003, from a very hot vintage that was subject to just as much hype as 2005 was, if not more. is very true to form. It has a lovely deep colour when decanted, plainly rich but not black or opaque, a welcome sign. The nose kicks off with a blast of super-ripe fruit, firmly in the blueberry-blackcurrant arena. It suddenly whisks me back to the Il Campo in late 2005, where I had my first taste of several 2003 Chianti Classicos; this wine has that same plump, super-ripe fruit character that comes from a very warm vintage, which obviously crosses geographical and varietal boundaries. In the glass it opens up further, tossing up some background buttery oak, roasted coffee and a clear, vibrant, smoky charcoal. It starts off rather spirity and off-putting, but with a little time I really warm to the nose. The palate has a welcoming, plump, rounded entry with a soft, open-knit style, fairly firm although not unobtrusive tannins and low acidity. It maintains a slightly reserved character through the midpalate though, despite the obvious fruit, so it remains identifiably claret. The only twinge of concern is on the finish, where suddenly it all looks a little attenuated and stretched, as the fruit fades and the structure persists with a slightly inky presence. A good wine, not for anything other than short-term keeping. It's not quite reminiscent of that early taste of Barreyres, lacking the even blend of balance, intensity and persistence that a truly great vintage brings, but it offers an appealing, short and for me sentimental journey just the same

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  3/18/2007 - Rabbitstabbers wrote: 84 Points

  There was nothing subtle about this one. A big bruiser with hopped up tannins that practically stuck my cheeks together. There were some herbal, tobacco, and deep red fruits there, but the overwhelming tannins blew all that away. For the price ($15 at Moore Bros), it is a worthy artisan style wine, just...not yet. Maybe try it in 2009 or so.

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  1/1/2007 - markfitz wrote:

  There is a big fruity nose, smelling of dark berries, blackcurrant being to the fore and maybe black cherries too. The mid-palate is generous and tasty before the wine slides into an unpleasant, bitter finish. Not great.

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