2003 Morgenster

Community Tasting Notes (26) Avg Score: 90.5 points

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  12/30/2022 - Frankie63 Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Dried out cork. But once solved, beautiful mature wine. Definitely not over the top. Dark red color, lots of tertiary notes. Good balance, love it.

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  6/11/2022 - Lype Likes this wine:

  Cassis and clean earthy scents on the nose, the palate is ripe but fresh and lively, strong cassis flavors are complemented by fresh red fruit, red bell pepper and leafy feel. Good matching acidity and resolved tannins make this nicely harmonious. This vintage sits comfortably on its plateau of maturity and is very enjoyable now, an excellent showing.

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  5/26/2022 - rwilk_2000 wrote: 90 Points

  Drinking beautifully. Fully mature, subtle wine. Never had a nearly 20 year old SA cab. No need to aerate, typical SA vegetal characteristics totally gone. Was a joy to drink.

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  3/5/2021 - Redbordo wrote: 90 Points

  Still drinking ok but soft corks can be a problem with this vintage

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  7/26/2020 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points

  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (39%), Cabernet Franc (31%) and Merlot (30%) from Helderberg. Aged for 13 months in 300-liter oak barrels (90% new). 13,5% alcohol, <2,5 g/l residual sugar, 5,9 g/l acidity and pH 3,65.
  
  Somewhat translucent and slightly evolved dark cherry red color. Savory, somewhat evolved nose with an air of a classic Bordeaux. Attractive aromas of wizened blackcurrants, some woody notes of pencil shavings, light beef jerky tones, a little bit of tobacco, herbaceous hints of bell pepper and chipotle and an autumnal touch of leaves. The wine is somewhat lighter and drier than Morgensters 2001 and 2008 tasted alongside, but not one bit less impressive. Quite intense and wonderfully layered flavors of ripe blackcurrants, cooked bell pepper, some tobacco, a little bit of brambly black raspberry, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a hint of gamey meat and a bittersweet touch of dark chocolate. The structure relies more on the high acidity than on the almost-fully resolved, silky tannins. The finish is long, complex and gently grippy with dry, savory flavors of black raspberries, some sweeter dark plums, a little bit of sweet blackcurrant marmalade, light woody notes of pencil shavings, a hint of pipe tobacco and a touch of bell pepper.
  
  A beautiful, harmonious and very classic South African red. There's quite a bit of ripeness here, but the wine is nevertheless remarkably savory, fine-tuned and all in all thoroughly Bordelais in feel. Although I would've enjoyed a bit more tannic action here, the wine is nevertheless wonderfully balanced with layers upon layers of flavors. I love it how the wine has a somewhat new world feel to it, yet is more dry than sweet-toned, has quite modest level of alcohol for the style and especially the nose could fool one into believing this is a classic Bordeaux red. Most likely the wine will not just keep, but also improve for a few years more, but it is drinking beautifully right now and is in no need of further aging. A bargain at 36€. Outstanding stuff.

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