Some Like it Hot - 2003s, TTTG at Steve's

Steve's House
Tasted Thursday, October 15, 2015 by Saint Stephen with 414 views

Introduction

I organized a tasting of 2003 (mostly) French wines for the Third Thursday Tasting Group. Served alongside rustic coq au vin soup, medium rare spiced beef eye round roast, and plenty of bread and cheeses.

Flight 1 - Openers - 2003 Sauternes (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Château Rieussec 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    The best and most complete of 4 sweet 2003s to bookend a broader 2003 tasting. Honey, citrus, pineapple,botrytis.

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  • 2003 Château Suduiraut 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

    Flat delicious, this wine is a trashy hooker. I wouldn't call it out of balance or cloying but I wouldn't call it complex either. Don't think too hard. A porn star in a bottle. And I mean that in the most respectful way...

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Flight 2 - St. Emilion (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Château Pipeau 84 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    This was just OK. High acid provided the only structure and left the rest of the palate feeling thin. Dominated by the Clos Fourtet sitting next to it, but I supposed that is to be expected. Drink up.

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  • 2003 Clos Fourtet 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

    Quite good. Complete, well stuffed and balanced with a great lively nose and resolved tannin. The group liked this wine a lot. Unlike the Pipeau in the next glass I think this wine will last another decade but given the vintage I'm not sure it will make old bones.

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Flight 3 - Margaux (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Château Giscours 84 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    Something wasn't right here. Don't think it was corked but it was somewhat disjointed and wasn't very pleasing. I hope this is bottle variation of some type given I'm sitting on the better part of a case.

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  • 2003 Château Lascombes 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

    One of the top wines in a tasting of 2003s. Notably better than the 03 Giscours served alongside, but it's possible something was wrong with that bottle. The group included a couple of Lascombes detractors yet everyone liked this bottle. Oaky, somewhat grippy tannins are still noticeable but I expect the fruit will survive them.

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Flight 4 - Sneaky Chateauneuf (2 Notes)

  • 2003 Domaine du Pégau Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée Flawed

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    CORKED and badly so. Sigh.

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  • 2003 Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    France, Rhône, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape

    Good heavens I don't know what to make of this wine. Fourth bottle I've opened (admittedly over several years) and each time it's like spinning the Wheel of Mystery. You never know what you're gonna get. I half expect the next bottle to taste like Chablis. This specimen was entirely ass-kicking, but not entirely in a good way. I think I recall David describing this through gritted teeth and some defibrillator gestures as young dry port on steroids.

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Flight 5 - St. Julien (2 Notes)

Flight 6 - Port (2 Notes)

Closing

Great night with good friends. I came away thinking that the 2003s are spottier than many other vintages, but that the strong wines are very, very good.

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