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Red
2003 Behrens & Hitchcock The Contender
Red Bordeaux Blend
- USA
- California
- Napa Valley
Community Tasting Notes 12
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cacastine Likes this wine: 92 points
May 23, 2023 - A friend and I pulled this out of the "over the hill" part of his cellar after a bottle of Riesling left us wanting some more....punch. There was a slight hint of disjointedness and high alcohol aroma upon opening that actually seemed to pull itself back together and mellow out after 30-45 minutes. Nice medium deep ripe dark fruit, fresh wood, with slightly muted acidity and fine grainy mid palate tannin still lingering in a big powerful wine. Wine was really good and this particular bottle was not at all past its prime yet...
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gfm10 Does not like this wine:
September 7, 2019 - wine was no good.
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ProfBainbridge Likes this wine: 94 points
April 2, 2016 - The 2003 B&H Contender is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that came in at 14.6% alcohol. Last noted in February 2015, when I called it "a very good but not great wine." With an additional year of aging, this bottle was much improved. There was no sign of the "odd hoppy/resinous aroma" that detracted from the last bottle. It had thrown a lot of sediment, which required decanting. When sampled after about 30 minutes in the decanter it had a big bouquet of rich dark fruits, leather, and spice. On the palate, it was medium- to full-bodied, suggesting blackcurrants, black cherries, prunes. leather, tobacco, and rich warm spices.
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Mscruggs Likes this wine: 92 points
October 21, 2015 - This wine was drinking great, we decanted it about an hour before drinking!
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Mscruggs wrote: flawed
March 25, 2015 - Unfortunately this bottle was corked (TCA), plan to open another one soon to try.
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By Stephen Tanzer
May/June 2005, IWC Issue #120 (link)(Behrens and Hitchcock Red Wine The Contender Napa Valley) Subscribe to see review text.
Wine Definition
- Vintage 2003
- Type Red
- Producer Behrens & Hitchcock
- Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
- Designation The Contender
- Vineyard n/a
- Country USA
- Region California
- SubRegion Napa Valley
- Appellation Napa Valley
Community Holdings
- Pending Delivery 6 (2%)
- In Cellars 150 (38%)
- Consumed 239 (61%)
Food Pairing
No food pairings available.
Who Likes This Wine
83% Like It 6 votes
More About This Wine
Articles
- ProducerBehrens & Hitchcock
- VarietyRed Bordeaux Blend
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley
Add Articles
- Wine2003 Behrens & Hitchcock The Contender (add)
- FamilyBehrens & Hitchcock The Contender (add)
- ProducerBehrens & Hitchcock
- VarietalRed Bordeaux Blend
- DesignationThe Contender (add)
- CountryUSA
- RegionCalifornia
- SubRegionNapa Valley
- AppellationNapa Valley