April 30, 2024 - Cabernet Sauvignon 73% and Merlot 27%, aged in oak (50% new), total acidity 3.14 g/l, 13% vol.
Decanted an hour before dinner and highly enjoyed with bred and a selection of French cheese. Starts like a very classic Pauillac, gets more power and fruit with additional air. On the nose dark berries, tobacco and with more air underwood and a suggestion of funky notes, on the palate it started fresh and dry with some edges, gets quite powerful and rounded up with more time in the glass, ends very long.
In a great spot now and with ages to go. Recommendation to decant for more than an hour at the current stage.
April 12, 2024 - Warm fruit, still some tannin in the background, gentle spice. Slightly atypical for Pauillac, no doubt related to the year. No rush but won't improve from here.
April 1, 2024 - Hard to believe this is a 2003. Maybe it’s the effect of later, climate changed wines, but this does not feel so outsized or “solar.” There is definitely a lot of runway left, as the fruit is still prominent, and there’s a finishing dash of tannin that does more than just provide structure. Some developed character is creeping in around the edges, with hints of leather and cedar, but overall this still feels youthful, which is hard to believe for a 21 year old wine. Glad I have more.
February 24, 2024 - Tasted after 2 hrs in the decanter.
Youthful fruit, resolved tannins, nice complexity. Medium body.
Ready now, no room to improve.
Loving this now.
February 2, 2024 - 10 December 2022
Intense ruby red. Komplex Grand Cru casis nose, Elegant and well developed after 19 years. It is a very elegant Pauillac. Great wine on a pritty high level. Taste is intense, Cabernet driven, mocca, ripe. Great pleasure to drink it now. Drunk this wine over years. Started to open arround 2020. Now it is a perfect Pauillac Gand Cru. It will stay at this level over the next years.
Update 2 February 2024:
Still in good shape. Drinking window is still open, 2026+.
Cassis, mocca, classic Cabernet Sauvignan driven Bordeaux. Need 2h to show its beauty. Value Pauillac. Realy great wine now!!!
January 7, 2024 - Continues to be a great value and drinks above its original price point. Classic Pauillac (the auction price keeps rising). I have had 2024 down as the last year in the drink window for this wine. I do not recall where I picked up this drink window. The wine shows no sign of tiring. It might make sense to move that window back a little.
January 1, 2024 - Really enjoyable and smooth
December 25, 2023 - Muted
December 18, 2023 - 10th bottle over the last few years. This has become my benchmark and go-to bottle for nice "high-end" Bordeaux. It is always appreciated by guests not so used to drink much wine. Some slight bottle variation but the last one was showing great with no signs of being over the hill. Drank with friends at dinner alongside Duhart Milon 1985 & 2009. First bottle empty and tastiest wine of the night. 2009 was fantastic, a more velvety palate but the 2003 has the mix of maturity paired with strong fruit that the 2009 will have some day in the future. 1985 is one to avoid imo.
November 24, 2023 - Consistent with my previous notes. Fully mature and very good.