March 1, 2024 - No tasting note written.
January 12, 2024 - Réduite/déviante!
November 2, 2023 - Tasted annually, this was one the best bottles so far. Whether this is down to variance, or the last 12 months has finally moved it to its peak. I suspect the latter. Everything is integrated and well balanced with secondary and early tertiary notes. My only barrier to a higher rating is the finish, which has become a little over tannic as the fruit has faded. 93+
October 12, 2023 - Super classic Bordeaux. Pencil shave and cigar box. No fruit but still vibrant and fresh. Plenty of life in this one still. Most underrated Bordeaux vintage ever?
July 22, 2023 - Very dark red. Graphite and black currant nose. Full bodied, black and red fruit, some fruit liqueur. Tannin is obvious but fine and attractive. Will live until its 30th birthday, no problem.
July 6, 2023 - Fully matured now, will drink well for sometime. This is a classic SJ. Lovely
June 20, 2023 - Atualizando adega
June 7, 2023 - Another stellar 2003 shining at age 20. These wines are excelling.
May 15, 2023 - Young, sturdy.
May 7, 2023 - Bordeaux 2003 – 20 Years On – 33 Reds: All wines tasted blind, not decanted (some wines would have needed it). Observations: 1) 2003 is not a good vintage. The wines don’t have the depth and elegance of good years. But I was positively surprised, that while it’s clearly a hot year, there are less overripe, over-extracted and prematurely dying wines than in 09/10. Still, there is no comparison to how Chateauxs handle hot years today. 2) Compared to five other vintage retrospectives, the 2003 came in last place (lower average score than 2011), with just Chateau Margaux reaching a group score above 95pts. 3) Margaux wines showed best, with the typical immediate charm, while St. Estephe and Pauillac have potential but will need more time (and/or would have needed more air). 4) Right bank wines did not show as good with some alcohol showing and a few wines being on a downhill path. I would not chase 2003 right banks.
TN: Medium expressive nose circling around a ripe darker fruit core with a bit of minerality alongside. On the palate red berries, blue fruit, some seductive toasty notes. Not overly complex but well defined. The structure is good here with fine tannins and a good freshness. No excess weight. One of the positive surprises for but others liked it a bit less.
Decanting: A short decant should be sufficient.
Group average: 90.3 pts
Group rank: Shared 21st out of 29 reds