Slow-ox for 3 hours, nice ruby color with a little bricking. Oaky nose predominated on opening, but it faded, leaving lots of plum. The palate had tart fruit with fully resolved tannins. Good, but not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose of dried dark fruit, some leather, smoke and mild herbaceousness. Palate to match with medium dry finish and medium tannins. Lacks depth and complexity but it’s not bad overall. Seems to be in the downward phase of its life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very light and minimal flavors. This 2003 is probably the least impressive Chateau Monbousquet I've ever had, and I had three bottles with consistently underwhelming results. If you have any of this, drink it ASAP because it's really falling apart.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not my cup o tea...If blind, the oak floating from the top takes me to Napa. Then I taste, It could be a 2006 or 2007 Napa wine of 100 dollars or so in value that has not aged well. The grip and structure is clearly Napesque, with much tannin and stewed fruit. Then the acidity kicks in and then that makes me think a 2006/07 Brunello. Then I sniff the glass and realize that this ia another ambitious St. Emilion. Not a fan, and I would say, this is ok and on the decline for me. DRINK
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pinot Peter below nailed my experience. the wine opened fruit forward and then changed to more classic Bordeaux. I get a nose of orange peel, or maybe grapefruit with leather with dark cherry on the palate with hint of mint and tobacco and maybe cocoa. This wine is in a great place and probably won't get better. Also, not an exceptional Bordeau either but it was good for now and drink right away.
Deep red with no orange rim, good acidity, nose of leather and cassis. A good sweetness with a soft tannin residual. Mature flavours of dark chocolate, coffee, tobacco, ripe dark cherry. Good length. Very enjoyable and impressive ....but this has a more mature flavour profile then my preferred drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color/App: deep ruby core -> moderately deep ruby/garnet rim. Great nose of plums and cherries, cedar and some tobacco. Lush and full bodied, this showed particularly well vs. the '95 Chateau Margaux next to it. Group concluded that the Margaux was either too young still or the hardness of the (overrated) '95 vintage was to blame.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
in a perfect place right now. Baby fat gone and what is left is a pure magic. Despite many claims that this is too hot of the vintage, this Monbo is another elegant, well balanced, medium body and absolutely delicious Saint Emilion. Very lovely!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I think monbousquet generally underrated. The heat and ripeness of this vintage interefares with aging forming complexity. Smoked cherries and blueberries on the nose, juxtaposition of smooth and ripe texture. Enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Huge bouquet, wood, olive and some tropical notes. Powerful in the mouth, with full body and plenty of acidity. Sharp and packed with flavor. Peak of maturity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a stellar wine & has aged beautifully. Mature but not over the hill. Similar characteristics as prior tasting note. Well balanced & elegant profile with silky tannins. Wonderful wine & sad it’s my last bottle. Have 1 more ‘06 so I just bought some ‘16 at local store to restock. Will be looking for more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped this after we killed the '99 from same producer and again, easy to drink, but not as complex or interesting as the older wine. 1/2 is still in the fridge and will see how it has held up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a very nice expression of vintage. Opened at the restaurant, by the time 15 minutes had elapsed, it was drinking well. Some cassis, berries but muted. Held up well through a 2-hour meal. Drink now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted blind. Fully mature with classic Bordeaux aromas in the glass and copious amounts of secondary notes of tobacco, saddle leather, and cedar. On the backend, it has a touch of band-aid with a long finish. Drink up. The fruit won’t last much longer in this wine and it will very soon turn into an old leather shoe.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
PNP. Smoke, Ripe dark fruit, good weight and tannins in check. Wine seems to have firmed up a bit since I tried it a few year's ago. Delicious now. Enjoy
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
From my cold cellar, this bottle did not seem quite mature yet, with significant tannic presence. After double aeration and decanting, and paired with a big fat ribeye, it softened up considerably. Though still not what I'd call charming, it showed quite a lot of character and depth. A few more bottles of this in the cellar, and I'd recommend leaving them there for another year or two to see what happens.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful wine. Clear and bright with pretty significant bricking on the rim. Nose is initially very expressive, with fragrant currant and berry fruit, with some tobacco and leather. Medium bodied, getting a little dry, but still with sweet black cherry and plum fruit. Long finish. Delicious, but drying out a little. This was my last bottle, if I had more I would drink up. But I'll be buying more 2015.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has aged better than I expected in my 2010 note, apparently. The oak notes have receded, but the fruit is still pure and sweet in profile. Blackberry and cassis dominates. Still has ample structure, but the tannins are submerged and unobtrusive. Tasty, enjoyable, though it's not a great exemplar of Bordeaux character. Probably won't develop that character, either, so drink in the next two years or so while its youthful charms persist.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I'm sure this is bottle variation - this one was a little past its best. Quite smoky, losing its balance. Decent enough, but not close to the last bottle. I don't believe that 2 years makes that much difference, so this is down to the bottle. Drink this soon would be my advice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monbousquet continues to be an overachiever, drinking well this evening. Characteristic earthiness and some green vegetables. Nice rich and weighty mouthfeel predominately of stewed cherries, seemed youthful and lively. Affection for this property rewarded again
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Glass pour from Coravin. Typical Monbousquet bouquet: earthiness, forest loam and minerality. this vintage adds raspberries, grape jam and some wet straw. Very bright and generous. Aromatics are excellent here. Shy on the palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rim was showing s bit of brown but the wine tasted fine, fresh but ready to go with raspberry, underbrush and licorice notes. I was pleased but drink any time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs about an hour to open up and after it did, excellent! Good complexity, long finish, drinking well now but likely a few years from peak drinking window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Full, intense nose definitely has a modern flare with oak-imparted smoke, mocha, and exotic spice layered into black fruits. Palate is decided less intense than the nose and far more medium bodied than you might expect. Good acidity and balance. Though the concentration is lacking. Fine, but not the most exciting bottle of wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
NYC Tasters Guild: 2003 Bordeaux Retrospective: Drank at Tasters Guild in NYC for 2003 Bordeaux tasting. First of the night. Ruby red in color, some bricking. Generous floral nose, with violets & red fruit. A bit on the viscous side, good amount of ripe black fruit, with better-than-expected acidity level. On the plummy side, with some spice. Tannins mostly resolved leaving a silky, elegant pour. Good length too. Overall, a very nice wine that showed better than I had anticipated for the vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted and tried immediately. Color is deep ruby with some bricking; nose was highly aromatic while decanting, highly aromatic in the glass with cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, slight smoke, excellent complexity; palate is full bodied, rich smooth texture, plenty of red fruit throughout, medium balanced acidity, alcohol is very balanced and in check (would have guessed a classic 13.5% and the label says 13%), starting to develop some velvety chocolate, but overall less complex and persistent than the nose; medium finish. The nose has excellent complexity and depth along with freshness, and the palate is more about elegance, balance, and crispness. From my experience with this chateau (98, 99, 03 mostly), they are a very consistent St. Emilion with superb fruit, excellent depth, and though they are seen as a more modern producer, they are not overripe nor extracted. Even the 03 is wonderfully restrained. The most consistent right bank I have found, this will drink well now and for the next 5+ years, and a bit more persistence or complexity in the palate would elevate this further. 93-94 2 hours decanting: Drinking well, but not better than when first opened. Put back into cleaned bottle. 7 hours after opening, 5 of that in bottle: Lost a bit of freshness that made it so charming on first opening. These are ready to go now and will likely not improve with additional aging.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is in a great place right now, drinking beautifully. Secondary characteristics are starting to come through, though there remains enough fruit and acidity to retain a level of freshness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Medium nose has plum, smoke, tobacco and mocha notes. Palate has medium body with good concentration of dark red fruit. Good grippy tannin and medium acids. A solid and tasty BDX that is much more light and restrained than the vintage and producer might lead you to believe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Really well integrated tannins. Wine opened up rather fast in decanter (~1h) and held itself well over the next 2h (at which point, there was no more). A little earthiness wrapped up in silk. Some licorice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still showing generous opulent red fruits. Quite sweet but not as exotic as before. Starting to shed the 03 roasted vintage character a bit. really nice showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened this at TOWN restaurant. Opened up very nicely to show deep black and bliue fruit with warm cedar notes andlayers of smoky spice. Shows the ripeness of the vintage but not overblown at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
In the decanter and drank over 2+ hrs. Very expressive nose, dark cherry, tobacco, cassis and tar. Smooth and light on the palate with a touch leather and soy . Medium to long finish. This one was showing some age and at its peak or just making the turn. Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The evolution of this wine is very close to what I predicted upon release. It was a kind of kinky modern wine without layered fruits. Intensity without much nuance and very much red fruit driven nose with very strong presence of oak. Not much has changed. The fruit is still predominantly red albeit more prune than earlier, also a bit of exotic space albeit not as noticeable. The new oak cedar note is still quite noticeable. All the components have come together but still remain a bit monolithic. Not sure if there is much room to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Perhaps my chiller is not cool enough. This bottle is surprisingly mature. Did not expect 2003 could show mature tastes like leather and slightly Chinese medicine. However it still has strong taste of ripen fruit so it is wired to me. Objectively this bottle is not bad but really not my cup of tea. Somewhat like a matured Napa wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Gorgeous aromas, tobacco leaf, lavender, cassis. This wine is at its peak, with some tannins left. Medium full bodied it rolls over the tounge and lingers. Long finish, this wine has it all. The merlot based wine has nice aromatics
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We always enjoy Robuchon - anywhere in the world - but Hong Kong remains special with people we know and who know us, stunning execution of Robuchon's best dishes and a wonderful wine list. A nice sip albeit a very distant second to the Chateau Magdelaine. Perhaps the wine, very likely the vintage. Either way, very happy! We prefer their white.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Infinitely better than the bottle from 5 years ago (from the same 1/2 case purchased on release) - much more integrated; the wood less pronounced; the raisins disappeared. This wine may actually be developing into something better than good. Just as good on day 2 and given what it tasted like now probably a good future ahead of it...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dinner and Tasting @ 83 1/2 - Triple Play of Bordeaux Varietals. One of 8 wines we had for 10 people, and it was tasted blind.
This was one of the favorites of the group. But it really needed time to breathe and open up. Not a fruit bomb that many CA Merlots can be, but more restrained. I think it was pretty easy to ID this one as Bordeaux right away. It just got better and better as the night went on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
More evolved and integrated than a year ago. I was expecting a heavier wine but this was more medium bodied and pretty well put together for a warmer vintage. Tastes of dark olives, aniseed and BBQ, tannins quite fine but firm with a finish of moderate length. Pretty good Monbousquet which I suspect could develop more secondary complexity with a little more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Maybe even a bit better than the previous bottles of this vintage. Great black fruit, some flowers and herbs, classic Merlot. Maybe a bit big for a St. Emilion, almost New World in style, but very well balanced and food friendly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Funny, I'd echo the previous couple posts--this bottle is far more restrained than the last couple I've had, and is missing that overwhelming dark cherry/chocolate nose I've enjoyed previously. Having said that, I got a touch of funk, definite black olive, more blackberry, and overall just more earth. In some ways, this seems to be more complex than the other relatively larger bottles.
Again, for the price, Monbousquet remains either fantastically straight-forward or curiously complex.
Served with beef berbere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Similar to previous bottles, but the fruit in this one seemed maybe a touch overripe. Probably that was just bottle variation or storage, since I don't recall that from the other bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My least favorite bottle so far. Medium garnet color. Currant and cherry fruit. Not as deep as the previous bottle, lots of oak. Medium bodied. Good balance and nice fruit, but missing the richness of the previous bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
pleasant break amid too many over the top Bob Foley cabs....this bottle seemed more restrained than the last, but maybe just seemed that way after Foley...for $30, an excellent drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Halfway through my 2nd case. I am not a fan of 03 right bankers. I find 03 Troplong Mondot, Clos Fourtet and this to be too ripe, soft and oaky. Too much alcohol and too flabby. Perhaps I am being unfair to this wine, but I do not buy St. Emilions to taste like this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not the best Monbousquet but very good, and drinking well on the second night. Other than the heat 2003 clearly was unusual in a variety of ways, and my wine vocabulary isn't expressive enough to define, - there is a bit of spice to this, an edge that I don't expect from Monbousquet. I guess we are drinking this up while other vintages mature because while we have enjoyed the 03's we haven't loved any of them
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I like wine an awful lot. Some wines blow me away. Typically certain kinds, anyway. This one had a special something going on, but it felt as though that certain something was hidden behind a layer of something. Age? I am certainly no expert on the wines of Bordeaux, but I got the feeling that this wine is maybe a year past it's prime. Still lovely with some exotic notes. Good finish, spice, the works, really. Just overly mellow. More mellow than I wanted on this particular outing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little tight on opening, but loosened up after an hour. Revealing nose of black cherry, mocha, cigarbox, with notes of mint. Smooth, velvety mouthfeel that filled out nicely. Tannins seem to be integrating well. Acidity well-balanced. May be reaching its peak soon, but guess it would stay there for awhile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is drinking beautifully at the moment. Slow ox for a couple of hours. Color is beautiful dark garnet with no bricking at all. The nose is expressive with cherry, vanilla and some floral notes. On the palate we are talking a dark fruits cocktail, currants, cherry, a bit of camphor, pepper spice and a little graphite on the medium finish. All in all good stuff here. Have to believe this is prime time for this bottling and will try to drink my remaining two bottles by 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Clear, but dark garnet, cherry colour. Warm garnet rim. Intense to very intense on the nose, earthy, really typical bordeaux, cherry, plummy, loads of complexity. juicy, dark cherry and currant fruit, well structured palate, with lots of acidity and fine dry slightly bitter tannins, strong earthiness on the finish as well. Good complexity, nice fruit and a nice mature Bordeaux experience. No real rush, but drinking very well now. Tasted better at the end of the 2 hours than the beginning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was apprehensive about this bottle as it was in a wine locker at the club for sometime under poor conditions. Got it chilled a bit and it drank very well with ribs....decent integrated flavors
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last and best bottle of this. It does not seem to have aged as quickly as I had feared and as with some other '03s seems to have lost its burnt rubber smell. Now soft and fleshy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking very well now. Soft black fruit, with subtle, well-integrated, oak and tannins. Notes of flowers and herbs add complexity and the acid balance seems just right. Should have at least a few more good years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tannins are almost fully integrated, while some of the black fruits are still there. This is the 2nd bottle I have and while the other one was disappointing 3 years ago, I was right to wait. Wine approaching its peak, softer on the palate with a smooth lingering finish. One more bottle left !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nice bouquet, good color, medium bodied with vg mouthfeel; nice balance although it it could have had a bit more fruit; drank with a steak; wine needed some oomph but overall lots of flavor in a 13% alcohol wine; would drink again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A good wine, but was probably expecting a bit more. Soft palate with some drying tannins but lacking some depth in the fruit. It does need food and it paired very well with a lamb backstrap.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine is open and in prime drinking window. Fantastic. Great earthy backbone with violet fragrance. The fruit is still quite present and I show no sign of decline yet. This exceeded expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Currant and plum fruit on the entry, and then cherry and raspberry on the finish, with oak and smoke notes on the nose and palate with fully resolved tannins. Medium body and acidity and alcohol was not an issue nor was ripeness or jamminess, though New World in style. I would suggest drinking these soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Took well over 2 hours decant to open up at a restaurant. Ripe dark fruits and vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied. Smooth and soft tannin with a good finish. It is at the peak now and should last a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very complex nose at the open: dark fruit, candied cherry, meaty, cigar box, some sort of wood (pine) aroma. After decanting in the bottle for 1/2 hour, some smokiness, coffee bean, dark chocolate aromas came out. There was still some very light tannin. This wine was well balanced with good acidity. It had moderate plum and dark chocolate aftertaste. The nose was very attractive. This 03 bordeaux was not jammy at all. 5+13+17+8=93+pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love the Cab Franc elements - brussel spouts and some green peppers with nice sweet blueberries and black cherry underneath. A real mouthful. I can see this wine is not for everyone, but I like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great wine. Well integrated black fruit, cassis, pencil shavings and plum. Medium alcohol, soft tannins and medium plus finish. Can't wait to have another bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent wine and despite a pop and pour it showed extremely well. Medium bodied with notes of cassis, black cherry, anise, dark chocolate and farm earth. Silky tannins with great mid palate weight. Left half the bottle for revisit tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Time. That's what Monbousquet needs. Two hours after opening the bottle, I poured the first glass. An hour after pouring that glass, I gave it the first swirl. Immediately, the massive legs of the dark indigo wine revealed themselves. That meant the alcohol level is strong, which dominated my first sniff. So I let it sit another half hour. Upon the next swirls, heady aromas of fields and flowers, brambles and berries, spices and teas spun up out of the Eisch crystal. Finally, it was time for the first sip. It did not disappoint. Fine layers of cassis and blackberries, laid over plump plums, smoothed by notes of chocolate. The tannins have grip, yet are fully integrated. The finish is marvelously complex. I look forward to my next bottle. In two years. Why so long? Time is the friend of Monbousquet and those who wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Outstanding wine. Opened about 2 hours before dinner and poured a glass, rest aired in the bottle. On opening, very intense, very ripe fruit. At the 2 hour mark, very nice and balanced, rich fruit framed by hints of oak, coffee, and a lot of earthiness. My wife correctly called my attention to some floral scents on the nose, very pretty. Still dusty tannins. Quite robust. Finish is long and smooth with the dark fruit becoming most pronounced. A beauty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
45 min of air and drank over 2+ hrs. Cork was immaculate and this bottle showed extreme youth early on. 1 hr in the nose was expressive with bright plums and blackberries with touches of coffee, leather minerals, dirt and licorice. Very balanced, complex and smooth on the palate with a medium or better finish. Nothing overpowering but lots of subtle flavors in a well balanced, well made wine. Very enjoyable, but this bottle could have gone easily gone another 5+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
It took an hour or so, but as good as this wine is, it always makes me pine for the 2000 vintage. Nicely dense, overripe blueberries with some vanilla Oak and hints of underbrush and veggies.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet with a nose of coffee, chocolate, cassis and spice the wine is smooth on the palate with some unresolved tannins. Very good. May last 5 more years. No more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet (all of the 2003s had similar color) Modern nose but still all Bordeaux, rich mouthfeel, youngish side, no tertiary notes yet. When given a Cali summer, I guess you make a Cali wine. This did and did well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
decanted for a half hour: overly woody, tannic and harsh - but after another hour, the fruit came out and was much better, still woody but more of a leather/forest with milder tannins. Much better with dinner of grilled steaks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Building on my January, 2012 review, this Bordeaux continues to get better with age. Strongly recommend opening this wine, drinking one glass, putting a screw plug on it for 24/48 hours and then drinking. This Bordeaux opens up and becomes an absolute joy to drink with smooth tannins and complex blend of dark blackberry fruit and hints if barnyard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet in color the wine has a nose of coffee, chocolate, cassis and spice. Smooth on the palate with some unresolved tannin and acidity the wine is still youthful and vibrant and may last another 5 years, no more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Made in a modern style that a fan of classic Bordeaux will enjoy. Really nice aromatics and a well balanced easy drinking red that avoids those over ripe flavors. Nice surprise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
big rich modern, still fairly pronounced coffee traits from the oak...color still quite dark and no doubt this is a Perse wine from 2003. Delightful for what it is...covers that middle ground tween Bdx and Cali..sucked down quickly with friends over dinner at TPGC
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This has gotten better since the last tasting. Dark purple, opaque in the glass with good legs. Nose is filled with ripe black fruits, sugar coated cherry, violets, truffle and spice. Touches on the palate is smooth and rich, notes of currents, jam, expresso bean and cigar wrapper, surprisingly tannins seem to be in great balance with no hard edges at all. Nice structure, and grest finish with plum juice and light tobacco leaf.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Openned. poured a glass and let it sit for 1 1/2 hours. Sipped upon openning and it was tight but after 1 1/2 hours it was great with sweet tannins, dark fruits, some forest floor and the full, rich mouthfeel you get from Merlot based wines. Drank two glasses over 2 hours and it was loosing its fruit by the end. 92 after 1 1/2 hours of air but fell to an 89 by the end of the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
DRC Tasting Group: Le Pin (Cafe Veloce): Darker fruits and barrel spice on the nose. Big and serious wine. A touch of Brett, but it integrates nicely with the palate and doesn't overpower. Darker body, with fine tannins. Med+ finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had with dinner in a French BYO in Philadelphia. Started off a bit restrained but opened pretty quickly (no decanting involved) to show luscious dark fruits, soft tannins and a medium bodied nose. This is in a great drinking window. No signs of being too old so should keep for quite a while.
Brought by a guest - had it over two nights. I thought it was tight on night one, more expressive on the second night with an interesting lilac note on the nose and plush purple fruit on the palate. While quite polished and somewhat hedonistic, I found it a little syrupy on the finish and overall somewhat boring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wineflock - 2003 Bordeaux (Kenny's): My #9, Group #4 - Full dark red color. Bright red fruit nose with green pepper and black spice notes. Medium/thin black fruit on the palate and some bitterness on the finish. Group like this one better than me...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great modern style St. Emilion. Full bodied with rounded tannins, lots of fruit and length. Not necessarily a wine for long aging and it is super pleasure now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured a sample to see the progression. Nose of mature blackberries with a nice bit of barnyard, but closed as expected at first sip. Hours later, served with a plump pheasant done in a cask iron Dutch oven, swimming in chicken stock and a sacrificed merlot. The Monbousquet had opened up and was simply stunning with the pheasant. Perfectly silky and yet enough stuffing to balance the wild pheasant. Great balance, with red fruit, leather, and just enough earthiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark ruby/purple color gem from St Emilion, medium to full bodied, with scents of blackberry, spice, fresh grass, lavender on the nose. On the palate, notion of fresh oak, tobacco, forest floor, mint. Slightly strong tannin in the middle, which could use a few more years to soften up; but it's drinking well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Initially a big meaty funk on the nose, which somewhat blows off so that a sweet, spicy oak blend is also apparent. On the palate, New World mouthfeel but more savauge flavors than most from Napa. This bottle seems to have more structure than the last, as both acidity and tannins are evident. In the case of the latter, these are kept in check, and everything is relatively well balanced. A couple hours later, this wine really hits it stride. The meat on the nose has become a beautiful leather out of an English saddle shop. Surprisingly, the palate becomes much more subtle and integrated. Could be a function of all the savory appetizers served since this was first opened, but it is really shining two hours later in this meal-oriented environment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
If this is 13% alcohol then I'm a monkeys uncle. Apart from that, pretty tasty but really ripe fruit. Easily mistaken for a Napa blend. Has little 'classic' Bordeaux flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking absolutely lovely right now. Rich purple this rounded and plump beauty is a courtesan sure to please. Her aromatics are sexy and profound- sweet cherry licorice, jammy plums, cinnamon, spice, luscious cedar forest floor and more. A hedonistic blending othe Bordeaux four.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sampled 10/24/12. Dried blueberries, some Oak, a little black cherry and well rounded. Surpised there weren't any red fruit elements, but a full bodied wine that fills the mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful nose of crushed stone, spice & dark fruit. The tast was not at the same level as the nose but was very good none the less. I intend on drinking the rest of this case over the next 10-15 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
may have been a better rating had I let it open more. It needs a good 90 mins plus to "dust off." I enjoyed my last glass, but thats about it. You can taste the fruit, but prior to opening, its got a strong "coffee" type finish without the silky texture, so I wasn't loving it. Don't get me wrong, this is a nice bottle of wine -- you can tell the flavors are there, I just didn't give it enough time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
drinking really well. Fine, yet hefty tannin, a perfect balance of fruit and oak - there is the coffee nuance, but it does not take over. Long finish. Very nice tonight - perhaps the best it has tasted so far.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On the nose, dark fruits with a bit of funk and oak. Full-bodied and largely resolved on the palate, adding a touch of green to the flavor profile. A cross between Right Bank funk and New World styling. Evolving fairly quickly. Should be good for another several years, but doesn't need more time nor does it seem to have the structure for extended aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Forward nose with lots of dark fruit, green pepper and espresso. Bold thick mouthfeel with sweet tannins and a slightly spicy finish. This is a big wine that's probably better served with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still young but very approachable. Will deliver pleasure in every sip. For the price it's a steal. I absolutely agree with the note below. "beautifully perfumed with sweet fruit, damp earth, spice box, oak, espresso. Big juicy dark fruit with many of the same characteristics as the nose."
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was a big surprise for me..in a great way. The nose was beautifully perfumed with sweet fruit, damp earth, spice box, oak, espresso. Big juicy dark fruit with many of the same characteristics as the nose. Fleshy fruit, it nice secondary components developing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very tannic, not enough fruit to support it for future years Opened 2h before drinking A bit disapponting. Will lay the other ones for a few more years, just in case
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Like a prior bottle in 2010, but perhaps even a bit smoother. Sweet, ripe, dark fruits on the nose along with some spice, earth and oak. Somewhat lush on the attack and mid-palate with good balance, and then firms up a bit on the medium, slightly drying finish. Sweet, smooth, seamless, complex and deep. A bit fruit forward & new world in style and flavors, but with old world textures and complexity. This turned a bit raisiny after a few hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
beautiful wine with loads of fruits and spices, exotic and more like a new world style but still very balance for this very warm vintage with acidity and fruit. Vvery nice but with some high extracted tannin and loads of new oak.I really prefer the nose but this is a great bottle of wine! liked it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Unbelievably smooth, delicious dark fruit that beautifully integrates with the tannins. Silky and delicious; seems like the drinking window is absolutely perfect right now. You must decant for at least two hours to fully enjoy this wine. Yum!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 2 hours. Drank with braised leg of lamb. Little bit of earth and dark fruit on the nose, but not exactly bursting from the glass. Very pleasant on the palate but seemingly more restrained than what others have experienced. Surprising spicy kick on the finish was nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red cloudy red. Not much to add to my previous 2 reviews this year. Drinking nicely, but it does need at least an hour decanted to open up. Seems silkier than previous bottles. Long finsih.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not quite the 2000, but this was drinking very well. Earthy, dusty dark cherries and tobacco, medium body wasnt as fleshed out as the 00, but finishing long with a good acid structure and smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark red/purple. Nose of cassis, plum, some charred oak. Medium-full body, ripe fruit, bit of roasted character but not jammy or syrupy, no real complexity yet, moderate amount of fine-grained tannins, decent balance, medium finish. Very good-excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. To me this wine had a lot of nice fruit but not much else which made it rather boring. Hope the next bottle leaves more of an impression.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was the first bottle of a case I bought on release. I am very happy! Still primary, but very approachable fruit and structure. The thing that really stuck out was the finish...60+ seconds and beautiful. Drink up or hold for a good while...just depends on how you like your Bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sampled 9/14/11. Pop and pour. Fine layer of sediment affixed to the shoulders of the bottle. 15 minutes it was fully open. Slightly burnt blueberries, tobacco, some leather, very smooth, medium to full bodied. Finish is about 20 seconds. A very nice Bordeaux, although I still find the 2000 a better wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and poured two glasses and allowed them to breathe and slow ox'd the rest of the bottle for a little over an hour.the nose showed tons of oaky spice with black fruit. Full bodied and loaded with cassis and mocha. Medium acidity here and some tannic structure, but not nearly what I was expecting. The fruit is in charge and does dry out slightly after a few hours of air.
Controversial wine, and yes very modern. Lots of quality, and while not a wine I'd drink regularly, it was great with flank steak and trimmings for dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Somewhat monolithic and two-dimensional (lacking layers of scent and flavour), but big, concentrated, delicious and lingering on the palate. The bouquet is dark berries, cassis in particular, mocha and oaky notes. 50+5+11.5+17.5+8=92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I was relieved not to smell rubber on this bottle, as I had on earlier ones. Faint blueberry nose, with quite heavily charred oak still evident. The colour was somehow non-descript--neither aged nor bright but a consistent but pale hue throughout. The palate showed a lack of intensity and dry but not unpleasant tannins.
I find myself marking against what this is not--fresh, vibrant or fruity. But I'm heartened that this, amongst other 2003 Bordeaux, are not falling apart or becoming too dry, and some of the obvious initial over-ripe character has become muted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4-hr decant. Chasing the suggestion that '03s are drinking early, or NOW, we tested this with gorgeously rubbed and grilled bone-in chicken next to the oft-maligned-as-over-rated '03 Falesco Marciliano. The Monbousquet had much to say for itself: balanced, vibrant, unique, saline, and dignified. An entertaining aristocrat; an earthy prosciuto; a charming gentry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Some brett funk and saddle leather on the nose that blew off after 30 min, but left a not unpleasant whiff of loamy, mushroom complexity with toasted bread notes. Quite elegant and harmonius in the mouth, with classic cassis and red fruits in a very smooth package. Quite a treat to drink and has years to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is just lovely now. There is some lingering light tannin on the back. It is pretty opulent and went great with a medium rare T-bone we had this week! Rich dark fruits, mocca coffee. I had decanted it ca.90 minutes. It drank well over the whole time range. I have never been disappointed with this Chateau. It is not super aged at this point. I was worried that '03 would be a bit hot, but it is all in place. The tannin is getting quite low in my view and would not leave a very very long time. I would agree that is is pretty modern in style and silky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Started off the evening with this blockbuster St-Emilion. Deep and dense, with chewy red and black currant, lovely layers of spice, espresso, and toffee, and a long, supple finish. Outstanding, and just coming into its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I thought this was the most enjoyable bottle I have had this year. The colour was ruby, the nose came out as soon as the cork was drawn, rich fruit. Fresh fruit flavour, berries. Plenty of acidity, will probably last but drinking beautifully
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
We've enjoyed several bottles of '03 monbousquet in the past couple of years, and this is the first time we've ever been disappointed. The wine was okay, but about midway through the evening Jeff shook his head and said "this is just a faceless red." He was right -- no layers of flavor, no intriguing nose, no extended finish. We aren't sure if this was just one of those moments of bottle variation or if the wine is going through a "dumb" stage. We'll probably leave the rest of our bottles in the racks for a while, just in case it is the latter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
fabulas....typical of the style, dark notes of forrest floor and leather, but the typical mineral stone notes of the region...had it with venison...perfect...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened a case. Popped and poured. Great nose of rich pipe tobacco, coffee beans, and blackberries. Working the riedel released more red fruit, but still a wonderful backbone of fresh spicy tobacco. A good balance of fruit, acid, and tannins. medium length finish with coffee/expresso lingering.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4 hour decant. huge nose of toffee, chocolate, cedar and raisin. sweet red fruit and very silky on the palate. medium finish which improved toward the end of the bottle. impressive. good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Well made wine. Nice rich, black and red fruit. some tar, earth, leather, and cherry. big and layered. nice nose and powerful finish. it coats the entire palate. think it will be even better in couple of years. best 03 i have tried, liked it much more than the 2003 montrose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drinking perfectly for my tastes. Modern but balanced. Dark red fruit, tobacco, a bit of minerality. Delicious 2nd day. Only slightly roasted/pruny, but not distracting and less so than many '03 right banks that are now in downward spirals of gloppiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Sampled October 23, 2010. Typical modern Monbousquest - monster blue fruits up front. Although not the depth or complexity of the '00, still a great wine with a smootha and rich palate fill - long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
opened for 4 hours before tasting. Less coffee intense than the previous bottle, this was well-balanced by acid and tannin. In a great spot right now. Rich, without being heavy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I had low expectations after reading some other tasting notes, but I enjoyed this wine quite a bit. Nose of black fruit and some Brordeauxish scents. Very smooth with a medium finish. Paired well with some Spanish goat cheese (maybe Mahon).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Giving just a touch more than previous bottle with notes of jammy earth and black cherries. Still way too young and grippy. Won't touch again for at least a year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
No tasting note recorded, brought up for a Labor Day BBQ in Napa. Opened and consumed over five hours. This one left me scratching my head. Wood, with disjointed fruit. Still closed, It never fully came together over the course of the evening and I had a very hard time glimpsing any greatness to come. I will leave this one for several more years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep garnet color. Opens with white pepper and black cherry notes, turning to blackberry, plum and dark fruit with time in the glass. Currant and dark fruit flavors, subtle cured meat tone too; drying tannins harden across the finish. Developed some nice spicy oak tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Examination of Bordeaux (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Good, but a lit out of whack tonight. I thought the wood was overwhelming. Earthy wood, wood chips, tree bark. It took considerable coaxing to get any fruit out of this and this remained tight and closed. Not sure this will ever develop into something beyond what it is.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was my first Monbo ever and after reading about the style I have to say I didnt find this overly CA/fruity in style. It screams French right from the nose and this wine is rather medium to slightly full bodied. Its certainly ripe but has bunches of earth and leafy tobacco elements to it. Surprised at how open this wine is right now as well. Finishes with just a mild amount of tannin and for me this seems to be in a pretty nice spot, maybe just on the start of evolution. I wouldnt think this one is going to make old bones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A wine for coffee drinkers, this was just packed with aromas and flavors of coffee beans--a strong aroma of light roast. Also some good berry and cassis, relatively soft and round. Some smoke and spicy tobacco leaf, too. Ripe. Decent tannins, but doesn't seem built for aging. Very nice overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose Blackberries, currant Taste. tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather. Tannins better over 2 hours, well balanced, has time left before its pek,, at least 3 years ?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Modern and ripe, dark and sexy. Dark fruit,cheap coffee,black licorice, pepper,raw leather nose. Atypical for my palate but seductive. Big bold dark fruits,dark chocolate, a little mint, deep, and complex with a nice finish and big mouth-feel. Fun juice. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A laid back friday night (LeatherPalate's): nose: rich and very extracted nose of coffee, spices, dark red cherries, anisette, road tar and a bit of berries. A very big nose that is ripe and modern, but isn't necessarily screaming st emilion
taste: full bodied with chewy tannins and rich tones of berries, ground coffee, spices and anisette. Extracted on the palate as well, but it isn't over the top
overall: This is definitely a style wine. It does its style pretty well, especially given the vintage, but it doesn't really scream bordeaux all that much to me. The road tar tones on the nose is a bit off putting, but they don't dominate. The tones on the palate are definitely full bodied and there is a richness to the tones that borders on being overwhelming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This is a wonderfully complex wine with lots of spice on the bouquet including a definite note of cinammon along with black and blue berry scents and just sharpened lead pencil. It is a huge wine bursting with stuffing, ripeness and concentration and velvety smoothness.
50+5+13+17+8=93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rich earthy tones an strong acidity make this a very compelling wine to me, and surprisingly evolved at this point in its life cycle. One of the best 2003 bottles I've come accross so far.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for about 3 hours prior to consumption. Showing soft oaky characters on the nose and palate. This is ripe but didn't seem too far to me. On the rounder side of Bordeaux for sure but some secondary fruit characters did peak out lending some complexity. Broad and fleshy. Not my style for Bordeaux varieties to be certain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Poker VI - We're Drinking F$#! Merlot (WCC): funky musky nose - definitely french. decent fruit and earth palate. long finish. favorite of the french for the night but that's not say much. Sorry boys.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Intense purple fruited nose. Clove. Spearmint. Chai tea. Raisins. Sweet, rich, full-bodied. Tannins are there but in the background. Kind of in an odd place right now. Ripe. Let's see where it goes. Not sure what to make of this. Seems out of sorts, maybe roasted. Not digging it but I will chalk it up to an off bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Not sure if was the wine or the company, but we all very much enjoyed this wine. The unanumous opinion was this was a bit young and need another couple years in the bottle, but the big dark fruit and earthiness is there it just needs time to come together. I probably should have decanted...but am looking forward to seeing how this evolves. Will open the next bottle in 2012
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From 375 ml An utterly good surprise, the '03 Monbousquet happened to taste French, of Merlot and evoke its St. Emilion origins! Perhaps a bit more plush and forward than the usual St. Emilion --certainly a modern-styled wine, this lovely and balanced wine still managed to maintain excellent balance between fruit, acidity and tannin. On the nose were lovely, elegant aromas of cassis, subtle vanilla oak, tobacco, smoke and plums. One the palate were fresh, tobacco tinged layers of currant fruit which on the finish took on an almost mineral-laced quality. A superb wine that is fully mature and has 10 more pleasure-giving years left. Excellent!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Excellent on the first day after ~30 mins. of decanting; crashed after a night in the fridge -- disappointingly muddled and metallic. Finish next bottle at one sitting?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 30 minutes. Complex, mellow nose has plum, cassis, cedar, espresso, and a hint of licorice. I was expecting this to still be fairly challenging, but it's already quite mellow and well integrated. Very nice fruit, not overly jammy, with a dark cassis character. Nice coffee and cedar core, some lifting acidity. The tannins already seem quite resolved. Moderate length, delicious finish. May develop some more complexity, but drinking beautifully now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose: coffee. I'm sure there are other nuances, but right now I'm getting just straight bean. earlier in the evening I remember fleeting garden mulch, mineral and forest, but after 2 hours of air, the coffee has taken over. palate: fruit (black plum, fig) and coffee are melded into a nice, seamless package. Perfect tannin - just the right amount to go divinely with buffalo ribeye, but also to make this an excellent after-dinner sipper (well, for me). Finishes more red-fruit, but all along, the coffee essence is in accompaniment. I love coffee, so I enjoy this wine. Chris, not so much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
continues to evolve. Fruitier but to be expected given vintage. smoked meat, bacon perhaps on the nose with fantastic structure. I like where this is going.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very impressive structure and acidity for such a hot year. Sure it's modern, but not in the gloppy, overextracted, high-alcohol way. While I prefer the red fruit and greater minerality of cooler years, the slightly pruney flavors are well integrated. Great winemaking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted 2 hrs and drank over about a 5 hr period. A lot going on the nose here. Cigar Box, leather and earth with some plums & prunes hiding in there too. Very full, solid and complex on the palate although did seem to notice a touch of a thin spot on the backend with firm but not overpowering tannins. Good finish with a little more minerality and even some metallic notes showing later in the evening. A lot of interesting flavor components in a very well made wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark brick red to the rim. A stunning high-toned bouquet of wild plums, fresh herbs, blackberry, creosote, oak, and stones. The palate is surprisingly fresh with black cherry, plum, and herbs along with earth and oak on the backend. There is plenty of extract but the tannins are approachable leaving a wonderfully elegant and balanced wine. The oak should continue to fade and there seems to be plenty of fruit and structure for this wine to age well. I do not understand the criticism of this estate, especially considering that this was the 2003. I honestly found this to be a perfectly pleasant and painfully typical Bordeaux and I mean that in a good way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tobacco, barnyard, tight black fruit, anise, and coriander. This is a dark, not quite ready for primetime wine. It evolved slowly in the glass, but was a treat every sip. I'd lay off opening another one with out a significant decant (we only decanted this one for 15 minutes or so). Really nice wine though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Nose: mushroom, leather, earth and some sort of spice (cinnamon perhaps?). Dark stewed fruits, stewed plum, stewed blackberry with bitter chocolate overtones. Palate confirms - though I found the tannins to be very manageable and friendly. This description at first pour. Will decant for 6 hours as per the previous notes to see how it opens up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Needs long decanting time at current stage. It is a tannic monster in the first 3 hours, gets smoother by the 5th/6th hour. Very good, will develop with time. Full bodied. A bit too oaky, though. Do not drink this wine unless you can decant it for 4/6 hours AT LEAST, or you be wasting your money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
nose -- leather, gravel, dark currant and plum, vanilla. Taste -- dark fruit OVERRUN by bitter tannins. Yes I decanted and let it sit. This is not a wine for me, as it leans towards a new world style but doesn't come off well.
Will it get better with age? My inclination would be to say no -- it doesn't seem to have much apparent acidity and is quite ripe w/o a lot of subtle dimensions. But I had a hard time tasting this one so check elsewhere.
Day 2: nose is a little more "red" and pleasantly minerally -- smells a little more like typical Bordeaux. Taste is even less fruity and more bitter tannic. Don't like it at all now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured after a long few months at the office. Definitely needed some air on opening as the first taste was all tannins and tar. As it opened it displayed dark fruit, oak, char and plenty of structure. It would probably do well with more time but it is enjoyable now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Garnet color. Intense nose, very opulent. Jammy, orange peel. Tasted like an Aussie fruit bomb, not a Bordeaux. Very flamboyant. I liked it though. Tasted at Arnie Millan's Bordeaux Round Table at Esquin, wine was double-decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep ruby color, with a pink rim. More New World than St Emilion nose, with scents of plums, raisins and earthy notes. Full- bodied and fleshy with flavors of cherries, plums, sweet spices, cedar and oaky vanilla. A hint of milk chocolate also. Confused and not focused. Not my cup of tea...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very opulent, modern style. Very similar to the '99 vintage which is the only other I've tried. Perhaps not quite as much finesse. Drinking well now, but plenty of time left. Excellent value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
really hard to score this one.....I brought it to a restaurant and they had no decanters and crappy stems......... Nice wine, but the nuances were really lost.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Such a classy and sexy wine. Gorgeous nose of fresh roasted coffee bean, leather and tobacco. Smooth and full on the palate with notes of smoke, spice and blackberry. Oak is harmoniously integrated. Silk on the finish. A great Monbo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for 7-8 hours prior to drinking...very lush, with rich, dark fruits in a very modern style, and easy to drink now but the strong oak on the wine detracts from its enjoyment. If the oak recedes with age, then my score would be higher.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
EWG Bordeaux with Flannery and a couple Champers (Tom Altmayer's): Decanted about 7 hours prior to consumption. Very primary still with tons of oak. On the ripe side and the finish is a bit rough. Took about a glass home to try the next night which found the greener cedary type notes peaking thorugh and balancing this some from it's soft dessert like oak characters. Needs plenty of time but will never be a classic Bordeaux.....but not really a Cal Cab bomb either.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Popped and poured. Great nose of smoke and coffee. The palate shows dark fruit, darkly toasted oak and clay. The finish lasts minutes. This wine is drinking wonderful now right out of the bottle. However, I found that it continually improved over an eight-hour period. Has the stuffing to develop into an even more extraordinary wine in approx. 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wonderful nose of blackberry backed up with tobacco, cedar and cherry. Could not shake a sour note up front. Nice blackberry with some mocha. Decanted 2-3 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I thought this might have been closing down a bit - should have decanted longer before we got into it. "Pop and Pour" may not be the order of the day for this bottle at this stage from my cellar!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Telltale Monbo nose with loads of coffee/ spice cake and just massive, luscious ripe cherry/ currant fruit along with what some might call "scorched earth." Just a really lovely nose. It took a while for the palate to pick up the same amount of steam, but after about 60 min held strong, mouth coating cherry flavor with a bit of a meaty character and a little graphite on the back end. Great mouthfeel and a long finish. Tannins are noticeable but rounding out very nicely. Best bottle of this I've had yet
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas: Layers of toast, coffee, chocolate, plums, and leather.
Flavors: Baking spice, grilled meat, purple fruits, chocolate, and coffee.
Overall: Tasted well over a dozen wines this night, and this was probably the wine of the night for me. Utterly fantastic. I quickly bought a few bottles to cellar. What a great price on this wine too!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Joe G visits for Bordeaux Tasting (My house): Let's just say I'm glad I have more of this. My notes from the night are spotty. But the chorus of raves about this wine has melooking forward to tasting and analyzing at a later date.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Still pretty young and tightly-wound with full tannins on the finish. Dense red fruit and ripe. Hard to see this ever being light and graceful but it should level out into a good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pop and pour at a local restaurant. Earth and currant on the nose. Medium bodied, with nice structure. Loads of dark fruit, spice and hints of minerality. Smooth tannins, lively acidity, medium length finish. Very good value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
If you drink these now give at least a 2 hour decant. After an hour the wine was giving nothing on the palate. It took at least two hours to begin showing well. I probably will wait a few years for the next one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
First bottle of a dozen. Needs at least 2 hours of air before it opens. Decent nose of ccocoa, black fruit and graphite. Exceptioanlly dry but smoothes out with some air. Hope it improves with time. Wow after 3 hours of air this has really opened up, smooth coffee, leather and fruit flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Definitely above average, but lacked the "it" to give it a 90+ score. A "nice" wine, with a fairly strong and complex nose of black cherry, leather. Medium bodied, balanced, medium complexity. Matched well with Duck at Fenouil in Portland, and the Filet, but did not enhance the meal, and it was a little hard drinking (meaning it took awhile to drink, whereas great wines seem to disappear before your eyes quickly!). Nothing wrong with the wine, tasted like a $35 Bordeaux, but lacked a long finish and that something extra to get it to 90 points.
Wine celebrity = Kevin Costner when he went to see Madonna backstage during "Truth or Dare" and told her the show was "nice".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Brought to a local restaurant. Opened and immediately decanted - enjoyed over 2 hours. The nose has the earthy notes you'd expect, but in the mouth it's quite fruit forward - even more than I was expecting given the vintage. Quite pleasant - nice length and balance. Will be interesting to see how this evolves.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I purchased 2 of these after this won the EWS for reasonably priced Bordeaux. Fabulous wine that is open for business right now. Intoxicating nose of earth, smoke and berry. In the mouth great balance of fruit, minerality and acid. Paired perfectly with baked NZ lamb chops. Silky and sexy stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The funk has gone away since the last time I tried this wine. Great asian spice on the nose, although it's starting to close down a bit. Saved 1/2 bottle for the next day and it really opened up. This is one of the better Bordeaux values.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This rating is a bit unfair...this bottle was opened 10 years too early. a bit shutdown and muted. Very tarlike...thick tannins. fruit was hidden...so integration was a bit clumsy. I would try again in 7 or so years and I'm sure bottle age will make this a winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty nose of tobacco and dark cassis. Soft, smooth and thickly textured with lots of dark fruit flavors and strong tobacco notes. Finishes very ripe and intense with fairly sharp tannins lurking under the cloak of fruit. Delicious to drink now but should improve over the medium term as the tannins settle out. Has that roasted character of the vintage but it tastes great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My favorite vintage 2003, testing 4-5 times since released. Modern style and just over-did a little, not too much.
No need time to breath. Just pull out the cork then Rock 'n' Roll. Good nose of full-toasted oak, chocolate, vanilla, coffee au lait, nice fruits, sexy on the dark side.
This bottle is more elegance because of its age but still lovely full-bodied, not too low in acidity, complex and well balanced. Delicious !!!
Aftertaste is not great but very good to me.
: )
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Drank with mom. Obvious coffee notes on the nose along with some green pepper. A little coffee on the palate, with some black pepper, and tart cherry. Nice long finish with a great mouthfeel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very lush young Bordeaux. Splash decanted, then drank over 2 hours. Loads of coffee, chocolate, cumin, violets, black currant with a creamy midpalate and long tannic finish. The tannins are very prominent and the wine is expectedly youthful. Has great potential to improve as the oak integrates.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Red Carpet: Bigger, extravagant, blck-blueberry frt; pencil shavings, nice! rich soft frt; silky entry, plush, Classic right bank softness and frt. Nicely balanced, everything there, and drinking well now--unlike some of the other slightly bitter coffee notes in the first 2 (lascombe, Lynch)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
An impulsive purchase off the shelf ($59 Binnys...ouch!) has me in love with the 2003 Chateau Monbousquet. Hell, even the name "Monbousquet" is fun to say and type. I told my wife if we ever get another cat (currently, one of our cats is circling the drain) I am going to name it Monbousquet. Say it with me "Mon-bou-squet!"
Back to the note.....an inviting smoky nose, deep ruby red, plush on the palate with toast, cocoa, creamy blackfruit. Fabulously balanced however there is a noticable tannic backbone which I fully expect will soften & integrate with time. The fruit took a an hour or so to really emerge from the toast/smoke/cocoa and I can see where some would warn this wine is in danger of standing too close to the 'overextraction' line but having only recently begun to ween myself off of new world examples....I find it delicious. Delicious to the point I didn't care that I got reamed at Binnys. Certainly cellar-worthy and it has moved to the top of my hit list. 92 points
Mon-bou-squet!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
2003 Bordeaux Tasting at Wine Watch (Ft. Lauderdale, FL): Bottle was opened the previous evening in preparation for a retail tasting. This was my favorite wine of the tasting which surprised me some being a Right Bank wine as most consider this a Left Bank vintage. It had a lovely and strong nose, with good structure and some tobacco and even a little chocolate flavors. This is accessible now with decanting, and should improve over the next few years. The price was below $60 after shooting up in the '99 and '00 vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted for about 2 hours. Delicious. Rich nose of black currant, earth and smoke. Nice full bodied wine with a lush mouthfeel but a little tight on the finish due to the prominent tannins which will soften with age. A keeper. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Saint Emilion 2006 Classification Tasting (FOF): Black/red color with a youthful edge. First impression is lots of smoke! The nose is smoky, creamy, dark fruit and some earthy tones. The taste is very warm, fat fruit, creamy, coffee and cream, vanila and toasted bread. Massive aftertaste with well integrated silky tannins. The fruit is well balanced with tones of earth, undergrowth and prunes. This wine has alot going - its biggest problem is that it might have too much! It seems a bit wild and vulgar. Modern style St. Emilion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine was too young. I could not rate. Raspberry and tobacco nose, Distinct acid and noticeable tannins. After 2 hours just starting to soften. Need to wait some time as the wine has closed down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted. Medium-bodied wine that is dark ruby/purple in color. On the nose, dark fruits, espresso, and toasty cedar. On the palate, plums and coffee. Well-balanced wine with an extremely long 30-40 second finish. The tannins are just a bit dry and chalky right now for my liking. I think I'll wait another 2-3 years for my next bottle...the potential is certainly there to add a point or two!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I've decided to check in on the '03 wines of Mr. Perse and boy am I glad I did! What an explosive nose - coffee, toast - lots of toast, smoke... I could not get my nose out of the glass. Thick on the palate but not overbearing this goes down with ease. While teetering on the brink of overextraction, it never quites steps over the line - they nailed this one. This wine is quite tannic, but you'd hardly notice it. The finish is long and siky with the slightest hint of vanilla which in time, should integrate nicely. If you like toast, coffee, earthiness in your wine, this is the ticket.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wineflock - 2003 Bordeaux, Parker 90+ (Ken's): Grou p#2, My #6 - Full deep red color. Full aroma of spicy black fruit, violets, and briar. Nice round candied black raspberry fruit on the palate. Long coffee finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Served as part of a flight on Day 2 at the Wine Club SF. Opened but not decanted for 3 hours. All the wines IMO, excluding the Lafite, were tight, tannic and pretty unapproachable. Have to use the imagination on how these might evolve. Red purple in color; big sweet earth nose with mushrooms and tennis shoes; a sort of metallic taste and a dry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The "Not Lori" Smith and Wollensky Dinner (Chicago, IL): Deep and inky purple in color. A wide open and screaming nose. Dark fruits, cocoa, smoke, meats with a hints of vanillin and crem brulee. Fleshy and round on the palate. Abundant dark fruit, chocolate and tannic structure. Very appealing and in your face --- but still primary and in need of development to show more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Chablis and 03 Bordeaux Dinner (HB: A Hearty Boys Spot): Dark and inky purple in color. An very appealing nose of tobacco leaf, tar, leather and subdued dark red fruits. Medium to big bodied this surprisingly open, fleshy and has relatively low levels of tannin and acid. Initially the mid-palate is lacking but gains weight with air. Plenty of red fruits with graphite, tobacco and vanillin adding interest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Espresso, wow this just screams of classic Monbo. Espresso, baking chocolate, and chocolate covered cherry aromas. Initially the tannis were very dusty and made the finish unplesant. As the wine warmed up they sweetened considerably and it was at this point I really enjoyed it. As we sat outside and it cooled down again I thought the dustyness showed up again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Color is dark garnet/purple to the rim. Nose shows sweet dark plum, roasted coffee, and charred oak. On the palate, there is ample cassis/dark fruit up front framed by graphite, cedar, and charry oak. Drinks pretty well for a young wine, but will need 5 or so years to settle down a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Very typical Monbousquet in the vein of the 2000, 1999, and 1998, but not as concentrated as the 2000 or the 1998. Needs six months for the sweet oak to integrate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great nose with burnt oak. Dense Menthol, soy. Nice sweet core, lots of toasty french oak. Dark, black cherry, drying oaky tannins, lots of black fruit, tar, resin. Less lush fruit than I expected. Reminds me of a '96 if anything, but more black tar. Hints of future complexity. Good potential when oaky tannins fade. Good stuffing. Too much black tar? B/B+ with potential
$43 Wine Library 2/06
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
12/31/2023 - joshdrinkswine2008 wrote: 93 Points
Really enjoyed this. Deep depth of flavor. Chocolate, mocha, black berry, soil, leather. Probably past its prime but really enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/26/2023 - Vinobc wrote: 90 Points
Slow-ox for 3 hours, nice ruby color with a little bricking. Oaky nose predominated on opening, but it faded, leaving lots of plum. The palate had tart fruit with fully resolved tannins. Good, but not great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2023 - The Wine Monkeys wrote: 88 Points
Nose of dried dark fruit, some leather, smoke and mild herbaceousness. Palate to match with medium dry finish and medium tannins. Lacks depth and complexity but it’s not bad overall. Seems to be in the downward phase of its life.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/14/2023 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
Sweet fruit and nice balance with some tannins still present.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2022 - Sanlucar wrote: 89 Points
Very light and minimal flavors. This 2003 is probably the least impressive Chateau Monbousquet I've ever had, and I had three bottles with consistently underwhelming results. If you have any of this, drink it ASAP because it's really falling apart.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/15/2022 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Slow ox for 2 hours. Blueberry, mocha, blackberry, vanilla Oak, touch of dried herbs. Very smooth. Less than a teaspoon of sediment. Very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2022 - Purple Tooth wrote: 90 Points
Not my cup o tea...If blind, the oak floating from the top takes me to Napa. Then I taste, It could be a 2006 or 2007 Napa wine of 100 dollars or so in value that has not aged well. The grip and structure is clearly Napesque, with much tannin and stewed fruit. Then the acidity kicks in and then that makes me think a 2006/07 Brunello. Then I sniff the glass and realize that this ia another ambitious St. Emilion. Not a fan, and I would say, this is ok and on the decline for me. DRINK
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2022 - aerosol Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pinot Peter below nailed my experience. the wine opened fruit forward and then changed to more classic Bordeaux. I get a nose of orange peel, or maybe grapefruit with leather with dark cherry on the palate with hint of mint and tobacco and maybe cocoa. This wine is in a great place and probably won't get better. Also, not an exceptional Bordeau either but it was good for now and drink right away.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (1)
8/19/2022 - Pinot Peter Likes this wine:
Deep red with no orange rim, good acidity, nose of leather and cassis. A good sweetness with a soft tannin residual. Mature flavours of dark chocolate, coffee, tobacco, ripe dark cherry. Good length. Very enjoyable and impressive ....but this has a more mature flavour profile then my preferred drinking window.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2022 - AlexHop Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice, great age, still substance but smooth. Not complex but solid
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2022 - BVal wrote: 92 Points
Color/App: deep ruby core -> moderately deep ruby/garnet rim. Great nose of plums and cherries, cedar and some tobacco. Lush and full bodied, this showed particularly well vs. the '95 Chateau Margaux next to it. Group concluded that the Margaux was either too young still or the hardness of the (overrated) '95 vintage was to blame.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2021 - Radboy wrote: 92 Points
Fabulous wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2021 - bordeauxman777 Likes this wine: 93 Points
in a perfect place right now. Baby fat gone and what is left is a pure magic. Despite many claims that this is too hot of the vintage, this Monbo is another elegant, well balanced, medium body and absolutely delicious Saint Emilion. Very lovely!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/27/2021 - advinm41 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Delicious!! slightly overripe vintage but has enough acidity and backbone to support the sweetness
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/14/2021 - IlonaN wrote: 92 Points
Still youthful and somewhat tannic, but shows lots of fruit and complex palate after a couple of hours of air. Sadly, my last bottle of this vintage.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2020 - gothamfreerider wrote: 91 Points
I think monbousquet generally underrated. The heat and ripeness of this vintage interefares with aging forming complexity. Smoked cherries and blueberries on the nose, juxtaposition of smooth and ripe texture. Enjoyable.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2020 - Mr T wrote:
Good not great
Fruit a little muted and decent flavors but a little flabby
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2020 - sylviap Likes this wine:
Wonderful, full bouquet, with notes of wood and plum. Nice complexity, well-balanced.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/22/2020 - robmatic wrote: 92 Points
Huge bouquet, wood, olive and some tropical notes. Powerful in the mouth, with full body and plenty of acidity. Sharp and packed with flavor. Peak of maturity.
3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2020 - SacramentoCharlie wrote: 91 Points
plum, cedar, leather, tobacco. Lots of layers and complexity with a silky long finish. In the window or just a nudge past. drink up
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2020 - gbbwino wrote: 95 Points
This is a stellar wine & has aged beautifully. Mature but not over the hill. Similar characteristics as prior tasting note. Well balanced & elegant profile with silky tannins. Wonderful wine & sad it’s my last bottle. Have 1 more ‘06 so I just bought some ‘16 at local store to restock. Will be looking for more.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2020 - Mr T wrote:
Popped this after we killed the '99 from same producer and again, easy to drink, but not as complex or interesting as the older wine. 1/2 is still in the fridge and will see how it has held up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2020 - achasd wrote: 91 Points
This is a very nice expression of vintage. Opened at the restaurant, by the time 15 minutes had elapsed, it was drinking well. Some cassis, berries but muted. Held up well through a 2-hour meal. Drink now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2019 - Francophile1 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted blind. Fully mature with classic Bordeaux aromas in the glass and copious amounts of secondary notes of tobacco, saddle leather, and cedar. On the backend, it has a touch of band-aid with a long finish. Drink up. The fruit won’t last much longer in this wine and it will very soon turn into an old leather shoe.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2019 - cnordstr wrote: 92 Points
Oak, yes. Fruit, yes, not fading IMHO. Tannins, present yes, but fine and round. Alcohol, sure, heaty, yes a bit. But still a very good 2003 wine.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2019 - SteelerFan wrote: 87 Points
Disappointing. Fruit as faded and somewhat stiff. I hope next bottle is better.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2019 - winotang Likes this wine: 93 Points
PNP. Smoke, Ripe dark fruit, good weight and tannins in check. Wine seems to have firmed up a bit since I tried it a few year's ago. Delicious now. Enjoy
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/14/2019 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
This was quite lovely and truly in a perfect place. Not a big wine, but perfectly balanced with superb fruit.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2019 - robmatic wrote: 90 Points
From my cold cellar, this bottle did not seem quite mature yet, with significant tannic presence. After double aeration and decanting, and paired with a big fat ribeye, it softened up considerably. Though still not what I'd call charming, it showed quite a lot of character and depth. A few more bottles of this in the cellar, and I'd recommend leaving them there for another year or two to see what happens.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2018 - organicveggie wrote: flawed
Corked. Last bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/29/2018 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 91 Points
I think this has started its downward progression. Still tasty, but time to finish my last few bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2018 - winejow wrote: 93 Points
excellent example of St. E. Just the right age. loved it
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/30/2018 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Beautiful wine. Clear and bright with pretty significant bricking on the rim. Nose is initially very expressive, with fragrant currant and berry fruit, with some tobacco and leather. Medium bodied, getting a little dry, but still with sweet black cherry and plum fruit. Long finish. Delicious, but drying out a little. This was my last bottle, if I had more I would drink up. But I'll be buying more 2015.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2018 - wardamnwine wrote: 92 Points
Nice, mature Bordeaux that is drinking well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2018 - pgm wrote: 92 Points
This has aged better than I expected in my 2010 note, apparently. The oak notes have receded, but the fruit is still pure and sweet in profile. Blackberry and cassis dominates. Still has ample structure, but the tannins are submerged and unobtrusive. Tasty, enjoyable, though it's not a great exemplar of Bordeaux character. Probably won't develop that character, either, so drink in the next two years or so while its youthful charms persist.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2018 - Andrew67 wrote: 88 Points
I'm sure this is bottle variation - this one was a little past its best. Quite smoky, losing its balance. Decent enough, but not close to the last bottle. I don't believe that 2 years makes that much difference, so this is down to the bottle. Drink this soon would be my advice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2018 - Mr T wrote:
nothing great or classic, but easy to drink.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2018 - Trent Walker wrote: 86 Points
Vegetal nose with high toned berry palate. Not my idea type of wine. Refined tannis and soft structure.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2018 - Trydebull Likes this wine: 91 Points
Mörkrött i färgen
Doftar skolåda, paprika.
Smak av stall och trä.
Gott.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2017 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Fabulous wine but the last of my lot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2017 - Ecbatana Likes this wine: 92 Points
Monbousquet continues to be an overachiever, drinking well this evening. Characteristic earthiness and some green vegetables. Nice rich and weighty mouthfeel predominately of stewed cherries, seemed youthful and lively. Affection for this property rewarded again
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2017 - Ecbatana wrote: 87 Points
Glass pour from Coravin. Typical Monbousquet bouquet: earthiness, forest loam and minerality. this vintage adds raspberries, grape jam and some wet straw. Very bright and generous. Aromatics are excellent here. Shy on the palate.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2017 - guitarguy wrote: 91 Points
Rim was showing s bit of brown but the wine tasted fine, fresh but ready to go with raspberry, underbrush and licorice notes. I was pleased but drink any time.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/6/2017 - Stevey wrote: 93 Points
Needs about an hour to open up and after it did, excellent! Good complexity, long finish, drinking well now but likely a few years from peak drinking window.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/3/2017 - Rollerball wrote: 94 Points
Plush but elegant, multi-dimensional, and wonderful. No need to decant.
Drink now -2020.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/30/2017 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very nice with grilled rib eye. Unfortunately my last bottle of this vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2017 - dougie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nice mature Bordeaux ready to drink. Plum, sage, leather.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2017 - diggydan wrote: 90 Points
Smells of plum and tobacco. Nice ripe and dark fruit fades too quickly to secondary flavors and wood notes. Plush and round feel.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2017 - Lord Rayas wrote: 91 Points
ripe with lots of fruit and hint of vanilla. simple but enjoyable.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/2016 - Ricky99 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Big nose.. dark fruits, cedar.... palate not the same at open.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2016 - Nanda wrote: 88 Points
Full, intense nose definitely has a modern flare with oak-imparted smoke, mocha, and exotic spice layered into black fruits. Palate is decided less intense than the nose and far more medium bodied than you might expect. Good acidity and balance. Though the concentration is lacking. Fine, but not the most exciting bottle of wine.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2016 - Rollerball wrote: 94 Points
Phenomenal, complex, elegant, fruit-filled. Perfect on p&p courtesy of aargawal's living science. Tastes like peak.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/27/2016 - cephomer Likes this wine: 92 Points
NYC Tasters Guild: 2003 Bordeaux Retrospective: Drank at Tasters Guild in NYC for 2003 Bordeaux tasting. First of the night. Ruby red in color, some bricking. Generous floral nose, with violets & red fruit. A bit on the viscous side, good amount of ripe black fruit, with better-than-expected acidity level. On the plummy side, with some spice. Tannins mostly resolved leaving a silky, elegant pour. Good length too. Overall, a very nice wine that showed better than I had anticipated for the vintage.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2016 - europat55 wrote: 90 Points
Seems to be past its prime
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/2/2016 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Decanted and tried immediately. Color is deep ruby with some bricking; nose was highly aromatic while decanting, highly aromatic in the glass with cherry, blackcurrant, cedar, slight smoke, excellent complexity; palate is full bodied, rich smooth texture, plenty of red fruit throughout, medium balanced acidity, alcohol is very balanced and in check (would have guessed a classic 13.5% and the label says 13%), starting to develop some velvety chocolate, but overall less complex and persistent than the nose; medium finish. The nose has excellent complexity and depth along with freshness, and the palate is more about elegance, balance, and crispness. From my experience with this chateau (98, 99, 03 mostly), they are a very consistent St. Emilion with superb fruit, excellent depth, and though they are seen as a more modern producer, they are not overripe nor extracted. Even the 03 is wonderfully restrained. The most consistent right bank I have found, this will drink well now and for the next 5+ years, and a bit more persistence or complexity in the palate would elevate this further. 93-94
2 hours decanting: Drinking well, but not better than when first opened. Put back into cleaned bottle.
7 hours after opening, 5 of that in bottle: Lost a bit of freshness that made it so charming on first opening. These are ready to go now and will likely not improve with additional aging.
4 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2016 - curtr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Balanced, nice depth, good pairing with steak tips.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2016 - johnh1001 Does not like this wine: 92 Points
Smooth , round, coffee, chocolate. Medium length. Great balance.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2016 - pgordon62 wrote: flawed
very slightly corked
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2016 - gr8r84u wrote: 92 Points
Sublime. This wine is in a great place right now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/24/2016 - curtr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Well rounded. Will not improve.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/20/2016 - Andrew67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is in a great place right now, drinking beautifully. Secondary characteristics are starting to come through, though there remains enough fruit and acidity to retain a level of freshness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/6/2016 - chitowncdpguy wrote:
This was a gorgeous bottle if somewhat simple. Beautiful cigar box on the nose, more of that with some dark fruit on the palate. Long and smooth.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/4/2016 - gsquireh Likes this wine: 93 Points
Plum and cherry nestled up to cinnamon and spice. Smooth tannins, balanced mouth feel, and sweet forest finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2016 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Awesome. Unfortunately no notes. Did not decant and was open for business.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2016 - ccarlier wrote:
W Sidesos. Smooth. Typical oaky nose, but not strong.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2016 - dbg wrote:
Very good-excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2015 - curtr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice depth, very resolved, time to drink up the remaining bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2015 - Smart wrote: 95 Points
Medium ruby, silky, well balanced, out of expectation.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2015 - Nanda wrote: 90 Points
Medium nose has plum, smoke, tobacco and mocha notes. Palate has medium body with good concentration of dark red fruit. Good grippy tannin and medium acids. A solid and tasty BDX that is much more light and restrained than the vintage and producer might lead you to believe.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2015 - Hypersphere Likes this wine: 92 Points
Really well integrated tannins. Wine opened up rather fast in decanter (~1h) and held itself well over the next 2h (at which point, there was no more). A little earthiness wrapped up in silk. Some licorice
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2015 - dcwino wrote: 92 Points
Still showing generous opulent red fruits. Quite sweet but not as exotic as before. Starting to shed the 03 roasted vintage character a bit. really nice showing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/12/2015 - IlonaN wrote: 92 Points
Opened this at TOWN restaurant. Opened up very nicely to show deep black and bliue fruit with warm cedar notes andlayers of smoky spice. Shows the ripeness of the vintage but not overblown at all.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2015 - chitowncdpguy wrote:
Very nice. Decanted for about 90 mins. Ripe red fruit, tarry, a little smoky, well balanced.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2015 - SacramentoCharlie wrote: 92 Points
In the decanter and drank over 2+ hrs. Very expressive nose, dark cherry, tobacco, cassis and tar. Smooth and light on the palate with a touch leather and soy . Medium to long finish. This one was showing some age and at its peak or just making the turn. Excellent
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/5/2015 - dcwino wrote: 89 Points
The evolution of this wine is very close to what I predicted upon release. It was a kind of kinky modern wine without layered fruits. Intensity without much nuance and very much red fruit driven nose with very strong presence of oak. Not much has changed. The fruit is still predominantly red albeit more prune than earlier, also a bit of exotic space albeit not as noticeable. The new oak cedar note is still quite noticeable. All the components have come together but still remain a bit monolithic. Not sure if there is much room to improve.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2015 - CCL957 Does not like this wine: 90 Points
Perhaps my chiller is not cool enough. This bottle is surprisingly mature. Did not expect 2003 could show mature tastes like leather and slightly Chinese medicine. However it still has strong taste of ripen fruit so it is wired to me. Objectively this bottle is not bad but really not my cup of tea. Somewhat like a matured Napa wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2015 - bjwca wrote: 92 Points
Classic St. Emilion merlot, with a nice dry finish and plenty of fruit.
Love the shape of these bottles.
Heavy amount of sediment in the bottom.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2015 - wine-enthusiast Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous aromas, tobacco leaf, lavender, cassis. This wine is at its peak, with some tannins left. Medium full bodied it rolls over the tounge and lingers. Long finish, this wine has it all. The merlot based wine has nice aromatics
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2015 - BuzzzzOff Likes this wine: 90 Points
We always enjoy Robuchon - anywhere in the world - but Hong Kong remains special with people we know and who know us, stunning execution of Robuchon's best dishes and a wonderful wine list. A nice sip albeit a very distant second to the Chateau Magdelaine. Perhaps the wine, very likely the vintage. Either way, very happy! We prefer their white.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/30/2015 - Smart Likes this wine: 96 Points
Medium ruby, well balanced, chocolate aroma. Out of expectation. Drink now.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2015 - jonnyoro wrote: 93 Points
Infinitely better than the bottle from 5 years ago (from the same 1/2 case purchased on release) - much more integrated; the wood less pronounced; the raisins disappeared. This wine may actually be developing into something better than good. Just as good on day 2 and given what it tasted like now probably a good future ahead of it...
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2015 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
Dinner and Tasting @ 83 1/2 - Triple Play of Bordeaux Varietals. One of 8 wines we had for 10 people, and it was tasted blind.
This was one of the favorites of the group. But it really needed time to breathe and open up. Not a fruit bomb that many CA Merlots can be, but more restrained. I think it was pretty easy to ID this one as Bordeaux right away. It just got better and better as the night went on.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/9/2015 - deverett wrote: 90 Points
More evolved and integrated than a year ago. I was expecting a heavier wine but this was more medium bodied and pretty well put together for a warmer vintage. Tastes of dark olives, aniseed and BBQ, tannins quite fine but firm with a finish of moderate length. Pretty good Monbousquet which I suspect could develop more secondary complexity with a little more time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/1/2015 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 94 Points
Maybe even a bit better than the previous bottles of this vintage. Great black fruit, some flowers and herbs, classic Merlot. Maybe a bit big for a St. Emilion, almost New World in style, but very well balanced and food friendly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2015 - nba1017 wrote: 90 Points
Funny, I'd echo the previous couple posts--this bottle is far more restrained than the last couple I've had, and is missing that overwhelming dark cherry/chocolate nose I've enjoyed previously. Having said that, I got a touch of funk, definite black olive, more blackberry, and overall just more earth. In some ways, this seems to be more complex than the other relatively larger bottles.
Again, for the price, Monbousquet remains either fantastically straight-forward or curiously complex.
Served with beef berbere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2015 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to previous bottles, but the fruit in this one seemed maybe a touch overripe. Probably that was just bottle variation or storage, since I don't recall that from the other bottles.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2015 - JavaMonkey Likes this wine: 88 Points
My least favorite bottle so far. Medium garnet color. Currant and cherry fruit. Not as deep as the previous bottle, lots of oak. Medium bodied. Good balance and nice fruit, but missing the richness of the previous bottles.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2014 - curtr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted 1.5 hours, modern style, I enjoyed.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/11/2014 - Mr T wrote:
pleasant break amid too many over the top Bob Foley cabs....this bottle seemed more restrained than the last, but maybe just seemed that way after Foley...for $30, an excellent drink
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2014 - Ivin Does not like this wine:
Halfway through my 2nd case. I am not a fan of 03 right bankers. I find 03 Troplong Mondot, Clos Fourtet and this to be too ripe, soft and oaky. Too much alcohol and too flabby. Perhaps I am being unfair to this wine, but I do not buy St. Emilions to taste like this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2014 - capacious Likes this wine: 91 Points
Not the best Monbousquet but very good, and drinking well on the second night. Other than the heat 2003 clearly was unusual in a variety of ways, and my wine vocabulary isn't expressive enough to define, - there is a bit of spice to this, an edge that I don't expect from Monbousquet. I guess we are drinking this up while other vintages mature because while we have enjoyed the 03's we haven't loved any of them
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/14/2014 - TallMikeWine Likes this wine: 89 Points
I like wine an awful lot. Some wines blow me away. Typically certain kinds, anyway. This one had a special something going on, but it felt as though that certain something was hidden behind a layer of something. Age? I am certainly no expert on the wines of Bordeaux, but I got the feeling that this wine is maybe a year past it's prime. Still lovely with some exotic notes. Good finish, spice, the works, really. Just overly mellow. More mellow than I wanted on this particular outing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2014 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 92 Points
A little tight on opening, but loosened up after an hour. Revealing nose of black cherry, mocha, cigarbox, with notes of mint. Smooth, velvety mouthfeel that filled out nicely. Tannins seem to be integrating well. Acidity well-balanced. May be reaching its peak soon, but guess it would stay there for awhile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/9/2014 - dsimmons Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is drinking beautifully at the moment. Slow ox for a couple of hours. Color is beautiful dark garnet with no bricking at all. The nose is expressive with cherry, vanilla and some floral notes. On the palate we are talking a dark fruits cocktail, currants, cherry, a bit of camphor, pepper spice and a little graphite on the medium finish. All in all good stuff here. Have to believe this is prime time for this bottling and will try to drink my remaining two bottles by 2017.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/24/2014 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 92 Points
No notes. But we loved it -- enjoyed with brothers as BeaconFest 2014 with porterhouse steak dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2014 - grapist Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted for two hours. This is in it's prime drinking window. Great with a Joe's steak. Thank you Rosanne
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2014 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Clear, but dark garnet, cherry colour. Warm garnet rim. Intense to very intense on the nose, earthy, really typical bordeaux, cherry, plummy, loads of complexity. juicy, dark cherry and currant fruit, well structured palate, with lots of acidity and fine dry slightly bitter tannins, strong earthiness on the finish as well. Good complexity, nice fruit and a nice mature Bordeaux experience. No real rush, but drinking very well now. Tasted better at the end of the 2 hours than the beginning.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/11/2014 - lkatz Likes this wine: 89 Points
I was apprehensive about this bottle as it was in a wine locker at the club for sometime under poor conditions. Got it chilled a bit and it drank very well with ribs....decent integrated flavors
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2014 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 93 Points
Similar notes to previous bottle. I've had a few bottles of this vintage now and they've all been drinking very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/15/2014 - rwpalmer wrote: 91 Points
My last and best bottle of this. It does not seem to have aged as quickly as I had feared and as with some other '03s seems to have lost its burnt rubber smell. Now soft and fleshy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2014 - stevenjstein Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking very well now. Soft black fruit, with subtle, well-integrated, oak and tannins. Notes of flowers and herbs add complexity and the acid balance seems just right. Should have at least a few more good years left.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2014 - andrewdl wrote:
Wow. The usual incredible Monbousquet.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2014 - Hypersphere wrote: 93 Points
Tannins are almost fully integrated, while some of the black fruits are still there. This is the 2nd bottle I have and while the other one was disappointing 3 years ago, I was right to wait.
Wine approaching its peak, softer on the palate with a smooth lingering finish. One more bottle left !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2014 - mwneil Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice bouquet, good color, medium bodied with vg mouthfeel; nice balance although it it could have had a bit more fruit; drank with a steak; wine needed some oomph but overall lots of flavor in a 13% alcohol wine; would drink again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2014 - mwanasheria wrote: 91 Points
Licorice, cedar, black cherries, chocolate and tobacco. Has all the ingredients but somehow feels a bit too obvious.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/9/2014 - deverett wrote: 90 Points
A good wine, but was probably expecting a bit more. Soft palate with some drying tannins but lacking some depth in the fruit. It does need food and it paired very well with a lamb backstrap.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2014 - jfurey21 Likes this wine: 93 Points
This wine is open and in prime drinking window. Fantastic. Great earthy backbone with violet fragrance. The fruit is still quite present and I show no sign of decline yet. This exceeded expectations.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2014 - andrewdl wrote: 93 Points
Such a great wine. Value at the classic Bordeaux taste. Opened and ready to go.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2013 - vinole wrote: 91 Points
Currant and plum fruit on the entry, and then cherry and raspberry on the finish, with oak and smoke notes on the nose and palate with fully resolved tannins. Medium body and acidity and alcohol was not an issue nor was ripeness or jamminess, though New World in style. I would suggest drinking these soon.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2013 - rho wrote: 93 Points
Took well over 2 hours decant to open up at a restaurant. Ripe dark fruits and vanilla on the nose. Medium bodied. Smooth and soft tannin with a good finish. It is at the peak now and should last a few more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 88 Points
Advanced in color, with a smoky, coffee, licorice jammy nose, the wine is past its prime and lost much of its intensity. Drink up.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/18/2013 - lkatz Likes this wine: 91 Points
gobs of berrys make this a wonderful wine
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2013 - beachboyc wrote: 93 Points
Very complex nose at the open: dark fruit, candied cherry, meaty, cigar box, some sort of wood (pine) aroma. After decanting in the bottle for 1/2 hour, some smokiness, coffee bean, dark chocolate aromas came out. There was still some very light tannin. This wine was well balanced with good acidity. It had moderate plum and dark chocolate aftertaste. The nose was very attractive. This 03 bordeaux was not jammy at all. 5+13+17+8=93+pts
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
More mocha and blueberries than prior bottle. Decanted for an hour. Very smooth and rich.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 92 Points
I love the Cab Franc elements - brussel spouts and some green peppers with nice sweet blueberries and black cherry underneath. A real mouthful. I can see this wine is not for everyone, but I like it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2013 - Grinner wrote: 92 Points
17th Annual Lyon 10 Year Retrospective (The Lyon's Tree House): Some cigar box accents the sweet black fruit and earth notes. Nice long finish and held its own on day 2: 92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2013 - JC Cab wrote: 92 Points
Great wine. Well integrated black fruit, cassis, pencil shavings and plum. Medium alcohol, soft tannins and medium plus finish. Can't wait to have another bottle.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2013 - johnnyo wrote: 92 Points
Excellent wine and despite a pop and pour it showed extremely well. Medium bodied with notes of cassis, black cherry, anise, dark chocolate and farm earth. Silky tannins with great mid palate weight. Left half the bottle for revisit tonight.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/29/2013 - Bowmanifesto wrote: 92 Points
Time. That's what Monbousquet needs. Two hours after opening the bottle, I poured the first glass. An hour after pouring that glass, I gave it the first swirl. Immediately, the massive legs of the dark indigo wine revealed themselves. That meant the alcohol level is strong, which dominated my first sniff. So I let it sit another half hour. Upon the next swirls, heady aromas of fields and flowers, brambles and berries, spices and teas spun up out of the Eisch crystal. Finally, it was time for the first sip. It did not disappoint. Fine layers of cassis and blackberries, laid over plump plums, smoothed by notes of chocolate. The tannins have grip, yet are fully integrated. The finish is marvelously complex. I look forward to my next bottle. In two years. Why so long? Time is the friend of Monbousquet and those who wait.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2013 - chitowncdpguy wrote:
Outstanding wine. Opened about 2 hours before dinner and poured a glass, rest aired in the bottle. On opening, very intense, very ripe fruit. At the 2 hour mark, very nice and balanced, rich fruit framed by hints of oak, coffee, and a lot of earthiness. My wife correctly called my attention to some floral scents on the nose, very pretty. Still dusty tannins. Quite robust. Finish is long and smooth with the dark fruit becoming most pronounced. A beauty.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2013 - SacramentoCharlie wrote: 93 Points
45 min of air and drank over 2+ hrs. Cork was immaculate and this bottle showed extreme youth early on. 1 hr in the nose was expressive with bright plums and blackberries with touches of coffee, leather minerals, dirt and licorice. Very balanced, complex and smooth on the palate with a medium or better finish. Nothing overpowering but lots of subtle flavors in a well balanced, well made wine. Very enjoyable, but this bottle could have gone easily gone another 5+ years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
It took an hour or so, but as good as this wine is, it always makes me pine for the 2000 vintage. Nicely dense, overripe blueberries with some vanilla Oak and hints of underbrush and veggies.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2013 - TonyTiger Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet with a nose of coffee, chocolate, cassis and spice the wine is smooth on the palate with some unresolved tannins. Very good. May last 5 more years. No more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/9/2013 - wkphang wrote: 90 Points
Over extracted wine with big personality, but not quite hitting all the notes correctly.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2013 - jayw wrote:
Leather, plum and green tobacco. A meaty, earthy wine, with the Cab Franc dominating.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2013 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep garnet (all of the 2003s had similar color) Modern nose but still all Bordeaux, rich mouthfeel, youngish side, no tertiary notes yet. When given a Cali summer, I guess you make a Cali wine. This did and did well.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/2/2013 - mtwehr wrote: 84 Points
decanted for a half hour: overly woody, tannic and harsh - but after another hour, the fruit came out and was much better, still woody but more of a leather/forest with milder tannins. Much better with dinner of grilled steaks.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2013 - JDB Likes this wine: 91 Points
cut thru a heirloom rack of lamb beautifully, decanted for one hour, was concise and delicious. Started to fall apart in hour 3 ??
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/29/2013 - silton Likes this wine:
Served at a party; no proper notes, but this was singing. Decanted for sediment and finished within the hour, consistent throughout. 91+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2013 - europat55 Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is in a good spot right now. Gorgeous nose. Smooth tannins. Nice fruit. Hints of leather. Outstanding!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/3/2013 - Schiffy Likes this wine: 93 Points
Building on my January, 2012 review, this Bordeaux continues to get better with age. Strongly recommend opening this wine, drinking one glass, putting a screw plug on it for 24/48 hours and then drinking. This Bordeaux opens up and becomes an absolute joy to drink with smooth tannins and complex blend of dark blackberry fruit and hints if barnyard.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2013 - TonyTiger Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet in color the wine has a nose of coffee, chocolate, cassis and spice. Smooth on the palate with some unresolved tannin and acidity the wine is still youthful and vibrant and may last another 5 years, no more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/21/2013 - cepageyakima wrote: 94 Points
New world and elegant at the same time? well, yes it is...excellent Bordeaux
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2013 - khmark7 wrote: 90 Points
Made in a modern style that a fan of classic Bordeaux will enjoy. Really nice aromatics and a well balanced easy drinking red that avoids those over ripe flavors. Nice surprise.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/16/2013 - fatfishzsy Likes this wine: 91 Points
The wine looks Crimson colored. The legs are Medium. It smells like and Blackberry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/15/2013 - Mr T wrote:
big rich modern, still fairly pronounced coffee traits from the oak...color still quite dark and no doubt this is a Perse wine from 2003. Delightful for what it is...covers that middle ground tween Bdx and Cali..sucked down quickly with friends over dinner at TPGC
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2013 - EMichels wrote: 91 Points
Great nose; Nice fruit; Somewhat lacking structure
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/12/2013 - JOsgood wrote:
Really huge and modern tasting. One dimensional without any real interest. I enjoyed this much more when it was younger.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2013 - Cheungtp wrote: 93 Points
This has gotten better since the last tasting. Dark purple, opaque in the glass with good legs. Nose is filled with ripe black fruits, sugar coated cherry, violets, truffle and spice. Touches on the palate is smooth and rich, notes of currents, jam, expresso bean and cigar wrapper, surprisingly tannins seem to be in great balance with no hard edges at all. Nice structure, and grest finish with plum juice and light tobacco leaf.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2013 - GlöckliWein wrote: 95 Points
from the early Opening --..... °°°
Wow !°
just screwing the cork
the smell came out of the MAGNUM bottle
the "smell" no: the orkan of sweet parfume !
of Monbousquet 2003 !
Colour:
very dense. opaque purpel pupel ...
Nose:
Creme de Cassis, Vanilla, Blueberry Blueberry Boisnberry
slightly young saddle leather ...
Taste:
right after opening:
very tasty of primary fruit
Blueberries .... Blueberries... Blöberries Cake
Sweet ... sweetness ... just incredibly young and sexy !°°°
some hints of licorice... young saddle leather..
frehs vanilla ... wow
WOW this awesome nice ... everything is volved in it !
of Sweetness .. velvetness... honey . Vanilla and SO
MUCH FRUIT of Blueberries !!!
I would give even more points
but this is getting better and better by drinking it
ove r the next few hours
out of a MAGNUM
95/ 100 Points
Monbousquet 2003 !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2013 - Skip4wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Openned. poured a glass and let it sit for 1 1/2 hours. Sipped upon openning and it was tight but after 1 1/2 hours it was great with sweet tannins, dark fruits, some forest floor and the full, rich mouthfeel you get from Merlot based wines. Drank two glasses over 2 hours and it was loosing its fruit by the end. 92 after 1 1/2 hours of air but fell to an 89 by the end of the night.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2013 - pdemaio wrote: 93 Points
Bright and fun. A lively, lovely wine with a lot going on. Balanced for a hot year. Yummy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2013 - dpolivy Likes this wine: 92 Points
DRC Tasting Group: Le Pin (Cafe Veloce): Darker fruits and barrel spice on the nose. Big and serious wine. A touch of Brett, but it integrates nicely with the palate and doesn't overpower. Darker body, with fine tannins. Med+ finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/1/2013 - wynnewood500 Likes this wine:
Had with dinner in a French BYO in Philadelphia. Started off a bit restrained but opened pretty quickly (no decanting involved) to show luscious dark fruits, soft tannins and a medium bodied nose. This is in a great drinking window. No signs of being too old so should keep for quite a while.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/20/2013 - pifcho wrote: 88 Points
Brought by a guest - had it over two nights. I thought it was tight on night one, more expressive on the second night with an interesting lilac note on the nose and plush purple fruit on the palate. While quite polished and somewhat hedonistic, I found it a little syrupy on the finish and overall somewhat boring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/10/2013 - winefool wrote: 87 Points
Wineflock - 2003 Bordeaux (Kenny's): My #9, Group #4 - Full dark red color. Bright red fruit nose with green pepper and black spice notes. Medium/thin black fruit on the palate and some bitterness on the finish. Group like this one better than me...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2013 - lexwine Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great modern style St. Emilion. Full bodied with rounded tannins, lots of fruit and length. Not necessarily a wine for long aging and it is super pleasure now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2013 - RR47 wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured a sample to see the progression. Nose of mature blackberries with a nice bit of barnyard, but closed as expected at first sip. Hours later, served with a plump pheasant done in a cask iron Dutch oven, swimming in chicken stock and a sacrificed merlot. The Monbousquet had opened up and was simply stunning with the pheasant. Perfectly silky and yet enough stuffing to balance the wild pheasant. Great balance, with red fruit, leather, and just enough earthiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/7/2012 - Cheungtp wrote: 90 Points
Dark ruby/purple color gem from St Emilion, medium to full bodied, with scents of blackberry, spice, fresh grass, lavender on the nose. On the palate, notion of fresh oak, tobacco, forest floor, mint. Slightly strong tannin in the middle, which could use a few more years to soften up; but it's drinking well right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2012 - v2cruise wrote: 92 Points
Leather, clove and a just the right funk on the nose. well balanced palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/17/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
Initially a big meaty funk on the nose, which somewhat blows off so that a sweet, spicy oak blend is also apparent. On the palate, New World mouthfeel but more savauge flavors than most from Napa. This bottle seems to have more structure than the last, as both acidity and tannins are evident. In the case of the latter, these are kept in check, and everything is relatively well balanced. A couple hours later, this wine really hits it stride. The meat on the nose has become a beautiful leather out of an English saddle shop. Surprisingly, the palate becomes much more subtle and integrated. Could be a function of all the savory appetizers served since this was first opened, but it is really shining two hours later in this meal-oriented environment.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - Tel007 wrote:
If this is 13% alcohol then I'm a monkeys uncle. Apart from that, pretty tasty but really ripe fruit. Easily mistaken for a Napa blend. Has little 'classic' Bordeaux flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 90 Points
big nose of coffee, dark fruits and new oak. needed some power food to wash down with and homemade bolognese with bacon fat was perfect!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2012 - gsquireh wrote: 94 Points
Drinking absolutely lovely right now. Rich purple this rounded and plump beauty is a courtesan sure to please. Her aromatics are sexy and profound- sweet cherry licorice, jammy plums, cinnamon, spice, luscious cedar forest floor and more. A hedonistic blending othe Bordeaux four.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/25/2012 - mxpbuy wrote: 93 Points
Sampled 10/24/12. Dried blueberries, some Oak, a little black cherry and well rounded. Surpised there weren't any red fruit elements, but a full bodied wine that fills the mouth.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2012 - Bordeauxman wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful nose of crushed stone, spice & dark fruit. The tast was not at the same level as the nose but was very good none the less. I intend on drinking the rest of this case over the next 10-15 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/27/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 90 Points
didn't decant. should have read my own notes but didn't! needs at least 1.5hrs in decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2012 - Tad GW wrote: 93 Points
50+5+12+18+8=93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/2/2012 - G.O. wrote: 89 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Well drinkable now, however 3-5 years in cellar wouldn't harm. Not a 90's wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/25/2012 - davej95 wrote: 89 Points
may have been a better rating had I let it open more. It needs a good 90 mins plus to "dust off." I enjoyed my last glass, but thats about it. You can taste the fruit, but prior to opening, its got a strong "coffee" type finish without the silky texture, so I wasn't loving it. Don't get me wrong, this is a nice bottle of wine -- you can tell the flavors are there, I just didn't give it enough time.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2012 - tarheel17 wrote: 91 Points
drinking really well. Fine, yet hefty tannin, a perfect balance of fruit and oak - there is the coffee nuance, but it does not take over. Long finish. Very nice tonight - perhaps the best it has tasted so far.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/28/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 90 Points
On the nose, dark fruits with a bit of funk and oak. Full-bodied and largely resolved on the palate, adding a touch of green to the flavor profile. A cross between Right Bank funk and New World styling. Evolving fairly quickly. Should be good for another several years, but doesn't need more time nor does it seem to have the structure for extended aging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/23/2012 - j30 wrote: 91 Points
Forward nose with lots of dark fruit, green pepper and espresso. Bold thick mouthfeel with sweet tannins and a slightly spicy finish. This is a big wine that's probably better served with food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2012 - GEDC wrote: 93 Points
Still young but very approachable. Will deliver pleasure in every sip. For the price it's a steal. I absolutely agree with the note below. "beautifully perfumed with sweet fruit, damp earth, spice box, oak, espresso. Big juicy dark fruit with many of the same characteristics as the nose."
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2012 - gbbwino wrote: 93 Points
This was a big surprise for me..in a great way. The nose was beautifully perfumed with sweet fruit, damp earth, spice box, oak, espresso. Big juicy dark fruit with many of the same characteristics as the nose. Fleshy fruit, it nice secondary components developing.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2012 - Hypersphere wrote: 89 Points
Very tannic, not enough fruit to support it for future years
Opened 2h before drinking
A bit disapponting. Will lay the other ones for a few more years, just in case
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/11/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 91 Points
Dinner with Warren, Martin, Eric, Andy and wives (Cipriani): plump and jammy with notes of smoked meats and espresso.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2012 - John McCabe wrote: 91 Points
A bit chalky and uneven.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2012 - europat55 wrote: 91 Points
This was really good. Silky, earthy and fruity. From 375.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 89 Points
Late dinner post Braemar talk with Eric, Jon, Ludo and wives (富瑤酒家): didn't have time to decant, so not as expressive as last time. needs at least an hour or two in decanter.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2012 - Lord Rayas wrote: 92 Points
Dinner with David/TY, Bun/Lyn, Derek/Liana, Julian/Anne (The Principal): 1.5 hrs in decanter. expressive nose of jammy dark fruits, roasted coffee, smoked meats. goes well with steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2012 - HRT wrote:
Lovely fruit, cherries, sweet berries. Well rounded and balanced. Great bottle of wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/19/2012 - rickspicks wrote: 92 Points
Like a prior bottle in 2010, but perhaps even a bit smoother. Sweet, ripe, dark fruits on the nose along with some spice, earth and oak. Somewhat lush on the attack and mid-palate with good balance, and then firms up a bit on the medium, slightly drying finish. Sweet, smooth, seamless, complex and deep. A bit fruit forward & new world in style and flavors, but with old world textures and complexity. This turned a bit raisiny after a few hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2012 - Rick and Debra wrote:
Dinner with Debra 2/18. Decant and aerate
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2012 - HRT wrote:
Sweet tannins; rich, elegant. Lovely wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/28/2012 - AOC wrote: 92 Points
beautiful wine with loads of fruits and spices, exotic and more like a new world style but still very balance for this very warm vintage with acidity and fruit. Vvery nice but with some high extracted tannin and loads of new oak.I really prefer the nose but this is a great bottle of wine! liked it!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/15/2012 - Schiffy wrote: 92 Points
Unbelievably smooth, delicious dark fruit that beautifully integrates with the tannins. Silky and delicious; seems like the drinking window is absolutely perfect right now. You must decant for at least two hours to fully enjoy this wine. Yum!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/1/2012 - nittanyjack wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hours. Drank with braised leg of lamb. Little bit of earth and dark fruit on the nose, but not exactly bursting from the glass. Very pleasant on the palate but seemingly more restrained than what others have experienced. Surprising spicy kick on the finish was nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/21/2011 - JavaMonkey wrote: 90 Points
Sexy dark fruit and coffee. Medium-full palate. Nice balance, but definitely on the fruity side.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2011 - RR47 wrote: 92 Points
Dark red cloudy red. Not much to add to my previous 2 reviews this year. Drinking nicely, but it does need at least an hour decanted to open up. Seems silkier than previous bottles. Long finsih.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2011 - bullmrkt wrote: 93 Points
Not quite the 2000, but this was drinking very well. Earthy, dusty dark cherries and tobacco, medium body wasnt as fleshed out as the 00, but finishing long with a good acid structure and smooth tannins.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/21/2011 - dbg wrote:
Dark red/purple. Nose of cassis, plum, some charred oak. Medium-full body, ripe fruit, bit of roasted character but not jammy or syrupy, no real complexity yet, moderate amount of fine-grained tannins, decent balance, medium finish. Very good-excellent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2011 - curtispomeroy wrote: 88 Points
Popped and poured. To me this wine had a lot of nice fruit but not much else which made it rather boring. Hope the next bottle leaves more of an impression.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/23/2011 - PASimon wrote: 92 Points
This was the first bottle of a case I bought on release. I am very happy! Still primary, but very approachable fruit and structure. The thing that really stuck out was the finish...60+ seconds and beautiful. Drink up or hold for a good while...just depends on how you like your Bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/15/2011 - mxpbuy wrote: 93 Points
Sampled 9/14/11. Pop and pour. Fine layer of sediment affixed to the shoulders of the bottle. 15 minutes it was fully open. Slightly burnt blueberries, tobacco, some leather, very smooth, medium to full bodied. Finish is about 20 seconds. A very nice Bordeaux, although I still find the 2000 a better wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2011 - Anthony Lombardi wrote:
Opened and poured two glasses and allowed them to breathe and slow ox'd the rest of the bottle for a little over an hour.the nose showed tons of oaky spice with black fruit. Full bodied and loaded with cassis and mocha. Medium acidity here and some tannic structure, but not nearly what I was expecting. The fruit is in charge and does dry out slightly after a few hours of air.
Controversial wine, and yes very modern. Lots of quality, and while not a wine I'd drink regularly, it was great with flank steak and trimmings for dinner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2011 - Tad GW wrote: 92 Points
Somewhat monolithic and two-dimensional (lacking layers of scent and flavour), but big, concentrated, delicious and lingering on the palate. The bouquet is dark berries, cassis in particular, mocha and oaky notes. 50+5+11.5+17.5+8=92
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/14/2011 - rwpalmer wrote: 87 Points
I was relieved not to smell rubber on this bottle, as I had on earlier ones. Faint blueberry nose, with quite heavily charred oak still evident. The colour was somehow non-descript--neither aged nor bright but a consistent but pale hue throughout. The palate showed a lack of intensity and dry but not unpleasant tannins.
I find myself marking against what this is not--fresh, vibrant or fruity. But I'm heartened that this, amongst other 2003 Bordeaux, are not falling apart or becoming too dry, and some of the obvious initial over-ripe character has become muted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2011 - blockboy wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of rose. It's somewhat balanced with a medium body. Satin-Like texture with a medium finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2011 - Preed wrote: 95 Points
Awesome wine. Once again monbousquet is one one of my favorite from the vintage and price.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2011 - Rollerball wrote: 93 Points
4-hr decant. Chasing the suggestion that '03s are drinking early, or NOW, we tested this with gorgeously rubbed and grilled bone-in chicken next to the oft-maligned-as-over-rated '03 Falesco Marciliano. The Monbousquet had much to say for itself: balanced, vibrant, unique, saline, and dignified. An entertaining aristocrat; an earthy prosciuto; a charming gentry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/25/2011 - pepeelvis wrote:
drinking nicely, still has plenty of grip and years to keep improving
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/17/2011 - michael47 wrote: 92 Points
Some brett funk and saddle leather on the nose that blew off after 30 min, but left a not unpleasant whiff of loamy, mushroom complexity with toasted bread notes. Quite elegant and harmonius in the mouth, with classic cassis and red fruits in a very smooth package. Quite a treat to drink and has years to go.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/16/2011 - RR47 wrote: 92 Points
If you like Monbousquet (I do), this is drinking beautifully now. Similar notes to January, 2011. Amazing nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/9/2011 - Porchino wrote: 90 Points
had it in paris needed some time to breath
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/29/2011 - HRT wrote:
Big, bold, full bodied. Lovely scents of plums, black currants, tobacco. Full bodied with long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2011 - pcwoz wrote: 93 Points
This is just lovely now. There is some lingering light tannin on the back. It is pretty opulent and went great with a medium rare T-bone we had this week! Rich dark fruits, mocca coffee. I had decanted it ca.90 minutes. It drank well over the whole time range. I have never been disappointed with this Chateau. It is not super aged at this point. I was worried that '03 would be a bit hot, but it is all in place. The tannin is getting quite low in my view and would not leave a very very long time. I would agree that is is pretty modern in style and silky.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/13/2011 - whinenut wrote: 90 Points
Slight orange tint bright and clear. At first Berry nose. After 30 minutes an off odor appeared and lasted about 30 minutes. Plenty of tannin.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2011 - beaunehead wrote: 92 Points
Started off the evening with this blockbuster St-Emilion. Deep and dense, with chewy red and black currant, lovely layers of spice, espresso, and toffee, and a long, supple finish. Outstanding, and just coming into its own.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2011 - Lord Rayas wrote: 87 Points
dense and primary. needs food.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2011 - Rogershkg wrote: 96 Points
I thought this was the most enjoyable bottle I have had this year. The colour was ruby, the nose came out as soon as the cork was drawn, rich fruit. Fresh fruit flavour, berries. Plenty of acidity, will probably last but drinking beautifully
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2011 - JeffnCin wrote:
We've enjoyed several bottles of '03 monbousquet in the past couple of years, and this is the first time we've ever been disappointed. The wine was okay, but about midway through the evening Jeff shook his head and said "this is just a faceless red." He was right -- no layers of flavor, no intriguing nose, no extended finish. We aren't sure if this was just one of those moments of bottle variation or if the wine is going through a "dumb" stage. We'll probably leave the rest of our bottles in the racks for a while, just in case it is the latter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/21/2011 - icrworldnu wrote: 96 Points
fabulas....typical of the style, dark notes of forrest floor and leather, but the typical mineral stone notes of the region...had it with venison...perfect...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2011 - pepeelvis wrote:
drinking well, medium bodied bordeaux
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2011 - RR47 wrote: 92 Points
Opened a case. Popped and poured. Great nose of rich pipe tobacco, coffee beans, and blackberries. Working the riedel released more red fruit, but still a wonderful backbone of fresh spicy tobacco. A good balance of fruit, acid, and tannins. medium length finish with coffee/expresso lingering.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/9/2011 - signotim wrote: 92 Points
4 hour decant. huge nose of toffee, chocolate, cedar and raisin. sweet red fruit and very silky on the palate. medium finish which improved toward the end of the bottle. impressive. good QPR.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 90 Points
Dinner with Jason/Jar, David/TY, Alex/Vivien, Chris/Jennifer (Classified Tai Hang): Softer and less smokey than previous bottles. Notes of coffee and plums. A few guests thought it's new world.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/25/2010 - rickspicks wrote: 91 Points
Rich, smooth, soft, lush, concentrated and flavorful. Very modern, almost fruit-forward in style. Not a typical bordeaux profile, but very enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/19/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 91 Points
SPCC 95th anniversary dinner (Hong Kong Convention Centre): very young, with notes of smoked meat, spices and sweet earth. plump and lush. better with food, preferably a nice steak
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2010 - pian0_player wrote: 94 Points
Well made wine. Nice rich, black and red fruit. some tar, earth, leather, and cherry. big and layered. nice nose and powerful finish. it coats the entire palate. think it will be even better in couple of years. best 03 i have tried, liked it much more than the 2003 montrose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2010 - danibus Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking perfectly for my tastes. Modern but balanced. Dark red fruit, tobacco, a bit of minerality. Delicious 2nd day. Only slightly roasted/pruny, but not distracting and less so than many '03 right banks that are now in downward spirals of gloppiness.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2010 - mxpbuy wrote: 93 Points
Sampled October 23, 2010. Typical modern Monbousquest - monster blue fruits up front. Although not the depth or complexity of the '00, still a great wine with a smootha and rich palate fill - long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/28/2010 - Rania wrote:
Drinking much better than last year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/21/2010 - JDB Likes this wine: 89 Points
Patience
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2010 - tarheel17 wrote:
opened for 4 hours before tasting.
Less coffee intense than the previous bottle, this was well-balanced by acid and tannin. In a great spot right now. Rich, without being heavy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/21/2010 - Texas Pete wrote: 90 Points
I had low expectations after reading some other tasting notes, but I enjoyed this wine quite a bit. Nose of black fruit and some Brordeauxish scents. Very smooth with a medium finish. Paired well with some Spanish goat cheese (maybe Mahon).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/14/2010 - Lord Rayas wrote: 88 Points
Giving just a touch more than previous bottle with notes of jammy earth and black cherries. Still way too young and grippy. Won't touch again for at least a year.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/7/2010 - Mark wrote: 89 Points
No tasting note recorded, brought up for a Labor Day BBQ in Napa. Opened and consumed over five hours. This one left me scratching my head. Wood, with disjointed fruit. Still closed, It never fully came together over the course of the evening and I had a very hard time glimpsing any greatness to come. I will leave this one for several more years before trying again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/15/2010 - AllRed wrote: 92 Points
Deep garnet color. Opens with white pepper and black cherry notes, turning to blackberry, plum and dark fruit with time in the glass. Currant and dark fruit flavors, subtle cured meat tone too; drying tannins harden across the finish. Developed some nice spicy oak tones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/8/2010 - randylsu wrote: 84 Points
Way too much wood for me. Not sure why I bought this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2010 - ews3 wrote: 88 Points
earth, milk chocolate, and plum. oak sap quality. med(-) tannin, medium finish. nothing special.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/12/2010 - jrobs7777 wrote: 89 Points
Examination of Bordeaux (Our House (2033 Brandywine St., Philadelphia)): Good, but a lit out of whack tonight. I thought the wood was overwhelming. Earthy wood, wood chips, tree bark. It took considerable coaxing to get any fruit out of this and this remained tight and closed. Not sure this will ever develop into something beyond what it is.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2010 - Ekoostik wrote: 91 Points
This was my first Monbo ever and after reading about the style I have to say I didnt find this overly CA/fruity in style. It screams French right from the nose and this wine is rather medium to slightly full bodied. Its certainly ripe but has bunches of earth and leafy tobacco elements to it. Surprised at how open this wine is right now as well. Finishes with just a mild amount of tannin and for me this seems to be in a pretty nice spot, maybe just on the start of evolution. I wouldnt think this one is going to make old bones.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/26/2010 - pgm Likes this wine: 91 Points
A wine for coffee drinkers, this was just packed with aromas and flavors of coffee beans--a strong aroma of light roast.
Also some good berry and cassis, relatively soft and round. Some smoke and spicy tobacco leaf, too. Ripe. Decent tannins, but doesn't seem built for aging.
Very nice overall.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2010 - blockboy wrote: 92 Points
Nose Blackberries, currant
Taste. tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather. Tannins better over 2 hours, well balanced, has time left before its pek,, at least 3 years ?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/24/2010 - LeatherPalate wrote: 92 Points
Modern and ripe, dark and sexy. Dark fruit,cheap coffee,black licorice, pepper,raw leather nose.
Atypical for my palate but seductive. Big bold dark fruits,dark chocolate, a little mint, deep,
and complex with a nice finish and big mouth-feel. Fun juice. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/23/2010 - KeithAkers wrote: 90 Points
A laid back friday night (LeatherPalate's): nose: rich and very extracted nose of coffee, spices, dark red cherries, anisette, road tar and a bit of berries. A very big nose that is ripe and modern, but isn't necessarily screaming st emilion
taste: full bodied with chewy tannins and rich tones of berries, ground coffee, spices and anisette. Extracted on the palate as well, but it isn't over the top
overall: This is definitely a style wine. It does its style pretty well, especially given the vintage, but it doesn't really scream bordeaux all that much to me. The road tar tones on the nose is a bit off putting, but they don't dominate. The tones on the palate are definitely full bodied and there is a richness to the tones that borders on being overwhelming.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/18/2010 - Tad GW wrote: 93 Points
This is a wonderfully complex wine with lots of spice on the bouquet including a definite note of cinammon along with black and blue berry scents and just sharpened lead pencil. It is a huge wine bursting with stuffing, ripeness and concentration and velvety smoothness.
50+5+13+17+8=93
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2010 - Giladog wrote: 92 Points
Rich earthy tones an strong acidity make this a very compelling wine to me, and surprisingly evolved at this point in its life cycle. One of the best 2003 bottles I've come accross so far.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2010 - WetRock wrote:
Decanted for about 3 hours prior to consumption. Showing soft oaky characters on the nose and palate. This is ripe but didn't seem too far to me. On the rounder side of Bordeaux for sure but some secondary fruit characters did peak out lending some complexity. Broad and fleshy. Not my style for Bordeaux varieties to be certain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/27/2010 - brigcampbell wrote: 91 Points
Poker VI - We're Drinking F$#! Merlot (WCC): funky musky nose - definitely french. decent fruit and earth palate. long finish. favorite of the french for the night but that's not say much. Sorry boys.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/23/2010 - rralls wrote: 92 Points
Solid wine. Very ripe fruit and drinking smoothly now. I guess that's part of this vintage's characteristics.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2010 - winelovr2001 wrote: 92 Points
A tad bit of brett on the nose, but it was not distracting. Nice coffee, anise, and black cherry.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2010 - jonnyoro wrote: 80 Points
Raisins and prunes and tannins, oh my!!!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2010 - John McCabe wrote: 93 Points
A beautiful wine. Quite rich and almost sweet. I've always been happy with Monbousquet and this was no exception.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/8/2010 - milwaukeewino wrote:
Intense purple fruited nose.
Clove. Spearmint. Chai tea. Raisins.
Sweet, rich, full-bodied. Tannins are there but in the background.
Kind of in an odd place right now. Ripe. Let's see where it goes.
Not sure what to make of this. Seems out of sorts, maybe roasted.
Not digging it but I will chalk it up to an off bottle.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2010 - InflationHedge wrote: 92 Points
Not sure if was the wine or the company, but we all very much enjoyed this wine. The unanumous opinion was this was a bit young and need another couple years in the bottle, but the big dark fruit and earthiness is there it just needs time to come together. I probably should have decanted...but am looking forward to seeing how this evolves. Will open the next bottle in 2012
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/30/2009 - dstrack wrote:
I really like this wine and look forward to see how it evolves but a good decant and it's drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2009 - petrusncoke wrote: 91 Points
From 375 ml
An utterly good surprise, the '03 Monbousquet happened to taste French, of Merlot and evoke its St. Emilion origins! Perhaps a bit more plush and forward than the usual St. Emilion --certainly a modern-styled wine, this lovely and balanced wine still managed to maintain excellent balance between fruit, acidity and tannin. On the nose were lovely, elegant aromas of cassis, subtle vanilla oak, tobacco, smoke and plums. One the palate were fresh, tobacco tinged layers of currant fruit which on the finish took on an almost mineral-laced quality. A superb wine that is fully mature and has 10 more pleasure-giving years left. Excellent!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/29/2009 - andy C wrote: 93 Points
drank very well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/16/2009 - smahk wrote: 91 Points
Color: Deep Garnet
Nose: Leather, Earth
Taste: Pencil lead, mineral, earth with a splash of plum
Thei si refined with smooth tannins on the finish. A nice drinking bordeaux.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/20/2009 - ifm wrote: 91 Points
Excellent on the first day after ~30 mins. of decanting; crashed after a night in the fridge -- disappointingly muddled and metallic. Finish next bottle at one sitting?
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/13/2009 - Haut Brion wrote:
***.5 A very modern styled Bordeaux with nice fruits and balance but lacks real depth of complexity. Enjoyable but not inspiring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/9/2009 - JavaMonkey wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Complex, mellow nose has plum, cassis, cedar, espresso, and a hint of licorice. I was expecting this to still be fairly challenging, but it's already quite mellow and well integrated. Very nice fruit, not overly jammy, with a dark cassis character. Nice coffee and cedar core, some lifting acidity. The tannins already seem quite resolved. Moderate length, delicious finish. May develop some more complexity, but drinking beautifully now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/4/2009 - winenewb068 wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Drank over 2 hours. Medium ruby color...earthy but with good fruit. On the palate a bit subdued...moderate length/finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2009 - tarheel17 wrote:
nose: coffee. I'm sure there are other nuances, but right now I'm getting just straight bean. earlier in the evening I remember fleeting garden mulch, mineral and forest, but after 2 hours of air, the coffee has taken over.
palate: fruit (black plum, fig) and coffee are melded into a nice, seamless package. Perfect tannin - just the right amount to go divinely with buffalo ribeye, but also to make this an excellent after-dinner sipper (well, for me). Finishes more red-fruit, but all along, the coffee essence is in accompaniment. I love coffee, so I enjoy this wine. Chris, not so much.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/6/2009 - Whinojb wrote: 91 Points
continues to evolve. Fruitier but to be expected given vintage. smoked meat, bacon perhaps on the nose with fantastic structure. I like where this is going.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/26/2009 - danibus wrote: 91 Points
Very impressive structure and acidity for such a hot year. Sure it's modern, but not in the gloppy, overextracted, high-alcohol way. While I prefer the red fruit and greater minerality of cooler years, the slightly pruney flavors are well integrated. Great winemaking.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/14/2009 - SacramentoCharlie wrote: 92 Points
Decanted 2 hrs and drank over about a 5 hr period. A lot going on the nose here. Cigar Box, leather and earth with some plums & prunes hiding in there too. Very full, solid and complex on the palate although did seem to notice a touch of a thin spot on the backend with firm but not overpowering tannins. Good finish with a little more minerality and even some metallic notes showing later in the evening.
A lot of interesting flavor components in a very well made wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2009 - InternationalWineReport wrote: 92 Points
Sleek, elegant and refined, offering a beam of pain grille, espresso bean and black fruit that's focused and pure, with a clean finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2009 - Badfish wrote: 92 Points
Dark brick red to the rim. A stunning high-toned bouquet of wild plums, fresh herbs, blackberry, creosote, oak, and stones. The palate is surprisingly fresh with black cherry, plum, and herbs along with earth and oak on the backend. There is plenty of extract but the tannins are approachable leaving a wonderfully elegant and balanced wine. The oak should continue to fade and there seems to be plenty of fruit and structure for this wine to age well. I do not understand the criticism of this estate, especially considering that this was the 2003. I honestly found this to be a perfectly pleasant and painfully typical Bordeaux and I mean that in a good way.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/8/2009 - Vinomarcus wrote: 92 Points
Tobacco, barnyard, tight black fruit, anise, and coriander. This is a dark, not quite ready for primetime wine. It evolved slowly in the glass, but was a treat every sip. I'd lay off opening another one with out a significant decant (we only decanted this one for 15 minutes or so). Really nice wine though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/31/2009 - Whinojb wrote: 91 Points
Nose: mushroom, leather, earth and some sort of spice (cinnamon perhaps?). Dark stewed fruits, stewed plum, stewed blackberry with bitter chocolate overtones. Palate confirms - though I found the tannins to be very manageable and friendly. This description at first pour. Will decant for 6 hours as per the previous notes to see how it opens up.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/19/2009 - Cheryl wrote:
Mouton, Monbousquet, Pavie Macquin, Leoville Poyferre and Kistler (Ox, Jersey City, NJ): This was nice. I liked it. The nose promised a bigger wine than the palate delivered, but still nice. Dark sweet fruit on the nose and a some integrated oak with dark fruit on the palate. Soft and nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/8/2009 - Kamikaze wrote: 92 Points
Needs long decanting time at current stage. It is a tannic monster in the first 3 hours, gets smoother by the 5th/6th hour. Very good, will develop with time. Full bodied. A bit too oaky, though. Do not drink this wine unless you can decant it for 4/6 hours AT LEAST, or you be wasting your money.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2009 - hankj wrote: 84 Points
nose -- leather, gravel, dark currant and plum, vanilla. Taste -- dark fruit OVERRUN by bitter tannins. Yes I decanted and let it sit. This is not a wine for me, as it leans towards a new world style but doesn't come off well.
Will it get better with age? My inclination would be to say no -- it doesn't seem to have much apparent acidity and is quite ripe w/o a lot of subtle dimensions. But I had a hard time tasting this one so check elsewhere.
Day 2: nose is a little more "red" and pleasantly minerally -- smells a little more like typical Bordeaux. Taste is even less fruity and more bitter tannic. Don't like it at all now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/19/2009 - peterseville wrote:
Really good - chocolate covered prunes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/7/2009 - danstrings wrote: 93 Points
Tomatina, a .375 -- such a sexy and seductive wine, loaded with juicy fruit, milk chocolate covered coconut and espresso. Yummmmm!!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2009 - msny98 wrote: 90 Points
Popped and poured after a long few months at the office. Definitely needed some air on opening as the first taste was all tannins and tar. As it opened it displayed dark fruit, oak, char and plenty of structure. It would probably do well with more time but it is enjoyable now
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/18/2009 - skifree wrote: 88 Points
Garnet color. Intense nose, very opulent. Jammy, orange peel. Tasted like an Aussie fruit bomb, not a Bordeaux. Very flamboyant. I liked it though. Tasted at Arnie Millan's Bordeaux Round Table at Esquin, wine was double-decanted.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/17/2009 - acraner wrote: 91 Points
Powerhouse, not a timid wine, not as good as i remembered a year ago but everyone enjoyed it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2009 - balassis wrote: 87 Points
Deep ruby color, with a pink rim.
More New World than St Emilion nose, with scents of plums, raisins and earthy notes.
Full- bodied and fleshy with flavors of cherries, plums, sweet spices, cedar and oaky vanilla. A hint of milk chocolate also.
Confused and not focused.
Not my cup of tea...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/25/2009 - Roger Davison wrote: 92 Points
Very opulent, modern style. Very similar to the '99 vintage which is the only other I've tried. Perhaps not quite as much finesse. Drinking well now, but plenty of time left. Excellent value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/19/2009 - Ivin wrote:
Too oaky and too ripe. I am so over "international" merlot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2009 - milwaukeewino wrote:
Sick, jammin', awesome, drink it, buy it, wow.
Full and fat, and really wonderful Bdx.
Just always buy this.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2009 - Dave Canada wrote: 92 Points
really hard to score this one.....I brought it to a restaurant and they had no decanters and crappy stems.........
Nice wine, but the nuances were really lost.....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/12/2009 - bahiadave wrote:
good. nice earth. a good food wine. prob needs some more time for more potential
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/10/2009 - JOsgood wrote: 93 Points
Such a classy and sexy wine. Gorgeous nose of fresh roasted coffee bean, leather and tobacco. Smooth and full on the palate with notes of smoke, spice and blackberry. Oak is harmoniously integrated. Silk on the finish. A great Monbo.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/8/2009 - mmasterson wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 7-8 hours prior to drinking...very lush, with rich, dark fruits in a very modern style, and easy to drink now but the strong oak on the wine detracts from its enjoyment. If the oak recedes with age, then my score would be higher.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2009 - signotim wrote: 91 Points
very smokey, like a camp fire. cherry fruit and cedar. liked it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2009 - peternelson wrote: 90 Points
Tom A: A bit oaky, fairly big and ripe, but balanced; not bad, but so young. Compared w/other wines here, this was lagging far behind.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2009 - WetRock wrote:
EWG Bordeaux with Flannery and a couple Champers (Tom Altmayer's): Decanted about 7 hours prior to consumption. Very primary still with tons of oak. On the ripe side and the finish is a bit rough. Took about a glass home to try the next night which found the greener cedary type notes peaking thorugh and balancing this some from it's soft dessert like oak characters. Needs plenty of time but will never be a classic Bordeaux.....but not really a Cal Cab bomb either.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2009 - Dagalaifus Likes this wine: 95 Points
Popped and poured. Great nose of smoke and coffee. The palate shows dark fruit, darkly toasted oak and clay. The finish lasts minutes. This wine is drinking wonderful now right out of the bottle. However, I found that it continually improved over an eight-hour period. Has the stuffing to develop into an even more extraordinary wine in approx. 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/11/2009 - jonesj22 wrote: 94 Points
Joe G's House - January Offline (Joe G's - Buffalo): Nose: cinnamon, bacon, smoked meats, blue fruits and chocolate. I could smell this all day.
Palate: Bitter chocolate, blue fruits, spice toffee. It tastes like chocolate covered blueberries. Tremendous. Plump and typical of right bank.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/6/2009 - pepeelvis wrote:
modern lush flavors. Still has tons of grip and needs at least a few more years of cellaring.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2009 - paulst wrote: 88 Points
Wonderful nose of blackberry backed up with tobacco, cedar and cherry. Could not shake a sour note up front. Nice blackberry with some mocha. Decanted 2-3 hours.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2009 - caldwell wrote:
I thought this might have been closing down a bit - should have decanted longer before we got into it. "Pop and Pour" may not be the order of the day for this bottle at this stage from my cellar!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/26/2008 - 1981er wrote: 94 Points
Telltale Monbo nose with loads of coffee/ spice cake and just massive, luscious ripe cherry/ currant fruit along with what some might call "scorched earth." Just a really lovely nose. It took a while for the palate to pick up the same amount of steam, but after about 60 min held strong, mouth coating cherry flavor with a bit of a meaty character and a little graphite on the back end. Great mouthfeel and a long finish. Tannins are noticeable but rounding out very nicely. Best bottle of this I've had yet
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2008 - Jazzman wrote: 95 Points
Fantastic wine.
Aromas:
Layers of toast, coffee, chocolate, plums, and leather.
Flavors:
Baking spice, grilled meat, purple fruits, chocolate, and coffee.
Overall:
Tasted well over a dozen wines this night, and this was probably the wine of the night for me. Utterly fantastic. I quickly bought a few bottles to cellar. What a great price on this wine too!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/15/2008 - tarheel17 wrote:
Joe G visits for Bordeaux Tasting (My house): Let's just say I'm glad I have more of this. My notes from the night are spotty. But the chorus of raves about this wine has melooking forward to tasting and analyzing at a later date.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2008 - Pacherant wrote: 90 Points
Still pretty young and tightly-wound with full tannins on the finish. Dense red fruit and ripe. Hard to see this ever being light and graceful but it should level out into a good wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/12/2008 - Grinder wrote: 92 Points
Pop and pour at a local restaurant. Earth and currant on the nose. Medium bodied, with nice structure. Loads of dark fruit, spice and hints of minerality. Smooth tannins, lively acidity, medium length finish. Very good value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/30/2008 - dsimmons wrote: 90 Points
If you drink these now give at least a 2 hour decant. After an hour the wine was giving nothing on the palate. It took at least two hours to begin showing well. I probably will wait a few years for the next one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/24/2008 - orcharddude22 wrote: 91 Points
First bottle of a dozen. Needs at least 2 hours of air before it opens. Decent nose of ccocoa, black fruit and graphite. Exceptioanlly dry but smoothes out with some air. Hope it improves with time. Wow after 3 hours of air this has really opened up, smooth coffee, leather and fruit flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/20/2008 - garthbernstein wrote: 88 Points
Definitely above average, but lacked the "it" to give it a 90+ score. A "nice" wine, with a fairly strong and complex nose of black cherry, leather. Medium bodied, balanced, medium complexity. Matched well with Duck at Fenouil in Portland, and the Filet, but did not enhance the meal, and it was a little hard drinking (meaning it took awhile to drink, whereas great wines seem to disappear before your eyes quickly!). Nothing wrong with the wine, tasted like a $35 Bordeaux, but lacked a long finish and that something extra to get it to 90 points.
Wine celebrity = Kevin Costner when he went to see Madonna backstage during "Truth or Dare" and told her the show was "nice".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/21/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 91 Points
Brought to a local restaurant. Opened and immediately decanted - enjoyed over 2 hours. The nose has the earthy notes you'd expect, but in the mouth it's quite fruit forward - even more than I was expecting given the vintage. Quite pleasant - nice length and balance. Will be interesting to see how this evolves.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2008 - RER1956 wrote: 88 Points
Much better nose than flavor until 1 hour in the decanter.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/6/2008 - JOsgood wrote: 94 Points
I purchased 2 of these after this won the EWS for reasonably priced Bordeaux. Fabulous wine that is open for business right now. Intoxicating nose of earth, smoke and berry. In the mouth great balance of fruit, minerality and acid. Paired perfectly with baked NZ lamb chops. Silky and sexy stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/18/2008 - slippytoad wrote: 94 Points
Drank on Valentine's day 2008. Feels good in the mouth, smoky, earthy with dark fruit notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/17/2008 - pakabear wrote: 91 Points
The funk has gone away since the last time I tried this wine. Great asian spice on the nose, although it's starting to close down a bit. Saved 1/2 bottle for the next day and it really opened up. This is one of the better Bordeaux values.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/15/2008 - Brsed wrote: 89 Points
Decanted about 2 hours. Fruit seems hidden. Strong overtones of tobacco and tea. Seems very "un-St. Emillion".
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2008 - DesMarteau wrote: 88 Points
This rating is a bit unfair...this bottle was opened 10 years too early. a bit shutdown and muted. Very tarlike...thick tannins. fruit was hidden...so integration was a bit clumsy. I would try again in 7 or so years and I'm sure bottle age will make this a winner.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/21/2008 - dream wrote: 92 Points
Pretty nose of tobacco and dark cassis. Soft, smooth and thickly textured with lots of dark fruit flavors and strong tobacco notes. Finishes very ripe and intense with fairly sharp tannins lurking under the cloak of fruit. Delicious to drink now but should improve over the medium term as the tannins settle out. Has that roasted character of the vintage but it tastes great right now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2008 - ptheimer wrote: 92 Points
Takes time to open but worth it when it gets there
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2007 - noppakit s. wrote: 93 Points
My favorite vintage 2003, testing 4-5 times since released. Modern style and just over-did a little, not too much.
No need time to breath. Just pull out the cork then Rock 'n' Roll. Good nose of full-toasted oak, chocolate, vanilla, coffee au lait, nice fruits, sexy on the dark side.
This bottle is more elegance because of its age but still lovely full-bodied, not too low in acidity, complex and well balanced. Delicious !!!
Aftertaste is not great but very good to me.
: )
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2007 - loverboy wrote: 90 Points
Very dark purple colour, new world like but not too aggressively powerful. Milky, creamy and some espresso nose. Nice finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2007 - loverboy wrote: 90 Points
Very dark purple colour, new world like but not too aggressively powerful. Nice finish
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/28/2007 - kelly2258 wrote: 90 Points
Decant! Day 1; tight & acidic Day 2; nose of hay, taste of spice, hazelnut, not much fruit yet. Day 3; to come......
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2007 - PontetCanet wrote: 92 Points
Drank with mom. Obvious coffee notes on the nose along with some green pepper. A little coffee on the palate, with some black pepper, and tart cherry. Nice long finish with a great mouthfeel.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/10/2007 - rmodak wrote: 91 Points
Very lush young Bordeaux. Splash decanted, then drank over 2 hours. Loads of coffee, chocolate, cumin, violets, black currant with a creamy midpalate and long tannic finish. The tannins are very prominent and the wine is expectedly youthful. Has great potential to improve as the oak integrates.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/7/2007 - espia wrote:
MDH: very oaky and new world, not my thing
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/1/2007 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Red Carpet: Bigger, extravagant, blck-blueberry frt; pencil shavings, nice! rich soft frt; silky entry, plush, Classic right bank softness and frt. Nicely balanced, everything there, and drinking well now--unlike some of the other slightly bitter coffee notes in the first 2 (lascombe, Lynch)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/2/2007 - rael007 wrote: 91 Points
Great nose, a bit thin. Very good, though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/15/2007 - BDoolin wrote: 92 Points
An impulsive purchase off the shelf ($59 Binnys...ouch!) has me in love with the 2003 Chateau Monbousquet. Hell, even the name "Monbousquet" is fun to say and type. I told my wife if we ever get another cat (currently, one of our cats is circling the drain) I am going to name it Monbousquet. Say it with me "Mon-bou-squet!"
Back to the note.....an inviting smoky nose, deep ruby red, plush on the palate with toast, cocoa, creamy blackfruit. Fabulously balanced however there is a noticable tannic backbone which I fully expect will soften & integrate with time. The fruit took a an hour or so to really emerge from the toast/smoke/cocoa and I can see where some would warn this wine is in danger of standing too close to the 'overextraction' line but having only recently begun to ween myself off of new world examples....I find it delicious. Delicious to the point I didn't care that I got reamed at Binnys. Certainly cellar-worthy and it has moved to the top of my hit list. 92 points
Mon-bou-squet!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/1/2007 - PontetCanet wrote: 88 Points
Decanted about an hour. Very balanced and refined. Subtle. Smokey, light fruit flavors. Crisp. Decent bottle but looking for more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/30/2007 - ancientvines wrote: 88 Points
where is the great fruit I thought this wine had before? hmmm....
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2007 - pakabear wrote: 87 Points
Holy funky barnyard batman. The taste was much better, I sure hope the nose gets 100% better...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2007 - vinole wrote: 93 Points
2003 Bordeaux Tasting at Wine Watch (Ft. Lauderdale, FL): Bottle was opened the previous evening in preparation for a retail tasting. This was my favorite wine of the tasting which surprised me some being a Right Bank wine as most consider this a Left Bank vintage. It had a lovely and strong nose, with good structure and some tobacco and even a little chocolate flavors. This is accessible now with decanting, and should improve over the next few years. The price was below $60 after shooting up in the '99 and '00 vintages.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/3/2007 - Arcturus wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about 2 hours. Delicious. Rich nose of black currant, earth and smoke. Nice full bodied wine with a lush mouthfeel but a little tight on the finish due to the prominent tannins which will soften with age. A keeper. 92+
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2007 - gr8r84u wrote: 93 Points
very surprised how approachable this is. Very good now, no idea how I will hold on to these.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2007 - Morten Kiernan wrote: 93 Points
FOF tasting course - Store vinoplevelser 3; 1/30/2007-2/27/2007 (Copenhagen): great bouquet, coffe, plums. Taste very young, green tanins, the aftertaste vanished quickly, and seemed a bit watery compared to the other wines tasted this evening.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2007 - Terkel wrote: 93 Points
Saint Emilion 2006 Classification Tasting (FOF): Black/red color with a youthful edge. First impression is lots of smoke! The nose is smoky, creamy, dark fruit and some earthy tones. The taste is very warm, fat fruit, creamy, coffee and cream, vanila and toasted bread. Massive aftertaste with well integrated silky tannins. The fruit is well balanced with tones of earth, undergrowth and prunes. This wine has alot going - its biggest problem is that it might have too much! It seems a bit wild and vulgar. Modern style St. Emilion.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2007 - Ivin wrote: 91 Points
Lots of oak, decent acidity, good concentration & fruit. Decanted for 3 hours and improved a little with time which is a good sign.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/12/2007 - PontetCanet wrote: 89 Points
Very nice wine. Lots of fruit. Not much tannins. approachable now. Very nice nose.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2006 - NealN wrote:
Wine was too young. I could not rate. Raspberry and tobacco nose, Distinct acid and noticeable tannins. After 2 hours just starting to soften. Need to wait some time as the wine has closed down.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2006 - danstrings wrote: 91 Points
Big brawny raspberry and dark mocha espresso.. lots of coffee and chocolate. Dusty tannins but supported by fruit. (note--half-bottle format)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2006 - DFC wrote: 91 Points
Double decanted. Medium-bodied wine that is dark ruby/purple in color. On the nose, dark fruits, espresso, and toasty cedar. On the palate, plums and coffee. Well-balanced wine with an extremely long 30-40 second finish. The tannins are just a bit dry and chalky right now for my liking. I think I'll wait another 2-3 years for my next bottle...the potential is certainly there to add a point or two!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2006 - Tubbs wrote: 94 Points
I've decided to check in on the '03 wines of Mr. Perse and boy am I glad I did! What an explosive nose - coffee, toast - lots of toast, smoke... I could not get my nose out of the glass. Thick on the palate but not overbearing this goes down with ease. While teetering on the brink of overextraction, it never quites steps over the line - they nailed this one. This wine is quite tannic, but you'd hardly notice it. The finish is long and siky with the slightest hint of vanilla which in time, should integrate nicely. If you like toast, coffee, earthiness in your wine, this is the ticket.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/9/2006 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Wineflock - 2003 Bordeaux, Parker 90+ (Ken's): Grou p#2, My #6 - Full deep red color. Full aroma of spicy black fruit, violets, and briar. Nice round candied black raspberry fruit on the palate. Long coffee finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2006 - ancientvines wrote: 95 Points
Drank in SF with Sue's parents. This wine was terrific. Big and chewy.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/29/2006 - tanglenet wrote:
Served as part of a flight on Day 2 at the Wine Club SF. Opened but not decanted for 3 hours. All the wines IMO, excluding the Lafite, were tight, tannic and pretty unapproachable. Have to use the imagination on how these might evolve. Red purple in color; big sweet earth nose with mushrooms and tennis shoes; a sort of metallic taste and a dry finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/2/2006 - EBoyer wrote: 93 Points
Best showing out of three bottles so far. Still primary, but delicious sweet fruit, concentrated but not heavy at all. Very nice wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/31/2006 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
The "Not Lori" Smith and Wollensky Dinner (Chicago, IL): Deep and inky purple in color. A wide open and screaming nose. Dark fruits, cocoa, smoke, meats with a hints of vanillin and crem brulee. Fleshy and round on the palate. Abundant dark fruit, chocolate and tannic structure. Very appealing and in your face --- but still primary and in need of development to show more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2006 - Nanda wrote: 92 Points
Chablis and 03 Bordeaux Dinner (HB: A Hearty Boys Spot): Dark and inky purple in color. An very appealing nose of tobacco leaf, tar, leather and subdued dark red fruits. Medium to big bodied this surprisingly open, fleshy and has relatively low levels of tannin and acid. Initially the mid-palate is lacking but gains weight with air. Plenty of red fruits with graphite, tobacco and vanillin adding interest.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/24/2006 - JasonD wrote: 92 Points
Espresso, wow this just screams of classic Monbo. Espresso, baking chocolate, and chocolate covered cherry aromas. Initially the tannis were very dusty and made the finish unplesant. As the wine warmed up they sweetened considerably and it was at this point I really enjoyed it. As we sat outside and it cooled down again I thought the dustyness showed up again.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/28/2006 - Thilo wrote: 91 Points
Color is dark garnet/purple to the rim. Nose shows sweet dark plum, roasted coffee, and charred oak. On the palate, there is ample cassis/dark fruit up front framed by graphite, cedar, and charry oak. Drinks pretty well for a young wine, but will need 5 or so years to settle down a bit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/5/2006 - Mark wrote: 91 Points
No Tasting notes.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2006 - EBoyer wrote: 91 Points
Very typical Monbousquet in the vein of the 2000, 1999, and 1998, but not as concentrated as the 2000 or the 1998. Needs six months for the sweet oak to integrate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/20/2006 - MRichman wrote:
Great nose with burnt oak. Dense Menthol, soy.
Nice sweet core, lots of toasty french oak. Dark, black cherry, drying oaky tannins, lots of black fruit, tar, resin. Less lush fruit than I expected. Reminds me of a '96 if anything, but more black tar. Hints of future complexity. Good potential when oaky tannins fade. Good stuffing. Too much black tar?
B/B+ with potential
$43 Wine Library 2/06
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment