Aged beautifully. Bramble and violets, black Plum and blackberry, leather, tomato leaf. Silky tannin and medium + finish. Could possibly last another 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
A little amber on the rim. Pencil lead and green peppers dominated the glass. Some fruit but low key. Nice soft mouth feel. Not unpleasant but has seen better days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
On opening, a lot of cherry, very soft and wirh a distinct leather finish. Would not expect this wine to develop much more. A very good quaffing wine and will pair nicely with a burger or steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Flavor of ripe cherries, "2003" alcohol note, dark fruit, spice. Taste of chocolate, dark cherries, acidity and tannins still present. Nice lenght but all a bit unbalanced. Nice powerful cru burgeois and good value. Drink - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Vibrant, fruity, lush nose of dark fruit with faint cedar in the background. A little sweet, hints of port. Very ripe. This is my first 2003 and clearly a hot vintage. Tannins seems to be in retreat but I had with steak, which can sometimes make them taste softer. A tiny bit hot on the end although its only 13.5% alcohol, which isn't bad for the vintage. There seems to be many years of fruit in this yet, but it will be interesting to see how it fares with age: if this was blind, I might have thought it was New World and on its way out, but knowing the pedigree it's hard to say here. Overall it's probably too fruity for my palate - I prefer something more elegant - but I'm pleasantly surprised as I had low expectations. I have only a handful of 2003s. Interesting to come back to it in 2-3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
I must say this was like a completely different bottle of wine! Nice finish, good dark fruit flavours, blackberries black cherry, even an enjoyable nose!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
alot of dark fruit aromas on the nose, blueberries, a little blackberry and on the 2nd day cherry but the mouth feel doesnt match up still feels tannic and clunky, will leave this for another 6 months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Oh jeez - this is a real floozy of a wine - all oak, vanilla, fat fruit and very a-typical of a St Estephe. I was expecting earthy, crunchy fruit and instead got a fruit-bomb. Nose: Uber-strong notes of vanilla and oak - like a really showy, strong Rioja. In the mouth this is a fat, cloying drink that sticks to the mouth - quite pungent and not particularly pleasant. Soft, flabby fruit that needs more tannins and acidity to make this even remotely drinkable with food. Most of this is probably due to the vintage, and if this is representative of 2003s in general then I'm glad I dont have many.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
this wine seems to gain weight every time i open it, only 3 bottles left, absolutely the last time that i will open this. will re-visit this wine in 3 years ie. end 2011.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
6/26/2021 - MargauxA Likes this wine: 96 Points
Aged beautifully. Bramble and violets, black Plum and blackberry, leather, tomato leaf. Silky tannin and medium + finish. Could possibly last another 5 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/13/2021 - sidb wrote: 93 Points
Really enjoyed this. Lovely aged, oaky, perfumed and liquorice flavour. Beautiful
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/24/2020 - empire80 Likes this wine: 89 Points
A hint of blackcurrant but quite austere for a 2003. Better on day 2 with food - upgraded by1 to 89
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/26/2020 - quickben Likes this wine: 89 Points
Still going strong. Plenty on the nose and a very nice cab flavour profile.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/28/2016 - Rhone Redder wrote: 89 Points
A little amber on the rim. Pencil lead and green peppers dominated the glass. Some fruit but low key. Nice soft mouth feel. Not unpleasant but has seen better days.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2014 - NZ_Mag wrote: 89 Points
Deep violet/ruby colour, nose is dominated by ripe red fruits. The tannins are well-integrated and it has good body.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2013 - jkvedar wrote: 89 Points
Complex, pleasing nose. Just slightly past it's prime, but a great value.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/21/2013 - Francohead wrote: 91 Points
for the price this wine cannot be beat; classic bordeaux with leather and silky texture. My guess is it won't get much better than it is now; drink up
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2012 - Francohead wrote: 89 Points
On opening, a lot of cherry, very soft and wirh a distinct leather finish. Would not expect this wine to develop much more. A very good quaffing wine and will pair nicely with a burger or steak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/11/2012 - Wine_lvr wrote: 87 Points
Flavor of ripe cherries, "2003" alcohol note, dark fruit, spice. Taste of chocolate, dark cherries, acidity and tannins still present. Nice lenght but all a bit unbalanced. Nice powerful cru burgeois and good value. Drink - 2020.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/24/2012 - alanh13 wrote: 83 Points
Vibrant, fruity, lush nose of dark fruit with faint cedar in the background. A little sweet, hints of port. Very ripe. This is my first 2003 and clearly a hot vintage. Tannins seems to be in retreat but I had with steak, which can sometimes make them taste softer. A tiny bit hot on the end although its only 13.5% alcohol, which isn't bad for the vintage. There seems to be many years of fruit in this yet, but it will be interesting to see how it fares with age: if this was blind, I might have thought it was New World and on its way out, but knowing the pedigree it's hard to say here. Overall it's probably too fruity for my palate - I prefer something more elegant - but I'm pleasantly surprised as I had low expectations. I have only a handful of 2003s.
Interesting to come back to it in 2-3 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/14/2012 - Xsagaroth wrote: 90 Points
I must say this was like a completely different bottle of wine! Nice finish, good dark fruit flavours, blackberries black cherry, even an enjoyable nose!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/28/2012 - Xsagaroth wrote: 88 Points
alot of dark fruit aromas on the nose, blueberries, a little blackberry and on the 2nd day cherry but the mouth feel doesnt match up still feels tannic and clunky, will leave this for another 6 months.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/8/2010 - Oh Dae-su wrote: 88 Points
Consent with the other authors. Powerful, nice typical fruit and lasted pretty long for a St. Estephe form 2003.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2009 - bunhiong wrote:
still holding incredibly well, only 1 bottle left :(
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/3/2009 - pjaines wrote:
Oh jeez - this is a real floozy of a wine - all oak, vanilla, fat fruit and very a-typical of a St Estephe. I was expecting earthy, crunchy fruit and instead got a fruit-bomb. Nose: Uber-strong notes of vanilla and oak - like a really showy, strong Rioja. In the mouth this is a fat, cloying drink that sticks to the mouth - quite pungent and not particularly pleasant. Soft, flabby fruit that needs more tannins and acidity to make this even remotely drinkable with food. Most of this is probably due to the vintage, and if this is representative of 2003s in general then I'm glad I dont have many.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2008 - bunhiong wrote:
this wine seems to gain weight every time i open it, only 3 bottles left, absolutely the last time that i will open this. will re-visit this wine in 3 years ie. end 2011.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/7/2008 - paulst wrote: 88 Points
Some earth with moderate blackberry mid palate ending with some acidity and hints on chocolate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/31/2004 - peternelson wrote: 89 Points
Relais de Margaux: Very nice cigar box, cassis lead pencil, hint of licorice; huge mth, espresso; hot fin.***Will be a big thick espresso wine later!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment