My last bottle and for some reason the only one listed on my CT inventory. It is possible I drank all my other 2003s before enrolling on CT....Anyway, this was part of a NYE dinner. It was opened, but not decanted for over an hour. It was spectacular. Subdued fruit, followed by spices, it was medium bodied with a long finish. A nose of violets.
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Vinetasters: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape et al. (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Smells like purple. Candied sweet cherry profile. Bitter and getting to the overdone category here. Clean though, but the tannins are astringent and overdone. My 1st, group's 3rd.
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14.5%. Nose of alcohol and some macerated cherry. Some baked earth and alcohol. Frankly, this was simply monumentally dull. We couldn't be bothered to finish the bottle.
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Drinking perfectly now. The nose is truffles and vegetable compost and the flavours are like a nice soft ganache. Very approachable now and I wish I had more bottles
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Medium garnet in color. The nose is mostly dried dark fruits with some game and farmyard. On the palate, it is dry, medium plus bodied, with a good amount of extract. Acid is medium and balancing. Tannins are soft and fully resolved. Alcohol is high but well integrated. The stewed notes of plums, the prunes and the funkiness tell me this wasn't meant to age this long. There is fruit and sweetness on the midpalate but the tertiaries are abundant. It may be too ripe a vintage for my taste. A good bottle that may have seen better times a few years ago.
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Note: I use a scale on which 85 represents a very good wine.
Given the house and the vintage, I expected a bit more, maybe 90 or 90+. Took a little time to open up, but this bottle never devloped the richness I hoped it would. Still flavorful, but not as smooth as I hoped it would be. I suspect that it is time to drink up.
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This was really good. Can't imagine it will get better, but seems like it will go for a while. Chateauneuf du Pape is well represented by this. Grenache, deep and rock. A little hot, but mostly just layers and good.
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Very nice CDP drinking well now. Classic notes on the nose, followed by very ripe fruits, black raspberry, prune, slightly bitter tannin. Can hold for longer on this one, but delicious right now.
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Nez de fraise compotée, de kirsch. Bouche ronde et épicée, le vin est puissant, un peu cuit, chaleureux, pas agressant, voire agréable, mais tout de même simple. Les invités ont semblé apprécier beaucoup plus que moi....86 pts
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Leather and black cherry on the nose. Full bodied with waves of luscious ripe fruit. Definitely leaning towards a modern style, but just enough rusticness to keep this real. Still going strong for a 2003.
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A ripe nose of blackberry, fig, herbs and licorice lead way to much of the same on the palate along with a tobacco, vanilla and a roasted meat quality flavor profile. While good it left me wanting more.
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Merveilleux accompagnement aux fromages que ce Châteauneuf du Pape aux nombreux cépages. Tannins très bien fondus et une finale qui perdure fort agréablement.
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Bright garnet. Medium nose of boysenberries and blackberries, properly ripe palate of dark berries and some plum, but a little hollow. The finish is medium-long and pleasing. This wine has reasonable tannic grip for a CdP, no obvious alcohol despite the 14.5% ABV.
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Old-world with a bit of modernity. Leather and hay in the nose with lean, chocolate, leather and light berry flavors. Tannins are plenty sufficient as is a certain pepper heat on the finish. Mature, probably beginning to slide. Drink now.
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Drinking very well at this point with a nice nose of Rhone funk, raspberry, sage, thyme, and licorice. On the palate, nice with red fruits, anise, herbs, and nice funk. Decent acidity, finishes a little on the hot side. Great pairing with lamb.
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Pretty good. Not sure this won't be better in a year or two, but we shall see. Classic southern Rhone flavors, still young-seeming tannins. Maybe a little vanilla, but very subtle. Mostly nice herbs, dark fruits, definitely can taste the Grenache. Glad I bought a few of this a few years ago.
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Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" Champagne and C9duP (Lady C, a future MW?): Garnet with an orange rim. Beautiful bouquet with a lot of garrigue, some cherries and pleasant farmyard impressions. On the palate garrigue, jammy berry fruits, chocolate, good acidity and tannin with still a pleasant bite. A lovely, concentrated and complex wine which is completely at its top. Really lovely. No real hurry, but it will not improve anymore.
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Dark fruits, particularly prunes and raisins at the forefront. Some garrique and meaty notes as well. Not terribly complex, but very round, supple, and enjoyable.
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clear, red, in color. earth, dark fruit, tobacco, on the nose. plum, vanilla, spice, mocha, nuts, on the palate. medium acid, medium tannins, on the finish.
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This wine reminded me of a Clarendon Hills Old Vines Granache. I was not expecting that from a french CNP. it was very fruity and luscious. It was better on it's own than with the steak we were eating. I think it needs a few years for the fruit to integrate and become more complex.
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This has lost the vibrancy of a few years ago. There is an evolved herbaceousness on the nose but the palate has lost the intensity of fruit required to cover the still raw tannin. I won't be opening another for 5 yrs to give those tannins a chance to mellow and restore some balance. My worry however is that the heat of the vintage is beginning to show here and that this may never come together.
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Complex and long. Juicy, savoury with pure cherry and quite ripe. Better than as expected given the hot vintage. Not as good on day two. Excellent on day 1.
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spectacular nose on this aged beauty. Complex with dark fruit, hints of spice and lots of earth. On the palate it rings true. Dark complex layered fruit, very soft tannins, and a long very earthy finish with much terroir - smoke and leather hint of tobacco. This one falls in the 10 year window when chateau neufs re-emerge. I'd say it will improve over the next two years, but not beyond that.
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Full bodied with black cherry, garrigue, minerals and hot tar. This is well within the realm of balanced ripeness, with a rich texture, but almost cooling tannins. Very nice, surprisingly firm and youthful. Still, I would opt to drink now.
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Popped and poured. Took about an hour for this to come around. Nice nose of black raspberry, thyme, smoked meat, anise, leather. On the palate rich red raspberry, black raspberry, herbs, licorice, leather, earth, and roasted meats. Finishes with great acidic balance and nice Rhone funk.
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Quite dark. Very intense Grenache nose. Raspberry and a whole lot of earth, meat, and thyme/garrigues. Delicious balanced earthy CdP flavours with a hint of pepper on the finish. Perfect balance and a long dry finish.
Best 03 from the South I've had.
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Bill's Monthly Lunch - June 2012 (Vancouver, BC): Tasted Blind – After the first sniff and sip this was easy to peg as CdP, but I would have never guessed it to be from 2003. Juicy and ripe fruit but not overdone or roasted with earthy and herbal notes. Similar on the palate with good balance and no signs of roasted fruit or any heat. This is by far the best 03 CdP I’ve had. This is drinking very well right now. Excellent.
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Needed 1+ hours of air. A great nose of blackberry, black cherry and pepper following suit on the full-bodied mouth. There was good acidity and tannin on this rich full wine. It was everything I was hoping for and a nice follow-up to the '03 Chaupin I enjoyed last week.
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Liqueur of blackberry, black cherry jam, pepper, smoke and spice box aromas lead to a rich, plush, open style of Chateauneuf du Pape that is at the perfect place to drink today.
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This is definitely not one for the purists however if you want try a CDP thats a bit different (in a good way) then look no further (but hopefully you will not pay the £92 ($140) that I paid at Gordon Ramsays restaurant here in the UK).
Decantered: for about 30 to 40 mins whilst we tucked into starters - Nose: Peppery sweet current nose nothing outstanding came through. Taste: Starts with light Kirsch and blackcurrent but then comes the bonfire toffee followed quickly by wonderful Salted Caramel which starts fading to a smooth beautiful taste which I can only decribe as Salted Dulce de leche Ice cream, this then lasts a few seconds and then suddenly out-of-the-blue you get a quick hit licorice before fading to a unusual slightly dry/salty finish, which is my only real critisism of this wine as you really want to finish with at least a bit of fruit hence marking it down a point or two.
To summarise this is like Guy Fawkes night in a bottle - 1. Light the bonfire, 2. Set off some amazing fireworks, 3. Get out the sparklers, 4. Go home with the slight taste of smoke in your mouth.
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Double decanted and worked hard in the glass to remove a slight courseness. Big, ripe CdN flavors, just bordering on the over ripeness that plagued the 03's. Still, very good and should drink well for years ahead.
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Very good rather than great due to a spike of rough acidity. The vibrant nose screams CdP with blackberries, syrup from bottled cherries, and notes of roasted herbs, licorice, and coffee. Extremely rich but not ponderous or port-like, in fact this seemed still a little on the young side.
This wine was much, much better than a 2003 Usseglio Imperiale served at the same time. The Usseglio was muted and also had some spiky acidity. The combination of reduction (?) and VA struck me as odd given my (admittedly meager) knowledge of wine chemistry.
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Dinner with Lasse (My place): Dark red color. Potent, port-like aromas with ripe dark fruits, dried cherries and some browning apple. More exciting on the palate with intense and concentrate fruit, fresh and ripe cherries and plums. Very potent, yet with a refreshing coolness underneath. Good acidity balance, although it is dry on the finish. Not certain where this is going, but I am a bit worried about the dried nose and dry finish. I will save my last bottle for a few more years and hope for the best.
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Nez de bleuets, pâtisserie, le bois est encore bien présent et donne des allures de vin du Nouveau Monde. La bouche est lisse, moderne, belle texture mais serrée, plutôt unidimensionnelle à ce stade. Peu d'alcool p/r à d'autres 2003. C'est bien fait mais je ne vois pas l'intérêt de produire de tels vins du Nouveau Monde à Châteauneuf, ce n'est pas ce que j'y recherche. Attendre 3 ou 4 ans pour voir si le bois va mieux s'intégrer. 87 (+?) pts
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Not decanted. Still young and primary but redolent of cherries, some coffee hints and herbs de provence. A llittle porty on the nose due to the vintage but not too much. The palate is very smooth, elegant but biting on the finish due to the young tannins. Will hold together very well for the future.
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Inky colored...Popped and poured, initially closed only revealing some licorice, florals, and maple syrup. The palate is not nearly as brooding as the nose would suggest; blue/black fruit, soft tannins, medium-low acidity, and a medium finish. Vacuvin and into the fridge for 24 hours...nose is pure VA with a flabby wine underneath. Drink up this for near-term drinking.
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Two hours in the decanter allowed the wine to develop and mask the rather obvious alcohol. And what a lovely wine that emerged! Very soft fruit and great balance. I'll wait anoither 2-3 years before broaching another though.
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Deep red/purple color. Complex nose of cherry, blackberry and oak. Excellent balance and mouth feel. Long fruity finish with great acidity and firm tannins. This was a great bottle of CdP -- especially for the price -- and will age very, very well.
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Corked. This bottle had one of the worst looking corks I've ever seen, full of veins and almost falling apart, even though there was no seepage. Hope this is not common for this producer.
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Deep red. Complex nose that revealed more and more over approx 2 hrs. Plum and baked red fruit, notes of rubber - not offensive but didn't linger, seaweed/nori, salinity. Great satin mouth feel. Slightly hot and dry tannins initially which soften but never disappear. This is good now (with or without food) but give it another 2 to 3 years.
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This opened up nicely over the course of the evening into a wonderful wine. Chocolate, blackberry, tobacco, truffle on the nose. Well balanced and structured on the palate with soft herbs, spices and licorice emerging. Long finish.
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Garnet. Cherry and leather on the palate. Dark berry fruit with faint licorice. Tannins prominent, with slight bitterness on the finish. Will likely improve with additional bottle age.
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Wow! Great balance and mouth feel in this wine....it just flows through the mouth. Up front are dark black berry flavors followed by a hint of blueberry & kirsch.. through the middle are little tastes of tar bordering on wet asphault and faint licorice on the end. Nice acidity and soft tannins.THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE CDP'S IN THIS PRICE RANGE. ( $ 45.00 95 RP ) Still very youthful ...there is more to come I would think.
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Deep dark red color with a slightly purple hue. Ripe cherries, pepper and mint aromas. Intense fruit and pepper on the palate, becoming more brooding and concentrated on the midpalate, before finally ending with a good deal of heat and tannin. Very powerful yet refined and elegant. Still young and I expect even more from this one in the future.
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90 minute decant. Creamy nose of blueberry and blackberry, Some earthiness and pain grille (first time I've identified this). On the palate, a lot of blackberry, with sweet oak and some smoke. Long finish. This is still quite young, and moderately tannic, but it's really drinking well. I'd guess it will really hit its stride in 2-3 years. A really good bottle, and superior to the slumbering bottle I had about a year ago.
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Pleasing black cherry color. Complex nose of oak, red and blue berries, bing cherry, cinnamon, tobacco, chalk, menthol and garrigue. Good balance, with nice acidity and alcohol, glycerin, and fine but very firm tannins. Long and sweet, grapey finish. Didn't hold up very long in the glass, though. Very drinkable now. Impressively complex but subtle, not a powerful or super-ripe style. I'd be inclined to drink this wine relatively young, within a few years, as it may grow too thin and earthy as the tannins fade. A good wine, but a bit over-rated for the price.
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Wow, dark and intense with lots of french oak. Damn shame to spoil the experience by consuming it with food.. Right time to drink it as the tannins have subsided and the fruit is rich and brooding. We opened for New Year's Eve, decanted at the restaurant for a mere 20 minutes and slurped. Very very enjoyable. Will buy more
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Popped but not decanted, and allowed to sit for 3 hours prior to drinking. This was part of a mega tasting so no detailed notes, but this was very enjoyable, with nice cherry and a bit of spice.
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Decanted 3 hours. Dark red with cherry, coffee and some blackberries notes on the nose. The nose and palate had more cherries with a decidedly Port-infused flavours and scent. I originally thought this wine was slightly oxidized due to the Port aromas but I was told by others to expect this in 2003 cdps. Tannic with medium acidity on the long finish. 88+ for now. Not sure it's my style of cdp.
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Ruby red color with purple on the rim (5/5). On the nose scents of black and blue fruits, raspberry, dark chocolate, earth, game, herbs de provence and white peppar (12/15). Smooth and silky on the palate with firm tannins justifying it's youth, displaying flavors of raspberry coulis, dark chocolate and white peppar (14/20). The palate is quite closed and the wine is unable to fully nuance the great multidimensional bouquet it posseses. This of course being normal given it's youth. With more time I think this wine has a great chance to reach a high echelon and I will without doubt consider adding more points in the future. 92 pts
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Delicious. When first opened the nose was dominated by dark, jammy, berry fruit but over time animal notes, plums, lavender, earth, and tobacco emerged. Wonderful texture in the month where the fruits head more toward raspberry. Significant tannins and a bone dry finish that is already long.
Reading these notes over they don't really seem to capture the wine. There are more herbs than suggested above, for example.
Just buy it.
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Had this at Morel's. Very young -- very tannic and very fruity. I thought it was sensational, but others in the group who tend more toward Cal Cabs disagreed, and thought it was too simple and too light. To me this wine is a heavywieght. Cherries, mildly earthy, but the tannins were a little harsh. I have to think this will be really nice in a few years.
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Chateauneuf 2003 tasting in Antwerp- Organised by Michel Vlyminck (Pazzo restaurant - Antwerp - Belgium): Good concentration and good share of glycerin and a youtful color featuring a more or less discrete nose of clean fruit, spices and a hint of caramel. In the mouth it has an elegatn attack and good tannin-fruit-acidity balance. Wood tannins need time. Very well made with a sweet mid palate, good level of complexity and a very long finish. Very good.
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12/31/2022 - SMHalps Likes this wine: 93 Points
My last bottle and for some reason the only one listed on my CT inventory. It is possible I drank all my other 2003s before enrolling on CT....Anyway, this was part of a NYE dinner. It was opened, but not decanted for over an hour. It was spectacular. Subdued fruit, followed by spices, it was medium bodied with a long finish. A nose of violets.
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10/3/2021 - acyso wrote: 80 Points
Vinetasters: 2001 Châteauneuf-du-Pape et al. (Skokie, IL): Served double blind. Smells like purple. Candied sweet cherry profile. Bitter and getting to the overdone category here. Clean though, but the tannins are astringent and overdone. My 1st, group's 3rd.
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2/17/2021 - king-bing wrote:
14.5%. Nose of alcohol and some macerated cherry. Some baked earth and alcohol. Frankly, this was simply monumentally dull. We couldn't be bothered to finish the bottle.
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11/8/2020 - Nmilau Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking perfectly now. The nose is truffles and vegetable compost and the flavours are like a nice soft ganache. Very approachable now and I wish I had more bottles
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3/26/2020 - Lobonick Likes this wine: 92 Points
Just a beautiful wine, drinking seductively and beautifully now at its 17 years. I wish that I had other bottles.
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2/29/2020 - DoubleMagnum wrote: 89 Points
Medium garnet in color. The nose is mostly dried dark fruits with some game and farmyard. On the palate, it is dry, medium plus bodied, with a good amount of extract. Acid is medium and balancing. Tannins are soft and fully resolved. Alcohol is high but well integrated. The stewed notes of plums, the prunes and the funkiness tell me this wasn't meant to age this long. There is fruit and sweetness on the midpalate but the tertiaries are abundant. It may be too ripe a vintage for my taste. A good bottle that may have seen better times a few years ago.
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11/21/2019 - John Nezlek wrote: 88 Points
Note: I use a scale on which 85 represents a very good wine.
Given the house and the vintage, I expected a bit more, maybe 90 or 90+.
Took a little time to open up, but this bottle never devloped the richness I hoped it would.
Still flavorful, but not as smooth as I hoped it would be.
I suspect that it is time to drink up.
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11/18/2018 - cab wrote: flawed
This bottled was a little stewed. Had its moments, but based on prior notes (both my own and others) not representative.
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11/23/2017 - unrelenting wrote: 93 Points
Still tight and young! 1-2 years for my last
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10/29/2017 - wequedad Likes this wine: 91 Points
Bought at the domaine. Really at the top of its game. Wonderful notes of plum and leather. Sadly I have only 2 more bottles.
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3/12/2017 - cab wrote: 88 Points
This was really good. Can't imagine it will get better, but seems like it will go for a while. Chateauneuf du Pape is well represented by this. Grenache, deep and rock. A little hot, but mostly just layers and good.
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5/27/2016 - SonnyChiba wrote: 92 Points
Very nice CDP drinking well now. Classic notes on the nose, followed by very ripe fruits, black raspberry, prune, slightly bitter tannin. Can hold for longer on this one, but delicious right now.
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3/28/2016 - acheng wrote: 91 Points
My last bottle. Just as well. It is drinking fine now. A lot of the heat has subsided. Kirsch and Provençal herbs.
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7/8/2015 - d'Artagnan wrote: 86 Points
Nez de fraise compotée, de kirsch. Bouche ronde et épicée, le vin est puissant, un peu cuit, chaleureux, pas agressant, voire agréable, mais tout de même simple. Les invités ont semblé apprécier beaucoup plus que moi....86 pts
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7/14/2014 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Leather and black cherry on the nose. Full bodied with waves of luscious ripe fruit. Definitely leaning towards a modern style, but just enough rusticness to keep this real. Still going strong for a 2003.
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7/13/2014 - Donjcorleone wrote: 93 Points
A ripe nose of blackberry, fig, herbs and licorice lead way to much of the same on the palate along with a tobacco, vanilla and a roasted meat quality flavor profile. While good it left me wanting more.
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4/12/2014 - Pichoo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Merveilleux accompagnement aux fromages que ce Châteauneuf du Pape aux nombreux cépages. Tannins très bien fondus et une finale qui perdure fort agréablement.
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4/11/2014 - SteveG wrote: 88 Points
Bright garnet. Medium nose of boysenberries and blackberries, properly ripe palate of dark berries and some plum, but a little hollow. The finish is medium-long and pleasing. This wine has reasonable tannic grip for a CdP, no obvious alcohol despite the 14.5% ABV.
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3/11/2014 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
Old-world with a bit of modernity. Leather and hay in the nose with lean, chocolate, leather and light berry flavors. Tannins are plenty sufficient as is a certain pepper heat on the finish. Mature, probably beginning to slide. Drink now.
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2/20/2014 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very well at this point with a nice nose of Rhone funk, raspberry, sage, thyme, and licorice. On the palate, nice with red fruits, anise, herbs, and nice funk. Decent acidity, finishes a little on the hot side. Great pairing with lamb.
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12/25/2013 - cab wrote:
Pretty good. Not sure this won't be better in a year or two, but we shall see. Classic southern Rhone flavors, still young-seeming tannins. Maybe a little vanilla, but very subtle. Mostly nice herbs, dark fruits, definitely can taste the Grenache. Glad I bought a few of this a few years ago.
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12/12/2013 - Zweder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Monthly tasting club "The Tasting Club" Champagne and C9duP (Lady C, a future MW?): Garnet with an orange rim. Beautiful bouquet with a lot of garrigue, some cherries and pleasant farmyard impressions. On the palate garrigue, jammy berry fruits, chocolate, good acidity and tannin with still a pleasant bite. A lovely, concentrated and complex wine which is completely at its top. Really lovely. No real hurry, but it will not improve anymore.
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11/24/2013 - ldorf wrote: 93 Points
Classic and drinking beautifully. Great value.
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10/4/2013 - Gluz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fruit is blowing off, suggest drinking shortly.
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9/29/2013 - ldorf wrote: 92 Points
Great year and a really fine wine. Drank with no food and was a wonderful afternoon (after drinking both bottles) with some friends.
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5/23/2013 - dmalcolm wrote:
Dark fruits, particularly prunes and raisins at the forefront. Some garrique and meaty notes as well. Not terribly complex, but very round, supple, and enjoyable.
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1/14/2013 - affordableCollector wrote: 88 Points
clear, red, in color. earth, dark fruit, tobacco, on the nose. plum, vanilla, spice, mocha, nuts, on the palate. medium acid, medium tannins, on the finish.
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1/14/2013 - europat55 wrote: 87 Points
2003 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Tasting with GMS ringers from other countries (Rich & Peggy's House, Los Altos, CA): Darker than the other wines in today's line-up. Nose is a little hot, but you can detect that there is some good stuff behind the heat. Palate is quite fruity and feels a little nit young. Long finish. I would probably have scored higher (+2 pts) if not for the heat. Tasted blind.
My #7, group's #3 (71 pts).
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12/28/2012 - cfetter2 Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine reminded me of a Clarendon Hills Old Vines Granache. I was not expecting that from a french CNP. it was very fruity and luscious. It was better on it's own than with the steak we were eating. I think it needs a few years for the fruit to integrate and become more complex.
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12/17/2012 - Heather Smith wrote: 82 Points
This has lost the vibrancy of a few years ago. There is an evolved herbaceousness on the nose but the palate has lost the intensity of fruit required to cover the still raw tannin. I won't be opening another for 5 yrs to give those tannins a chance to mellow and restore some balance. My worry however is that the heat of the vintage is beginning to show here and that this may never come together.
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12/8/2012 - rremiker Likes this wine: 89 Points
drinking very nicely right now, better than before, has matured gracefully, very enjoyable.
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12/5/2012 - acheng Likes this wine: 92 Points
Complex and long. Juicy, savoury with pure cherry and quite ripe. Better than as expected given the hot vintage. Not as good on day two. Excellent on day 1.
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11/23/2012 - cfinchch wrote: 95 Points
Round, complex nose and taste; dark fruits and wood, but no astringency. Very much our taste.
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11/19/2012 - CRAUBER4242 wrote: 93 Points
No official notes on this one besides that this wine is drinking great. This was enjoyed after a day of tasting in Sonoma (KB, Merry Edwards, etc.).
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11/17/2012 - pmk wrote: 91 Points
spectacular nose on this aged beauty. Complex with dark fruit, hints of spice and lots of earth. On the palate it rings true. Dark complex layered fruit, very soft tannins, and a long very earthy finish with much terroir - smoke and leather hint of tobacco. This one falls in the 10 year window when chateau neufs re-emerge. I'd say it will improve over the next two years, but not beyond that.
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10/19/2012 - rmodak wrote: 92 Points
Full bodied with black cherry, garrigue, minerals and hot tar. This is well within the realm of balanced ripeness, with a rich texture, but almost cooling tannins. Very nice, surprisingly firm and youthful. Still, I would opt to drink now.
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6/16/2012 - King JR wrote: 92 Points
Very nice wine. Decanted for 2 hours. Wonderful nose. Finish was a bit short and a bit intense. Became much more enjoyable during the evening.
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6/9/2012 - GalvezGuy wrote: 92 Points
Popped and poured. Took about an hour for this to come around. Nice nose of black raspberry, thyme, smoked meat, anise, leather. On the palate rich red raspberry, black raspberry, herbs, licorice, leather, earth, and roasted meats. Finishes with great acidic balance and nice Rhone funk.
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6/7/2012 - David J Cooper wrote: 93 Points
Quite dark. Very intense Grenache nose. Raspberry and a whole lot of earth, meat, and thyme/garrigues. Delicious balanced earthy CdP flavours with a hint of pepper on the finish. Perfect balance and a long dry finish.
Best 03 from the South I've had.
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6/1/2012 - godx wrote: 91 Points
Bill's Monthly Lunch - June 2012 (Vancouver, BC): Tasted Blind – After the first sniff and sip this was easy to peg as CdP, but I would have never guessed it to be from 2003. Juicy and ripe fruit but not overdone or roasted with earthy and herbal notes. Similar on the palate with good balance and no signs of roasted fruit or any heat. This is by far the best 03 CdP I’ve had. This is drinking very well right now. Excellent.
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4/30/2012 - CRAUBER4242 wrote: 93 Points
Needed 1+ hours of air. A great nose of blackberry, black cherry and pepper following suit on the full-bodied mouth. There was good acidity and tannin on this rich full wine. It was everything I was hoping for and a nice follow-up to the '03 Chaupin I enjoyed last week.
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4/12/2012 - ldorf wrote: 91 Points
Love it. Earth, leather and fruit. Plenty of time left to drink the other 16 I have... and I can wait.
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3/3/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Liqueur of blackberry, black cherry jam, pepper, smoke and spice box aromas lead to a rich, plush, open style of Chateauneuf du Pape that is at the perfect place to drink today.
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1/13/2012 - richyricardo wrote: 91 Points
This is definitely not one for the purists however if you want try a CDP thats a bit different (in a good way) then look no further (but hopefully you will not pay the £92 ($140) that I paid at Gordon Ramsays restaurant here in the UK).
Decantered: for about 30 to 40 mins whilst we tucked into starters - Nose: Peppery sweet current nose nothing outstanding came through. Taste: Starts with light Kirsch and blackcurrent but then comes the bonfire toffee followed quickly by wonderful Salted Caramel which starts fading to a smooth beautiful taste which I can only decribe as Salted Dulce de leche Ice cream, this then lasts a few seconds and then suddenly out-of-the-blue you get a quick hit licorice before fading to a unusual slightly dry/salty finish, which is my only real critisism of this wine as you really want to finish with at least a bit of fruit hence marking it down a point or two.
To summarise this is like Guy Fawkes night in a bottle - 1. Light the bonfire, 2. Set off some amazing fireworks, 3. Get out the sparklers, 4. Go home with the slight taste of smoke in your mouth.
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11/28/2011 - guitarguy wrote: 90 Points
This was frizzant on opening, not sure why. Smoky, tobacco, licorice and prune nose. Flavors of tobacco, leather, licorice and pepper. Good.
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8/28/2011 - WinoRick wrote: 92 Points
Double decanted and worked hard in the glass to remove a slight courseness. Big, ripe CdN flavors, just bordering on the over ripeness that plagued the 03's. Still, very good and should drink well for years ahead.
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8/1/2011 - borneman wrote: 80 Points
All plums and raisons, completely over-ripe. Lots of sediment. Drink now or pour out.
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5/28/2011 - vendange wrote: 91 Points
Very good rather than great due to a spike of rough acidity. The vibrant nose screams CdP with blackberries, syrup from bottled cherries, and notes of roasted herbs, licorice, and coffee. Extremely rich but not ponderous or port-like, in fact this seemed still a little on the young side.
This wine was much, much better than a 2003 Usseglio Imperiale served at the same time. The Usseglio was muted and also had some spiky acidity. The combination of reduction (?) and VA struck me as odd given my (admittedly meager) knowledge of wine chemistry.
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4/15/2011 - Terkel wrote: 93 Points
Dinner with Lasse (My place): Dark red color. Potent, port-like aromas with ripe dark fruits, dried cherries and some browning apple. More exciting on the palate with intense and concentrate fruit, fresh and ripe cherries and plums. Very potent, yet with a refreshing coolness underneath. Good acidity balance, although it is dry on the finish. Not certain where this is going, but I am a bit worried about the dried nose and dry finish. I will save my last bottle for a few more years and hope for the best.
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12/14/2010 - d'Artagnan wrote: 87 Points
Nez de bleuets, pâtisserie, le bois est encore bien présent et donne des allures de vin du Nouveau Monde.
La bouche est lisse, moderne, belle texture mais serrée, plutôt unidimensionnelle à ce stade. Peu d'alcool p/r à d'autres 2003.
C'est bien fait mais je ne vois pas l'intérêt de produire de tels vins du Nouveau Monde à Châteauneuf, ce n'est pas ce que j'y recherche.
Attendre 3 ou 4 ans pour voir si le bois va mieux s'intégrer. 87 (+?) pts
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3/27/2010 - rwatkin wrote: flawed
corked!!!
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3/1/2010 - spo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Red fruits, some leather and savory quality and what seemed herbal akin to bay leaf that I thought turned into a strong mint flavor. Delightful.
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2/14/2010 - mimik wrote: 92 Points
Not decanted. Still young and primary but redolent of cherries, some coffee hints and herbs de provence. A llittle porty on the nose due to the vintage but not too much. The palate is very smooth, elegant but biting on the finish due to the young tannins. Will hold together very well for the future.
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1/31/2010 - ebrown35 wrote: 85 Points
Inky colored...Popped and poured, initially closed only revealing some licorice, florals, and maple syrup. The palate is not nearly as brooding as the nose would suggest; blue/black fruit, soft tannins, medium-low acidity, and a medium finish. Vacuvin and into the fridge for 24 hours...nose is pure VA with a flabby wine underneath. Drink up this for near-term drinking.
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1/2/2010 - Heather Smith wrote:
Two hours in the decanter allowed the wine to develop and mask the rather obvious alcohol. And what a lovely wine that emerged! Very soft fruit and great balance. I'll wait anoither 2-3 years before broaching another though.
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8/24/2009 - GGinSF wrote: 93 Points
Silky, full of glycerine. Dark fruit and minerals, with a touch of herbs. Really, really wonderful.
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1/22/2009 - craiglpalmer wrote: 94 Points
Deep red/purple color. Complex nose of cherry, blackberry and oak. Excellent balance and mouth feel. Long fruity finish with great acidity and firm tannins. This was a great bottle of CdP -- especially for the price -- and will age very, very well.
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12/4/2008 - petitblanc wrote: flawed
Corked. This bottle had one of the worst looking corks I've ever seen, full of veins and almost falling apart, even though there was no seepage. Hope this is not common for this producer.
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11/19/2008 - aavello wrote: 93 Points
Real good, smooth tannins, peppery bold. Glad I have this one.
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7/18/2008 - Kevin_C wrote: 93 Points
Deep red. Complex nose that revealed more and more over approx 2 hrs. Plum and baked red fruit, notes of rubber - not offensive but didn't linger, seaweed/nori, salinity. Great satin mouth feel. Slightly hot and dry tannins initially which soften but never disappear. This is good now (with or without food) but give it another 2 to 3 years.
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6/28/2008 - Mike Bates wrote: 95 Points
This opened up nicely over the course of the evening into a wonderful wine. Chocolate, blackberry, tobacco, truffle on the nose. Well balanced and structured on the palate with soft herbs, spices and licorice emerging. Long finish.
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6/13/2008 - Mark wrote: 91 Points
No tasting note, but very good and well balanced. I wish I had more but it was my last bottle.
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1/12/2008 - ksmith wrote: 92 Points
Garnet. Cherry and leather on the palate. Dark berry fruit with faint licorice. Tannins prominent, with slight bitterness on the finish. Will likely improve with additional bottle age.
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12/10/2007 - Maverick wrote: 91 Points
good balance of light and dark fruit. Some heat but tannis are settling nicely.
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11/7/2007 - Tparodi wrote: 94 Points
Wow! Great balance and mouth feel in this wine....it just flows through the mouth. Up front are dark black berry flavors followed by a hint of blueberry & kirsch.. through the middle are little tastes of tar bordering on wet asphault and faint licorice on the end. Nice acidity and soft tannins.THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF MY FAVORITE CDP'S IN THIS PRICE RANGE. ( $ 45.00 95 RP ) Still very youthful ...there is more to come I would think.
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10/18/2007 - Terkel wrote: 94 Points
Deep dark red color with a slightly purple hue. Ripe cherries, pepper and mint aromas. Intense fruit and pepper on the palate, becoming more brooding and concentrated on the midpalate, before finally ending with a good deal of heat and tannin. Very powerful yet refined and elegant. Still young and I expect even more from this one in the future.
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9/11/2007 - Tparodi wrote: 93 Points
very nice CDP, but young.. just needs a little more time
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8/3/2007 - JOJ wrote: 93 Points
90 minute decant. Creamy nose of blueberry and blackberry, Some earthiness and pain grille (first time I've identified this). On the palate, a lot of blackberry, with sweet oak and some smoke. Long finish. This is still quite young, and moderately tannic, but it's really drinking well. I'd guess it will really hit its stride in 2-3 years. A really good bottle, and superior to the slumbering bottle I had about a year ago.
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5/25/2007 - petitblanc wrote: 90 Points
Pleasing black cherry color. Complex nose of oak, red and blue berries, bing cherry, cinnamon, tobacco, chalk, menthol and garrigue. Good balance, with nice acidity and alcohol, glycerin, and fine but very firm tannins. Long and sweet, grapey finish. Didn't hold up very long in the glass, though. Very drinkable now. Impressively complex but subtle, not a powerful or super-ripe style. I'd be inclined to drink this wine relatively young, within a few years, as it may grow too thin and earthy as the tannins fade. A good wine, but a bit over-rated for the price.
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1/1/2007 - PapaBoomBoom wrote: 93 Points
Wow, dark and intense with lots of french oak. Damn shame to spoil the experience by consuming it with food.. Right time to drink it as the tannins have subsided and the fruit is rich and brooding. We opened for New Year's Eve, decanted at the restaurant for a mere 20 minutes and slurped. Very very enjoyable. Will buy more
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10/20/2006 - davidandrose wrote: 92 Points
Popped but not decanted, and allowed to sit for 3 hours prior to drinking. This was part of a mega tasting so no detailed notes, but this was very enjoyable, with nice cherry and a bit of spice.
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6/20/2006 - mimik wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Dark red with cherry, coffee and some blackberries notes on the nose. The nose and palate had more cherries with a decidedly Port-infused flavours and scent. I originally thought this wine was slightly oxidized due to the Port aromas but I was told by others to expect this in 2003 cdps. Tannic with medium acidity on the long finish. 88+ for now. Not sure it's my style of cdp.
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5/12/2006 - Sommelier81 wrote: 92 Points
Ruby red color with purple on the rim (5/5). On the nose scents of black and blue fruits, raspberry, dark chocolate, earth, game, herbs de provence and white peppar (12/15). Smooth and silky on the palate with firm tannins justifying it's youth, displaying flavors of raspberry coulis, dark chocolate and white peppar (14/20). The palate is quite closed and the wine is unable to fully nuance the great multidimensional bouquet it posseses. This of course being normal given it's youth. With more time I think this wine has a great chance to reach a high echelon and I will without doubt consider adding more points in the future. 92 pts
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3/18/2006 - vendange wrote: 93 Points
Delicious. When first opened the nose was dominated by dark, jammy, berry fruit but over time animal notes, plums, lavender, earth, and tobacco emerged. Wonderful texture in the month where the fruits head more toward raspberry. Significant tannins and a bone dry finish that is already long.
Reading these notes over they don't really seem to capture the wine. There are more herbs than suggested above, for example.
Just buy it.
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2/4/2006 - cab wrote:
Had this at Morel's. Very young -- very tannic and very fruity. I thought it was sensational, but others in the group who tend more toward Cal Cabs disagreed, and thought it was too simple and too light. To me this wine is a heavywieght. Cherries, mildly earthy, but the tannins were a little harsh. I have to think this will be really nice in a few years.
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10/17/2005 - claudio_bxl wrote:
Chateauneuf 2003 tasting in Antwerp- Organised by Michel Vlyminck (Pazzo restaurant - Antwerp - Belgium): Good concentration and good share of glycerin and a youtful color featuring a more or less discrete nose of clean fruit, spices and a hint of caramel. In the mouth it has an elegatn attack and good tannin-fruit-acidity balance. Wood tannins need time. Very well made with a sweet mid palate, good level of complexity and a very long finish. Very good.
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