2003 Providence Family Matakana

Community Tasting Notes (5) Avg Score: 90.6 points

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  6/29/2019 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Wow - it's been more than 3 years since my last bottle, and only 2 people have in the meantime posted a note on any Providence Matakana wine, so this is a truly rare (and expensive) wine with less than 10,000 bottles produced each year for the entire estate.
  I still find this perhaps the most unusual and interesting red out there. Interesting however does not have to mean best...
  This is a Cabernet Franc and Merlot dominated Bordeaux blend with 12% (the Syrah I had earlier was even more unusual at 11%). Despite the light weight the wine is aged in 100% new French oak, and it works quite well to my surprise.
  Upon opening I was wondering whether this was gone as I was getting intense flavors of Tomato and some medicinal notes combined with elevated acidity. Surprisingly this gains weight and becomes much smoother with more air. Very aromatic with various spices and fine aromas. Yes, now I could perhaps recognize this as a Bordeaux blend (unlike their Syrah where I would never get the grape right). Cheval Blanc is Vuletic's well known idol/target, and apparently the wine has done well against Cheval Blanc and Petrus in top Bordeaux vintage blind tastings. If I guessed this blind as right bank Bordeaux, I would probably place it as a top wine in a poor vintage, say 1987 Cheval Blanc or something along these lines.
  With even more air this pics up tobacco and leather notes like a mature Bordeaux. Am still keen to try a top vintage from Providence (2003 was mediocre) to see what wonders Vuletic can do...

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  8/25/2016 - pavel_p wrote: 88 Points

  As the novelty factor wears of for me (this was the fourth bottle of a small case), I am becoming more critical of (this mediocre vintage of ) Providence's Bordeaux blend. Yes, this is a fragrant wine with it's sweet red fruit and plenty of wood spices that still looks fairly young (clear garnet with translucent rim), but it lacks the balance of a good Bordeaux. Instead the wine shows high acidity and some sharpness from the oak treatment. More interesting than good. Would like to try a better vintage of Providence. Drink up as this will not improve.

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  7/16/2015 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points

  3rd bottle from case of 6. Ruby/garnet with dark core and slight browning towards the translucent rim. Very fragrant nose with red fruit, earth and some cedar/oak. Still good juicy fruit on the palate but also much more sweet leather notes than I recall from the last bottle. Medium length. Would love to try a better vintage. Drink up.

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  1/6/2013 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 91 Points

  Very consistent with previous bottle June 2012. Ruby with a translucent rim. Drank half of bottle on its own, and if there is anything not to like here is that the acidity (in combination with the light to medium body) is a bit high to drink without food.
  Second half of bottle holds up very well on day 2. Worked fine with a steak. Very good wine.
  Just bought a case of the Private Reserve, so curious to see if that is even better.

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  6/17/2012 - pavel_p wrote: 92 Points

  Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Malberc - and I would have said Pinot Noir with high confidence... This is the most Burgundian Bordeaux blend I have ever had. Decanted 30 min and drank over the following 2h. Ruby, strawberry and other sweet red fruit, a touch of oak, medium plus finish. Very nice. 12% alcohol - where do you get that these days...? Gains a little bit of weight and Merlot characteristics after 2h of decanting time, and then resembles a bit more the St. Emillion it' s apparently modelled after...

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