Chateau Mont Perat 2003 -Bordeaux
A delicious offering from the Despagne firm, which clearly knows how to produce budget-priced Bordeaux that can compete with some of the region’s more hallowed names, the 2003 Mont Perat exhibits abundant quantities of cedar, barbecue smoke, spicy herbs, and black cherry and currant fruit. Like all the Despagne wines, it possesses loads of character and soul. Enjoy it during its first 2-4 years of life. - Rated 87, Robert Parker
Chateau Vrai Canon Bouche 2003 Bordeaux
This noble effort, displaying terrific purity, power, and richness, provides further evidence that Canon-Fronsac’s cool terroirs were beneficial in the torridly hot, dry summer of 2003. An inky/ruby/purple color accompanies aromas of violets, blueberries, and crushed stones. Powerful, rich, and generous, this sleeper of the vintage should be at its finest between 2006-2014. - Rated 88-90, Robert Parker
Chateau Valmengaux 2003 Bordeaux
This seriously run property, located on a plateau not far from Fronsac, is planted with 83% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Cabernet Franc. It is run by Vincent and Beatrice Rapin, whose father owns Ferrand-Lartigue. A sleeper of the vintage, the 2003 Valmengaux is a modern-styled, richly fruity claret with plenty of new oak characteristics, a beautiful texture, good weight to its blackberry and cassis fruit, and fine purity as well as depth. It should drink well for 5-6 years. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Lots of good fruit in this user-friendly wine, with soft tannins and a fruity finish. Delicious. A bit jammy, but clean. –JS - Rated 85-88, Wine Spectator
Chateau Carlmagnus 2003 Bordeaux
Beautiful aromas of licorice and blackberries. Full-bodied, with fabulous fruit and silky tannins. A real beauty. Never tasted this before. Very well done. –JS - Rated 89-91, Wine Spectator
Chateau Haut Mazeris Fronsac 2003 -Bordeaux
The 2003 Haut-Mazeris Fronsac is a broad, sensual, medium-bodied, dark plum/ruby-colored, beautifully made effort that is ready for current consumption. With a nice lushness as well as low acidity, it should drink well for 5-6 years. - Rated 87, Robert Parker
Chateau Cap de Faugeres 2003 -Bordeaux
Madame Corrine Guisez, who owns the more famous St.-Emilion estate of Chateau Faugeres, has hit a home run with this terrific sleeper of the vintage. A large-scaled, opulently-textured, inky/purple-colored effort, it boasts a rich, sumptuous perfume of camphor, black raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries. It is a rich, full-bodied wine to enjoy...
Chateau Moulin Haut Larroque 2003 -Bordeaux
Made by dedicated proprietor Jean-Noel Herve, this superb offering is a sleeper of the vintage. It exhibits a dark ruby/purple color in addition to a fragrant perfume of blackberries, cherries, smoke, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied with superb purity as well as fruit, moderately high tannin, and admirable persistence, this wine is well above its pedigree. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2019. - Rated 90, Robert Parker Thick and rich, with jam and tart character. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft tannins and a jammy finish. –JS - Rated 85-88, Wine Spectator
A sleeper of the vintage from the Cotes de Bourg, this dense, ruby/purple-colored offering shows plenty of black currant fruit intermixed with licorice, earth, and even a hint of truffle. The wine is medium-bodied, pure, and nicely textured. Drink it over the next 6-7 years. - Rated 89, Robert Parker
Chateau d'Aiguilhe 2003 Bordeaux
This large (120+ acres) vineyard planted on limestone and clay soils is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, the 2003 was produced from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare. It exhibits a dense purple color as well as a big, sweet nose of scorched earth,...
Chateau Clos l'Eglise 2003 Bordeaux
This estate has been producing fabulous wines since 1997, with the finest four vintages to date including the 2000, 2001, 1999, and 1998. The 2003 is not up to the quality of those wines but one can’t say enough about the Garcin family, who, since their acquisition of this estate in...
Chateau Lanessan 2000 - Bordeaux
Haut Medoc Bordeaux I am not sure this wine does not deserve an outstanding score. It is one of the finest Lanessans I have tasted over the least 20 years. A generous Lanessan, with a deep ruby/purple color and a classic nose of cedar, spice box, black currant, plum, and earth, the wine has sweet tannin, medium to full body, loads of concentration, and a long, layered finish, with light to moderate tannin. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2015. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Perfumed red, with floral, currant and dark chocolate aromas. Medium-bodied, with firm tannins and a medium finish. Delicate red. Best after 2004. 23,330 cases made. –JS - Rated 86, Wine Spectator
Chateau Haut Mazeris Canon Fronsac 2003 -Bordeaux
The compelling 2003 Canon-Fronsac is a modern-styled claret revealing loads of chocolate and creamy toasty oak giving it an espresso roast-like character. This dense purple-colored, flamboyant wine possesses sweet tannin, a voluptuous, opulent personality, full body, and loads of concentration. A sleeper of the vintage, it can be approached now, but will probably hit its peak in 3-4 years and last for 12-15. - Rated 91, Robert Parker Round and fruity with berry and light chocolate character, medium body and a caressing finish. Best after 2006. 1,330 cases made. -JS - Rated 86, Wine Spectator
Moulis, Bordeaux A serious red, as one has come to expect from this impeccably run estate, the 2000 Poujeaux exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, a sweet nose of black currants, minerals, and earth, excellent texture, impressive purity, and a long, concentrated, moderately tannic finish. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2016+. - Rated 88, Robert Parker A wine with delicious berry, nutmeg and fresh tobacco character, with just a hint of vanilla. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Impressive. Very fine. Much better than from barrel. Best after 2008. 25,415 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
