Chateau Fleur Cardinal 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux As suggested in previous reports, Fleur-Cardinale has become a seriously run estate under the new owners, Dominique and Florence Decoster. The vineyard consists of 45 acres planted (in rich clay/limestone soils) with 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 15% Cabernet Franc. The winemaking team represents a partnership between...
Chateau Fombrauge 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux The largest vineyard of St.-Emilion, acquired by Bordeaux visionary Bernard Magrez nearly a decade ago, the wines of Fombrauge have soared in quality. A special five-acre parcel is segregated for their luxury cuvee, Magrez-Fombrauge. Fombrauge tends to be a blend of approximately 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. With notes of white chocolate, figs, plums, and black cherry liqueur, the heady, fleshy, seductive, medium to full-bodied 2003 should be enjoyed over the next 6-8 years.” – Rated 89, Robert Parker
“Lots of blackberry, earth and roasted fruit on the nose. Full-bodied, with very soft tannins and a long chocolate, berry and vanilla aftertaste. Yummy. Seductive. Best after 2006. 10,915 cases made. -JS” – Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Formats Offered 375ml, 750ml, 1.5L
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A good value from St.-Emilion, this well-run estate has turned out a dense, muscular, masculine-styled 2003 with a dark ruby/purple color, and up-front, ripe black cherry fruit intermixed with hints of black currants, earth, and incense. Plush, fleshy, long, and low in acidity, it should be consumed over...
Chateau Armens 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion, Bordeaux The structured, muscular, backward 2000 offers notes of minerals, red cherries, earth, and wood. Medium-bodied and well-concentrated, it will be very good to excellent. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016. - Rated 88, Robert Parker Very good. Lovely violet and currant character. Full- to medium-bodied, with velvety tannins and a caressing finish. –JS - Rated 89-91, Wine Spectator
Chateau Cadet Piola 2003 - Bordeaux
St. Emilions, Bordeaux This estate typically produces muscular, tannic St.-Emilions, but recent vintages have revealed more charm and texture. The 2003 is hard as a rock, but it reveals good weight and ripeness as well as plenty of earthy, black cherry, and spice characteristics. This austere, muscular Cadet-Piola lacks charm and suppleness, but makes up for those defects with a dense, concentrated, structured style. - Rated 88, Robert Parker Blackberry and plum character follows through to a medium-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a light finish. Delicate wine. Best after 2008. 1,500 cases made. –JS Rated 87, Wine Spectator
Chateau Milens 2000 - Bordeaux
St Emilion Bordeaux Made under the supervision of St.-Emilion's leading garagiste and bete-noir (Jean-Luc Thunevin), this is a blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc. Yields were kept to a modest 31 hectoliters per hectare. The most impressive Milens to date, the opaque ruby/purple-colored 2000 exhibits deep, chewy, black cherry and currant fruit intermixed with spicy new oak, tar, and a hint of cocoa. Impressively-textured, pure, and medium to full-bodied, with low acidity and moderate tannin, it will be at its finest between 2006-2018. - Rated 89, Robert Parker A bit rustic, but you have to like the concentration. Very ripe, with raisiny, smoky character. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long, tannic finish. –JS - Rated 89-91, Wine Spectator
Chateau Clos De Prince 2000 - Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A so-called garage wine from St.-Emilion, this debut vintage (700 cases from a 4-acre vineyard planted with 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc) offers elegance and finesse in addition to loads of fruit, glycerin, and toasty wood. This big fruit bomb should become more defined with aging. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2016. - Rated 88-90, Robert Parker
Chateau Gachon 2003 Bordeaux 1.5L
Gradual hillsides of gravel and clay in this satellite of northern Saint-Emilion are the home of Monsieur Gerard Arpin and his delightful red wines. Made from 70% Merlot and equal parts of both Cabernets the wine is a deep ruby with purple hues and has a soft nose of cherry, cassis,...
Chateau Chauvin 2003 - Bordeaux
St Emilion, Bordeaux Aromas of dried herbs, chocolate, black cherry jam, earth, and spice emerge from this fleshy, ripe, medium to full-bodied, dark plum/ruby-hued 2003. It will provide lovely drinking now and over the next decade. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Pleasant blackberry and licorice character with medium body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Nice mouthfeel, if a bit hollow. Almost 89-91. –JS - Rated 85-88, Wine Spectator
St. Emilion, Bordeaux This 7.5-acre garagiste estate includes an extremely old plot of vines (situated across the road from Grand-Pontet) planted in 1901 in clay soils. The other parcels are near Monbousquet, and the vineyard composition is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Stephane Derenoncourt is the consulting winemaker. The well-made, deep ruby/purple-tinged 2003 reveals plenty of toasty oak in addition to ripe black cherry fruit, and a fleshy attack, but moderately high tannin and a narrow texture emerge in the finish. This elegant effort is best consumed during its first decade of life. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Clean, with good fruit, medium body and a slightly simple finish. –JS - Rated 85-88, Wine Spectator
Chateau Larcis Ducasse 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux This noble terroir is finally exploiting its full potential. Situated near Pavie on a clay/limestone base topped with pure limestone, the brilliant team of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt has completely resurrected this great estate from the depths of mediocrity in less than two years. Fashioned from 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (2,500 cases produced), the beautifully elegant 2003 reveals sweet cedar, fruitcake, and aristocratic cassis and tobacco notes reminiscent of an exceptional Medoc. Complexity and nobility continue in the mouth with wonderfully fresh, lively, black currant and plum-like characteristics interwoven with kirsch. Expansive, round, and generous, with low acidity and superb fruit ripeness, it is a candidate for drinking during its first 12-15 years of life. It is undeniably disarming at present, but will it close down? Anticipated maturity: now-2016. - Rated 90, Robert Parker You have to like the complex aromas of minerals, berries and tarragon. Tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a very pretty finish. Refined. -JS - Rated 89-91, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lynsolence 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux A tiny 6.5-acre vineyard planted in light gravel/sandy soils not far from Monbousquet and Valandraud, Lynsolence’s proprietor, Denis Baraud, is an up-and-coming star of St.-Emilion. Made from yields of 19 hectoliters per hectare, the 2003 (100% Merlot that achieved 14.5% alcohol) is an exuberant, flamboyant, modern-styled St.-Emilion displaying an inky/plum/purple color, a big, sweet, ostentatious bouquet (smoke, new oak, blackberries, cassis), low acidity, a dense, chewy personality, abundant fruit and glycerin, and plenty of flesh covering its structural skeleton. Sadly, there are only 525 cases of this gorgeous offering. It can be enjoyed now and over the next 12-14 years of life. - Rated 92, Robert Parker Classy wine with currant, berry and light vanilla aromas. Full-bodied, with a dense yet refined texture and a medium finish. Tight and well done. Best after 2008. 525 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
Chateau Moulin St Georges 2003 Bordeaux
St. Emilion, Bordeaux Another estate owned by perfectionist Alain Vauthier (the proprietor of Ausone), this is the poor person’s value pick from this proprietor. One of the finest vintages ever made by Alain Vauthier is the 2003 Moulin St.-Georges, a sleeper of the vintage. Deep purple to the rim with an exquisite nose of blueberries, white flowers, crushed rocks, and mulberry, the wine is rich, textured, powerful, and much more structured and full-bodied than it usually is in other vintages. This wine will actually benefit from 3-4 years of bottle-age and drink well for 15-20 years.” – Rated 91, Robert Parker Dark in color, with intense aromas of blackberry, raspberry and licorice. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. Slightly linear but impressive. Very New World in style. Best after 2010. 2,375 cases made. JS” - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
