Chateau Beychevelle 2002 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux A plum/garnet evolved color leads to a relatively superficial, fruity wine with medium body, pleasant flavors, but no real persistence, depth, or complexity. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. Beychevelle remains the most conspicuous under-achiever in the otherwise brilliant appellation of St.-Julien. - Rated 86, Robert Parker I like the aromas of ripe fruit and plums. Medium- to full-bodied, with a solid core of tannins and a medium finish. A bit austere. Best after 2007. 22,165 cases made. –JS - Rated 88, Wine Spectator
Chateau Beychevelle 2003 Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux Given the performance of this somewhat mystifying but beautifully situated estate in St.-Julien, we might be seeing a resurrection in quality, or at least much more consistency. A beauty in an up-front, supple, sexy style is the generous and savory, dark ruby /plum-colored 2003 Beychevelle. Medium to full-bodied...
Chateau Beychevelle 2003 Bordeaux 375ml
St Julien Bordeaux Given the performance of this somewhat mystifying but beautifully situated estate in St.-Julien, we might be seeing a resurrection in quality, or at least much more consistency. A beauty in an up-front, supple, sexy style is the generous and savory, dark ruby /plum-colored 2003 Beychevelle. Medium to full-bodied...
Chateau Beychevelle 2003 Bordeaux 1.5Liter
St Julien Bordeaux Given the performance of this somewhat mystifying but beautifully situated estate in St.-Julien, we might be seeing a resurrection in quality, or at least much more consistency. A beauty in an up-front, supple, sexy style is the generous and savory, dark ruby /plum-colored 2003 Beychevelle. Medium to full-bodied...
St Julien Bordeaux The 1999 Branaire is from an under-rated estate. This is a beautifully perfumed effort revealing scents of graphite, lead pencil shavings, blueberries, raspberries, and black currants. The wine is rich, layered, medium-bodied, pure, and elegant. It is a complex St.-Julien with good flavor depth, soft tannin, and unobtrusive acidity. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Pretty raspberry, spice and floral aromas to this red. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a slightly astringent finish. A bit hollow in the midpalate. Give it some time in the bottle. - Rated 87, Wine Spectator
Chateau Clos du Marquis 2003 Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux The 2003 Clos du Marquis possesses higher alcohol (13.4%) than the 2003 grand vin, no doubt because of the higher percentage of Merlot in the final blend. This impressive sleeper of the vintage boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as abundant amounts of fleshy, black cherry and...
Chateau Clos du Marquis 2003 Bordeaux 1.5L
The 2003 Clos du Marquis possesses higher alcohol (13.4%) than the 2003 grand vin, no doubt because of the higher percentage of Merlot in the final blend. This impressive sleeper of the vintage boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as abundant amounts of fleshy, black cherry and currant fruit interwoven...
Chateau Croix Beaucaillou 2003 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux A balanced wine with berry, tobacco and cherry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with soft tannins and a fresh finish. Second wine of Ducru. Best after 2008. –JS - Rated 86, Wine Spectator
Chateau Croix De Beaucaillou 2000 - Bordeaux
St. Julien Bordeaux There are 4,000-5,000 cases of Ducru's high quality La Croix de Beaucaillou, which generally contains more Merlot than the grand vin. The 2000 reveals that component in its succulence and flesh. It should age well for 10-12 years. Readers should seek this one out. - Rated 87-89, Robert Parker
Chateau Dame De Montrose 2000 - Bordeaux
St Estephe Bordeaux A superb second wine, 39% of the production made it into the 2000 La Dame de Montrose. Revealing abundant Merlot characteristics, it offers wonderful sweetness, plenty of fat, juicy, chocolatey, black cherry and currant flavors, and a hedonistic personality. It will drink well for 8-10 years. Don't miss it! - Rated 90, Robert Parker
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2002 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux It is good to see this wine showing much better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it had a certain leanness and herbaceousness. There is still a hint of dried herbs in the classy nose of red and black currants, cedar wood, and spice box. The wine has a deep ruby/purple-tinged color, excellent density, and medium body in an elegant style with a hint of road tar and sweet fruit. It should drink well young but age nicely for 12-15 years. Make no mistake about it, it has nowhere near the size, dimension, power, and intensity of the 2003. Of course, this estate is now being run by Bruno Borie, the eldest son of the late Jean-Eugene Borie. He replaced his younger brother, Xavier Borie, who remains fully responsible for Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Haut-Batailley. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Very attractive aromas of fresh berries, raspberries and cherries. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium, refined finish. Lots of finesse. –JS - Rated 89-91, Wine Spectator
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2003 Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux One of the most compelling Ducru Beaucaillou’s made in the last quarter century is the 2003 (which is also the first vintage to be packaged in an impressive heavy glass bottle with a special long cork). A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, it is a...
Chateau Gloria 2000 - Bordeaux
St. Julien Bordeaux An excellent complex, evolved, and deliciously fruity effort, this medium-bodied 2000 exhibits sweet, herb-tinged, cassis fruit, cedar, and spice box notes along with abundant glycerin and flesh. This well-endowed Gloria should drink well between 2004-2015. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Lovely berry and tobacco and mineral character. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a silky finish. First bottle was slightly papery. Best after 2007. 20,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 90, Wine Spectator
St Julien Bordeaux A sexy, smoky nose of tapenade, black cherry jam, cedar, and Asian spices soars from the glass of this expressive 2003. Once past the flamboyant aromatics, the wine reveals broad, expansive flavors, medium to full body, low acidity, and an undeniably exciting style. Consume it over the next...
Chateau Gloria 2003 Bordeaux 1.5Liter
St Julien Bordeaux A sexy, smoky nose of tapenade, black cherry jam, cedar, and Asian spices soars from the glass of this expressive 2003. Once past the flamboyant aromatics, the wine reveals broad, expansive flavors, medium to full body, low acidity, and an undeniably exciting style. Consume it over the next...
Chateau Gruaud Larose 2002 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux A sweet, fruity, medium-bodied, surprisingly forward effort, the deep plum/purple-colored 2002 Gruaud Larose exhibits ripe aromas revealing herbaceous as well as spice notes. There is some potentially worrisome astringent tannin in the finish, but the wine’s depth augers well for this being ultimately resolved and integrated. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2018 - Rated 88-90, Robert Parker Aromas of sweet plums and tobacco follow through to a medium- to full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. A bit austere but well made. Best after 2008. 37,500 cases made. –JS - Rated 89, Wine Spectator
Chateau Gruaud Larose 2003 Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux The 2003 Gruaud Larose’s dark plum/garnet color is followed by sweet aromas of damp earth, forest floor, herbs, espresso roast, cassis, licorice, and plums. Medium-bodied as well as surprisingly up-front and precocious, it possesses sweet tannin, very nice concentration, and loads of earthy/herbal characteristics intermixed with black fruits,...
Chateau Gruaud Larose 2003 Bordeaux 1.5L
The 2003 Gruaud Larose’s dark plum/garnet color is followed by sweet aromas of damp earth, forest floor, herbs, espresso roast, cassis, licorice, and plums. Medium-bodied as well as surprisingly up-front and precocious, it possesses sweet tannin, very nice concentration, and loads of earthy/herbal characteristics intermixed with black fruits, and an attractive, but supple, evolved finish. Drink it over the next 12-15 years. It does not rank alongside the top St.-Juliens.” – Rated 88, Robert Parker “Aromas of blackberry, toasted oak, sweet tobacco and espresso. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, fruity finish. I like the texture. Best after 2010. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 16,665 cases made. (JS)” – Rated 92, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lagrange 2002 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux Deep ruby/purple with considerable amounts of toasty new oak blasting out of the glass, this wine’s heavy-handed vanilla oakiness conceals its relatively extracted, rich, tannic flavors. It remains dumb and closed, but offers excellent depth, power, and richness. While there is plenty here, patience is required. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020. - Rated 89, Robert Parker Pretty aromas of blackberries and currants, with hints of lead pencil. Full-bodied, yet very balanced, with a solid core of fruit and ultrafine tannins. Really well-crafted wine. Lagrange often excels in less than easy vintages, like 2002. Excellent. Best after 2008. –JS - Rated 92, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lalande Borie 2003 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux Plum, berry and light tobacco aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with light tannins and a fresh finish. Early drinker. Best after 2007. 15,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 87, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lalande Borie 2003 - Bordeaux 1.5L
St Julien Bordeaux Plum, berry and light tobacco aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with light tannins and a fresh finish. Early drinker. Best after 2007. 15,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 87, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lalande Borie 2003 - Bordeaux 375ml
St Julien Bordeaux Plum, berry and light tobacco aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with light tannins and a fresh finish. Early drinker. Best after 2007. 15,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 87, Wine Spectator
Chateau Lalande Borie 2003 - Bordeaux 3L
St Julien Bordeaux Plum, berry and light tobacco aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate, with light tannins and a fresh finish. Early drinker. Best after 2007. 15,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 87, Wine Spectator
Chateau Leoville Barton 2000 - Bordeaux
St. Julien Bordeaux Absolutely spectacular from bottle, but frightfully closed and backward, with massive power and structure, the saturated purple-colored 2000 Leoville Barton is one of the greatest wines ever made at this estate. The wine has smoky, earthy notes intermixed with graphite, camphor, damp earth, jammy cassis, cedar, and a hint of mushroom. Enormous, even monstrous in the mouth, with tremendous extraction, broodingly backward, dense flavors, and copious tannins, this should prove to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage and one of the most compelling Leoville Bartons ever made. However, anyone unable to defer gratification for at least a decade should steer clear of this behemoth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040. - Rated 96, Robert Parker Amazingly rich and silky. Lots of chocolate and blackberry aromas with hints of raspberries. Full-bodied, with silky, round tannins. Great concentration. Long, long finish. This is the biggest, most powerful ever from Léoville Barton. Best after 2012. 20,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 97, Wine Spectator
Chateau Leoville Barton 2002 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux Even better from bottle than from cask, and one of the finest wines of the vintage, this dense purple-colored 2002 reveals wonderfully sweet notes of charcoal, fresh mushrooms, smoke, earth, leather, cassis, and cedar. Full-bodied, highly extracted, broodingly backward, dense, and deep, this impressively endowed offering is built for the long term. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028. One of the classic wines of Bordeaux and still realistically priced, Leoville-Barton is becoming increasingly popular because of the extraordinary quality/price ratio it offers. - Rated 92, Robert Parker Very attractive blackberry and vanilla aromas follow through to a full-bodied palate, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Slightly hollow midpalate but flavorful. Best after 2007. 18,900 cases made. –JS - Rated 89, Wine Spectator
Chateau Leoville Barton Bordeaux 1996
St Julien Bordeaux This impressive wine is a classic. Although backward, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to abundant black currant fruit intertwined with spicy oak and truffle-like scents. The wine is brilliantly made, full-bodied, and tightly-structured with plenty of muscle and outstanding concentration and purity. It should turn...
Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2003 Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux The solidly made 2003 Leoville Las-Cases (13.2% alcohol) is a blend of 70.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.2% Merlot, and 12.6% Cabernet Franc. In this incredibly hot vintage, the alcohol is slightly lower than achieved in 2002, a cool-climate year. While not a profound example of Las-Cases, the 2003 is...
Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2003 Bordeaux 375ml
St Julien Bordeaux The solidly made 2003 Leoville Las-Cases (13.2% alcohol) is a blend of 70.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17.2% Merlot, and 12.6% Cabernet Franc. In this incredibly hot vintage, the alcohol is slightly lower than achieved in 2002, a cool-climate year. While not a profound example of Las-Cases, the 2003 is...
Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2000 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux Wow, this wine has really come on strong. A brilliant effort, it boasts an opaque purple color in addition to a gorgeously sweet nose (make that explosive nose) of blackberries and creme de cassis intermixed with minerals, smoke, and earth. The 2000 is opulent, full-bodied, and much more accessible than either of its two Leoville siblings, Leoville Las Cases or Leoville Barton, with low acidity, sweet tannin, and a layered, sumptuous finish. It continues to improve dramatically and looks to be a great success, rivaling the brilliant 1996 and 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2030. - Rated 95, Robert Parker Superb. Vivid, with lovely aromas of berries, minerals, toasted oak and leather. Full-bodied, with extremely well-integrated tannins and a long finish. A wine to remember. Best ever from this estate. Best after 2010. 20,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 94, Wine Spectator
Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2002 - Bordeaux
St Julien Bordeaux This wine has completely shut down since it’s been bottled but exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color, high levels of tannin, and sweet, noble black currant fruit intermixed with some licorice, espresso roast, and pain grille. In the vernacular, it is closed for business, with medium to full body, high levels of tannin, and good acidity in a more structured, classic style than the 2003. This is a big, traditionally made wine to forget for a good 5-8 years. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2020. - Rated 90, Robert Parker Dark color with beautiful blackberry, currant and smoky earth character. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate finish. Excellent attack, but falls a little short. Best after 2010. –JS - Rated 89, Wine Spectator
Chateau Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2003 -Bordeaux
This is the 2nd wine of Chateau Gruaud Larose
Formats Offered: 375ml, 750ml, 1.5L
Chateau Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2003 -Bordeaux 1.5L
This is the 2nd wine of Chateau Gruaud Larose
Formats Offered: 375ml, 750ml, 1.5L
Chateau Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2003 -Bordeaux 375ml
This is the 2nd wine of Chateau Gruaud Larose
Formats Offered: 375ml, 750ml, 1.5L
Chateau Talbot 2000 - Bordeaux
St Julien, Bordeaux To my surprise, the in the bottle tastings revealed a supple, open-knit, surprisingly accessible and open-styled wine. Although not a blockbuster, this outstanding St.-Julien reveals admirable richness, a layered texture, sweet tannin, and abundant quantities of smoky cassis, licorice, herb, earth, and leather characteristics. With complex aromatics and splendid richness, it admirably blends power with elegance. Some tannin suggests 2-3 years of cellaring might be warranted, but drinking it now hardly seems like infanticide. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2020. - Rated 90, Robert Parker Beautiful aromas of raspberries, Indian spices, crushed flowers and berries. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe fruit and silky tannins. Long and delicious. A very fine and pretty wine. Best Talbot in years. Best after 2010. 28,330 cases made. –JS - Rated 93, Wine Spectator
St Julien Bordeaux A wine with pretty currant, mineral and berry character. Medium-bodied, with a good core of ripe tannins and a medium finish. Solid. Slightly disappointing. Best after 2008. 25,000 cases made. –JS - Rated 87, Wine Spectator
St Julien Bordeaux From bottle the 2003 is showing as well as can be expected. A soft, sexy, near-term style of claret with a deep plum/ruby/purple-tinged color, a big, sweet nose of anise, creme de cassis, smoke, Provencal herbs, and some spice box, it is opulent, fleshy, not profoundly concentrated, but...
