Beschreibung:

Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 2003 (36) "A modern day version of the 1959 Lafite, the 2003 Lafite Rothschild was bottled in mid-May, 2005 after achieving 12.9 natural alcohol hardly an astonishing figure given the vintages weather conditions. A combination of 86 Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 Merlot, 3 Cabernet Franc, and 2 Petit Verdot, it represents a ripe version of the essence of Lafite-Rothschild. Dense purple-colored, with classic notes of graphite intertwined with melted licorice, creme de cassis, smoke, and flowers, it reveals extraordinary richness, opulence, power, purity, intensity, and viscosity. Whether this wine will close down or not is questionable as it is somewhat atypical given its sweetness and softness. Analytically, there are extremely high tannins, which I suspect will assert themselves in the future. Production in 2003 was less than half of normal." Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 164, Apr 2006 Château Latour--Vintage 2003 (36) "There are only 10,800 cases (rather than the normal 15,000-20,000) of the 2003 Latour, a blend of 81 Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 Merlot, and 1 Petit Verdot (13.3 finished alcohol). A prodigious effort, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, cedar, creme de cassis, flowers, crushed rocks, and blackberries. Massive and multi-layered, with huge richness and low acidity, it is about as unctuous as a young Latour can be. It could be compared to the 1982, but it may be even more pure, at least at this early stage, than that monumental wine. The level of intensity builds prodigiously in the mouth, and the finish lasts nearly a minute. Disarmingly accessible (although analytically the tannin level is high), I suspect it will ultimately shut down, but it was performing impeccably when I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+. What can one say about proprietor Francois Pinault and his manager, Frederic Engerer? A strong argument can be made that in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, Latour produced the wine of the vintage, although it has plenty of competition in the Northern Medoc in 2003. Moreover, the bargains are the estates least expensive cuvee, Pauillac, followed by Les Forts de Latour, Latour's second wine which continues to increase in quality." Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 164, Apr 2006 Château Mouton Rothschild--Vintage 2003 (36) "This massive Mouton-Rothschild is a blend of 76 Cabernet Sauvignon, 14 Merlot, 8 Cabernet Franc and 2 Petit Verdot. A formidable black/purple to the rim, the wine offers up a tight but promising nose of scorched earth, créme de cassis, licorice, and charcoal notes followed by meaty, powerful, unctuous flavors that are huge, dense, tannic, and backward. Last year I thought it was somewhat similar to the 1982, and after 9 months of barrel-aging, I have begun thinking of a hypothetical blend of both the 1982 and 1986. Incredibly different from the Lafite-Rothschild, which is so unctuous and plush, this is muscular, backward, and just humongous in size, a true giant from Pauillac. But prospective purchasers be forewarned - patience will be a virtue. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050." Robert Parker Wine Advocate #158 (Apr 2005) Château Margaux--Vintage 2003 (36) "An extraordinary wine and undeniably one of the great wines of the Médoc...atypical but still fragrant, elegant, classic Château Margaux personality. Dense ruby/purple to the rim with an extraordinary floral nose intermixed with blackberries, cassis, mineral, licorice, and some vanilla, the wine is dense, opulent, voluptuously textured, with wonderful sweetness (reminiscent of 1982 and 1990 in that sense), low acidity, but tremendous concentration and an almost seamless integration of all components alcohol, tannin, new wood, and acidity. This is truly sumptuous stuff that should drink reasonably well young after 4 or 5 years in the bottle and age for 30+ years. Bravo!" Robert Parker Wine Advocate #158 (Apr 2005) Château Haut Brion--Vintage 2003 (36) "The bl
Above 180 bottles per lot
THE ELITE FIVE IN TWO THOUSAND THREE All in original wooden cases Château Lafite-Rothschild--Vintage 2003 (36) "A modern day version of the 1959 Lafite, the 2003 Lafite Rothschild was bottled in mid-May, 2005 after achieving 12.9 natural alcohol hardly an astonishing figure given the vintages weather conditions. A combination of 86 Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 Merlot, 3 Cabernet Franc, and 2 Petit Verdot, it represents a ripe version of the essence of Lafite-Rothschild. Dense purple-colored, with classic notes of graphite intertwined with melted licorice, creme de cassis, smoke, and flowers, it reveals extraordinary richness, opulence, power, purity, intensity, and viscosity. Whether this wine will close down or not is questionable as it is somewhat atypical given its sweetness and softness. Analytically, there are extremely high tannins, which I suspect will assert themselves in the future. Production in 2003 was less than half of normal." Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 164, Apr 2006 Château Latour--Vintage 2003 (36) "There are only 10,800 cases (rather than the normal 15,000-20,000) of the 2003 Latour, a blend of 81 Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 Merlot, and 1 Petit Verdot (13.3 finished alcohol). A prodigious effort, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of smoke, cedar, creme de cassis, flowers, crushed rocks, and blackberries. Massive and multi-layered, with huge richness and low acidity, it is about as unctuous as a young Latour can be. It could be compared to the 1982, but it may be even more pure, at least at this early stage, than that monumental wine. The level of intensity builds prodigiously in the mouth, and the finish lasts nearly a minute. Disarmingly accessible (although analytically the tannin level is high), I suspect it will ultimately shut down, but it was performing impeccably when I tasted it. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2040+. What can one say about proprietor Francois Pinault and his manager, Frederic Engerer? A strong argument can be made that in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, Latour produced the wine of the vintage, although it has plenty of competition in the Northern Medoc in 2003. Moreover, the bargains are the estates least expensive cuvee, Pauillac, followed by Les Forts de Latour, Latour's second wine which continues to increase in quality." Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 164, Apr 2006 Château Mouton Rothschild--Vintage 2003 (36) "This massive Mouton-Rothschild is a blend of 76 Cabernet Sauvignon, 14 Merlot, 8 Cabernet Franc and 2 Petit Verdot. A formidable black/purple to the rim, the wine offers up a tight but promising nose of scorched earth, créme de cassis, licorice, and charcoal notes followed by meaty, powerful, unctuous flavors that are huge, dense, tannic, and backward. Last year I thought it was somewhat similar to the 1982, and after 9 months of barrel-aging, I have begun thinking of a hypothetical blend of both the 1982 and 1986. Incredibly different from the Lafite-Rothschild, which is so unctuous and plush, this is muscular, backward, and just humongous in size, a true giant from Pauillac. But prospective purchasers be forewarned - patience will be a virtue. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050." Robert Parker Wine Advocate #158 (Apr 2005) Château Margaux--Vintage 2003 (36) "An extraordinary wine and undeniably one of the great wines of the Médoc...atypical but still fragrant, elegant, classic Château Margaux personality. Dense ruby/purple to the rim with an extraordinary floral nose intermixed with blackberries, cassis, mineral, licorice, and some vanilla, the wine is dense, opulent, voluptuously textured, with wonderful sweetness (reminiscent of 1982 and 1990 in that sense), low acidity, but tremendous concentration and an almost seamless integration of all components alcohol, tannin, new wood, and acidity. This is truly sumptuous stuff that should drink reasonably well young after 4 or 5 years in the bottle and age for 30+ years. Bravo!" Robert Parker Wine Advoc