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Lafite 2003
Pauillac, First Growth
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- GBP Price: £8700.00 per Case
- Action: [Add to shopping basket]
- Size: Magnum (150cl)
- Quantities:1 Case - 0 Bottle
- Units: 6
| Scores: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wine Advocate | Wine Spectator | Burghound | Jancis Robinson.com | International Wine Cellar |
| 100 | 96 | - | 17 | 93 |
| Tasting Notes: | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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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 vintage’s 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. Score: 100 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2010-2050 |
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Subtle, complex aromas of berries, licorice and currants. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long finish. Very well-integrated wine. Lovely stuff. Wonderful length and finesse. Best after 2012. 20,000 cases made. Score: 96 James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2012+ |
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Deep crimson. Very rich indeed. Super opulent. Lots of alcohol and sweetness. A little California! But dry on the end. It does finish a little suddenly. Very obviously sweet. Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2009 to 2016 |
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Full red-ruby color. Captivating aromas of cassis, cherry, tobacco, mocha, coffee and leather, with a complicating element of dried oregano and thyme. At once silky and penetrating in the mouth, with very firm acids for the vintage giving shape and thrust to the dense flavors of currant, tobacco and iodine. Finishes with broad, dusty tannins and superb persistence. Although this appears to be built for two or three decades of life in bottle, I miss the primary fruit character and the mineral and floral high notes of the more classic vintages of this wine. (93+ Points) Score: 93 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar |
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Tasted blind at Farr Vintner’s Left Bank tasting, the Lafite ’03 has a deep garnet core. A very fragrant bouquet with warm summer fruits, hot roof tiles and sous-bois: fresh and natural. The palate is medium-bodied, not a particularly complex 2003 where the vintage makes more of an impression than the wine. A little attenuated on the fleshy, plush finish as soft as a feather-down pillow. Tasted October 2010. Score: 95 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com |
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