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Margaux 2003

Margaux, First Growth

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  • GBP Price: £4950.00  per Case
  • Action: [Add to shopping basket]
  • Size: Bottle (75cl)
  • Quantities:0  Case -  6  Bottles
  • Units: 6
Scores:
Wine Advocate Wine Spectator Burghound Jancis Robinson.com International Wine Cellar
99 98 - 16 - 17 96
Tasting Notes:

Am I being too stingy with the 2003 Chateau Margaux? A wine of extraordinary complexity and intensity, it reveals a deep purple color, a style not unlike the 1990 Margaux (possibly even more concentrated), a velvety texture, and notes of spring flowers interwoven with camphor, melted licorice, creme de cassis, and pain grille. Not a blockbuster, it offers extraordinary intensity as well as a surreal delicacy/lightness. There is riveting freshness to this offering, which tips the scales at a lofty (for this estate) 13.5% alcohol, as well as an alluring sweetness and accessibility. It probably will tighten up over the next few years. Nevertheless, it is a profound Chateau Margaux that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of the 1982 and 1990. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2035.

Score: 99 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2011-2035

Ultraconcentrated, with layers and layers of fruit and superfine tannins. Plenty of fruit, mineral and meat character. Full-bodied yet refined and classy, it coats your palate with gorgeous fruit and ripe tannins. Truly superb. One of the wines of the vintage. Best after 2012. 10,830 cases made.

Score: 98 James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2012+

Delicate but just a little cooked on the nose. Soft and round and sweet. A bit brutal.

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2010-2018

Full, saturated red-ruby. Knockout nose combines redcurrant, tropical chocolate, leather, woodsmoke and nutty oak with exotic chocolate mint and coffee liqueur; still manages to retain floral lift even in this beastly vintage. Then wonderfully fat, sweet and full, even if it comes across as almost heavy following the ineffable 2005 and 2004 examples. But "relatively inelegant" for Margaux still suggests a degree of refinement that few chateaux can match in the greatest vintages. A hugely rich and dense wine that finishes with elevated but ripe tannins and great length, with a subtle suggestion of dry spices. Pontallier says the terroir will take over in 20 years, "like with the '82." Splendid.

Score: 96 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar

The Chateau Margaux 2003 has closed down since I last encountered it. Much more tertiary on the nose with dried herbs, sous-bois and a touch of leather; it finds it difficult to attain the femininity it showed its youth. Nonetheless, the palate is very harmonious with supple tannins, lovely expressive red-berried fruit with blackberry, boysenberry and scorched earth. Harmonious and wily on the finish. Lovely…and improving in the glass. Tasted October 2010. (95+ Points)

Score: 95 Neal Martin, erobertparker.com