Chateau Margaux 2003

Chateau Margaux, 1er Grand Cru Classé Margaux, Bordeaux, France, 2003

Grapes:  A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc, gravel over chalky/clay soils, aged around 2 years in new French oak

Chateau Tasting Note:

We could have expected, given the extreme weather conditions some alcoholic warmth in the nose, marked by aromas of very ripe or even roasted black fruits. However, what we actually have, literally jumping out of the glass, are red berry fruit aromas, freshness and purity. We can even find, as in 1996 and 2000, a mingling of floral and slightly spicy notes coming through delightfully in this very complex cocktail, in which the new oak has already been totally integrated, as if it had been “digested” by the body of the wine. And what body! We knew, of course, that all the wines were extremely concentrated. It has to be said that when you add, so to speak, a very low yield to the hot weather conditions in the summer, plus the blending in which there was an excellent press wine, the result is a wine which possesses a density which has been almost unparalleled in recent vintages. This density gives the wine not just power and strength, but depth and length too ; and above all, a tannic structure which is so tightly-knit that its texture has taken on a silky feel.
A lot had been said that year about acidity and its mysteries. It is true that grapes had rarely been picked at such low levels of acidity as in 2003. And yet, through the combination of the acids being produced during the fermentation process, a lesser tartaric acid precipitation and a low malic acid content, we actually ended up with a total acidity which was exactly the average of the last 20 vintages. This vintage, with its extreme weather conditions (as we thought), in fact gave birth to a great classic claret! Although destined for a superb future, we can already start to open the first bottles provided that they are decanted. (October 2019)

Critics' 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."

99/100 points, Robert M. Parker Jr., WINE ADVOCATE, April 2006

"Flamboyant, opulent, rich, full-bodied, showy styled Margaux that is about as hedonistic as you can get. Precocious, so you can enjoy it today, or feel free to age it for another decade or 2, this is a gorgeous wine from start to finish."

98/100 points, Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider, April 2022

This is part of a private customer’s collection. These wines are in excellent condition. We are acting as an agent in the sale and the price is exclusive of V.A.T. which is not due. Our multibuy discounts do not apply.