Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (93)

(-) Deep red-ruby. Explosive nose combines raspberry, roasted currant, grilled nuts and exotic spices. Rich, sexy, silky and full in the mouth, with expressive flavors of black raspberry, game, smoke and truffle. Finishes with strong but suave tannins and excellent length. St. Julien

Vinous (88-91)

Exotic liqueur-like nose; in a slightly oxidative phase today. Dense and plump, with a captivating honeysuckle flavor. Shows good depth and power, not to mention length, but finishes with a trace of alcoholic bitterness. Still, Noel and I agreed that this, like the Ruchottes, is more typical for its site than most of his other 2003s. (Ramonet's Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet showed a more exaggerated nut skin character and was impossible to assess with confidence, while the impressively fat Le Montrachet was rather heavy as well as a bit tired. I will report on these wines next year after they're in bottle. ).

Vinous (90)

Pale yellow. Pure aromas of lemon, spices and stone. Supple, round and silky, with very ripe but bright flavors of apple, pear and citrus fruits. Impressively fat, rich and seamless premier cru with excellent length. This was bottled the day before I tasted it but was not yet showing any evidence of shock.

Vinous (90+)

More exotic aromas of grapefruit and lime oil. Fat and round in the mouth but distinctly closed today; comes across as less filled in than the Clos, and drier in style. This was a knockout from barrel a year ago, but today I find more texture than terroirBut then this was bottled on the morning of my visit.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2003 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape has gone from strength to strength and now looks to be the finest vintage since the monumental 1995. Deep ruby to the rim with that classic Rayas nose of flowers, kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, crushed rocks, and minerals, the wine is dense and concentrated, with a broad, savory mouthfeel, sweet yet silky tannin, fabulous persistence, and a blockbuster finish that just goes on and on. This is a reassuringly profound Rayas that seems to suggest that Emmanuel Reynaud has finally figured out this cold-climate terroir in a warm climate appellation. This wine should be given 3-4 years of bottle age, and drunk over the following 20+ years.

Wine Advocate (95)

The 2003 Rayas Chateauneuf du Pape has gone from strength to strength and now looks to be the finest vintage since the monumental 1995. Deep ruby to the rim with that classic Rayas nose of flowers, kirsch liqueur, black raspberries, crushed rocks, and minerals, the wine is dense and concentrated, with a broad, savory mouthfeel, sweet yet silky tannin, fabulous persistence, and a blockbuster finish that just goes on and on. This is a reassuringly profound Rayas that seems to suggest that Emmanuel Reynaud has finally figured out this cold-climate terroir in a warm climate appellation. This wine should be given 3-4 years of bottle age, and drunk over the following 20+ years.

Introducing the exceptional Remizieres Hermitage L'Essentiel 2003, a distinct reserve originating from the illustrious Hermitage vineyards of France's renowned Rhône Valley. This exclusive wine is an exceptional legacy of Domaine des Remizières, a family-run winery with three generations of savoir-faire in viticulture. Lovingly nurtured by Philippe Desmeure, its bouquet offers profound aromatic depth.

The Remizieres Hermitage L'Essentiel 2003 boasts elegant, tawny hues hinting at its longevity. The wine's full-bodied palate is cloaked in rich, earthy undertones, fused with whiffs of blackcurrant and truffle, revealing its Syrah grape lineage. Aged for 24 months in new oak barrels, the wine is characterized by precise tannic structure and long-lasting finish. Sip and savor this, and experience the soul of the Rhône.

As a testament to the winery's commitment to sustainable farming, this 2003 option presents a disciplined, yet spontaneous reflection of the exceptional terroir. The Remizieres Hermitage L'Essentiel 2003 truly embodies the essence of exquisite, French viticulture.

Burghound (90-93)

The quality here is far superior to the preceding wines as this is aromatically rich, intense and utterly classy with robust yet remarkably fine and refined flavors that combine power, weight and depth in a ripe but elegant package. Lovely stuff and this is really most impressive.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-92)

Saturated ruby. Somewhat reduced yet aromatically expressive aromas of roasted nuts, coffee and brown spices. Thick, sweet and round on the palate, with flavors of cassis and pepper. This offers impressive volume for a 2000. Finishes with fine tannins and vibrant, subtly persistent cassis and pepper flavors.

Experience the remarkable complexity of Rolet Arbois Trousseau 2003. Expertly crafted in Arbois, the original home of Trousseau grapes, this exceptional vintage presents a potent combination of ripe red fruits, earthy undernotes, and bold, structured tannins. Produced by Domaine Rolet Père et Fils, a family-owned winemakers trailblazing continental Jura since 1942, this wine reflects their philosophies of sustainability and respect for terroir.

Rolet Arbois Trousseau 2003 is nurtured in hand-selected, French oak barrels for nearly four years, allowing delicate oaky flavours to perfectly complement its red-fruit core. This expert ageing process accentuates the wine's longevity on the palate, creating an unforgettable finish. With soil rich in grey and blue marl, the climate is marked by icy winters and warm, abundant summers, giving this Trousseau grape its distinctive taste. A true ambassador of Jura region, Rolet Arbois Trousseau 2003 elevates any occasion with its unique character and impeccable pedigree.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (88-91)

Medium red. Wild, reduced nose of game, leather, minerals and coffee. Elegant and seamless but with a wild edge to the flavors due to the element of reduction. A bit denser than the Corbeaux, but also quite subtle and suave, with fresh, harmonious acidity. Finishes with fine tannins and very good length.

Wine Spectator (94)

Wonderful blackberry and violet character with intense aromas. Full-bodied, with big, silky tannins and a long, long finish. Super. Could be classic in quality. Could be better than 2000. Score range: 92-94

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90-93)

Dark red. Wild, highly nuanced nose of red cherry, raspberry, smoked meat, chocolate and mint. Strong, sappy and ripe but not at all overly sweet; less expressive today than the Chapelle owing to its very firm mineral core but this slightly sauvage wine should be superb with five or six years of bottle aging. Finishes with ripe, harmonious, toothcoating tannins and impressive persistence.

Vinous (95+)

Wonderfully pure, high-pitched nose melds quinine, pineapple, crushed stone, orange zest, violet and lavender; smells like a current release. Densely packed and very rich, with seamless flavors of crushed wet stone, lichee and grapefruit complicated by notes of baked bread and honey. This is very much like licking a rock, and yet there are complicating hints of tropical fruits here too. Wonderfully classy, pure wine with a tactile, classy, very subtle and long finish. Still a baby, and compellingly vibrant for a wine from the 2000 vintage. The driest wine in this vertical tasting, at just 1.3 grams per liter of residual sugar.

Wine Advocate (96)

Extremely young with an unbelievable deep purple color, the 2000 Troplong Mondot has hardly budged since I tasted it in 2003. Two recent tastings confirmed that this is the greatest Troplong Mondot between their profound 1990 and more recent vintages such as 2005, 2008, and 2009. Copious chocolate, graphite, blackberry, blueberry, cassis, and ink characteristics are present in this full-bodied, powerful, massive St.-Emilion. While the tannins are noticeable, they are better integrated than they were seven years ago, and the fruit, extract, and richness clearly outweigh the wine's structure. This 2000 will benefit from another 4-5 years of cellaring (longer than I originally predicted), and has at least two decades of drinkability ahead of it.

Wine Spectator (95-100)

Beautiful aromas of milk chocolate and berries with hints of raspberry tart. Full-bodied, with wonderful length and a beautiful finish. This should be better than the 2000. And it could equal the superlative 1998. Easier than the Pétrus to taste just now, and flashier. Score range: 95-100

Wine Advocate (90)

Performing better than I remember en premieur, the still vigorous, intact 2003 Trottevieille exhibits a dark plum/garnet color in addition to notes of cedarwood, spice box, red and black currants, licorice and graphite. Deep, fresh and well-delineated, it should drink nicely for 5-8 years.

Wine Advocate (95)

Tasted at the Valandraud vertical at the property, the 2000 Valandraud has a very dark color with just a thin crimson rim. The bouquet is exquisite: intense black cherry and blackcurrant scents, sandalwood, cedar and spices, complex and involving, the aromatics appear to just grow and grow. The palate is medium-bodied with supple red and black fruit, fine tannins and perfect acidity. It feels backward but very tensile with a flow of energy towards the precise and deeply impressive finish. This is an outstanding millennial Saint Emilion from Jean-Luc Thunévin. Tasted December 2016.

Wine Spectator (93)

Intense aromas of blackberry, chocolate and spice. Full-bodied, with firm tannins and loads of fruit. Long. Spicy and chewy. This has guts. Structured. Best after 2010. 1,000 cases made. -JS

Wine Spectator (100)

Absolutely gorgeous aromas, with mineral, licorice and hints of orange peel. Full-bodied, with super, fine tannins. Has class written all over it. Score range: 95-100

Wine Advocate (91)

The elegant 2000 Vieux Telegraphe La Crau possesses 14.8% alcohol, along with a deep ruby/purple color, charming, rich, fruitiness, and firm tannin in the finish. With loads of freshness, copious quantities of pepper, seaweed, and black fruit characteristics, and a distinctive minerality, this full-bodied, sweet 2000 requires 2-3 years of cellaring; it should age well for 15-16 years. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2018.