2003 Bordeaux to outshine 2000?

[Craig Camp]

In many cases, the critics show as much inconsistency as the wines. Jancis Robinson gives St Emilion’s Château Pavie 12/20, calling it a ‘ridiculous wine more reminiscent of a late harvest Zinfandel than a red Bordeaux’. Wine Spectator’s James Suckling gives the Pavie 95-100/100 and says, ‘Superripe and almost jammy. Very New World on the nose … Bordeaux-like on the palate. Got to like this.’ Château d’Angludet was also the subject of a heated discussion between critics, some reckoning it great, with richness and finesse, others calling it variously ‘overripe’ and ‘densely tannic’.

[Chris Kissack]

I can sense the scrum developing already. I think there will be significant demand for a small selection of wines. I've already decided what I would like to buy based on numerous vintage reports plus knowledge of my favoured properties. I'm sure many though are waiting for Parker's scores. There has been a trickling out of lesser reds, no real top names, but the last 24-48 hours has seen the release of a number of Sauternes/Barsacs and prices comparable to those of the last two years.

BWs

Chris Kissack

[budrichard]

MY 2001 Sauterns are about to show up and should be uniformly great, so I will pass the 2003. I will order a few cases of Bordeaux mostly to continue my vintages in a couple of Chateau's. If they turn out very good so much the better. -Dick

[jackal10]

Richard Ehrlich, in today's Independent, under the title "Too darned hot" comments that it is a very patchy vintage, much depending on the skill of the vinyard and the winemaker. Northern Medoc: St Julien, Paulliac, St Estephe, Sauternes and Barsac have promise, but southern wines, such as St Emilion and Pomeral have a hard time. This confirms what I have heard from merchants and shippers.

There is a lot of flabby, sweet, low acidity, untypical wine about. Given ten years, the wines may balance, but many don't have the structure to age. Of course, some may like high alcohol, the big simple fruit and low acidity, and I'd expect some high Parker scores, but to me that is not what Claret is about. Its Bordeaux, not a hot country quaffing wine.

Buy with extreme caution. Ehrlich says "buy carefully, taking good advice with this inconsistent vintage"

[docsconz]

This is really the quintessential argument about wine styling that goes on everyday in our very own boards - the argument of "International Style" wines vs. tradition and terroir. Here is a link to a summary of the war of words currently going on over these wines. Click on "The Fella in the Cella, then scroll down to the area titled "Way of the World" for the debate.,