2003 Malescot
2003 Malescot
During a Zoom meeting...
In a warm and atypical vintage, Malescot St-Exupéry 2003.
My memories of Malescot 2003 and 2005 drunk in youth, several years ago was a wine without personality and rather industrialized with notes of cherries and a woody too present.
But this 2003 delivered the goods. The color already led us to a 20 year old wine with a ruby rim. An incredible and very complex nose with powerful notes of leather like a 40-year-old Pessac (Haut-Brion 66 and 70),spicy, with still a hint of barrel but all in finesse and a beginning of the tertiary side - brown sugar.
On the palate, it is velvety and of a magnificent balance. The barrel is still tasted with notes of cocoa but the tannins are round and melted and a nice acidity balances it all. On the start of its plateau and at its best for 5-10 years. 93++pts
Long times I didn’t have 2003 Bordeaux and I was impress by how this 2003 was. Other comment from recent 2003 Bordeaux?
JeanFred
In a warm and atypical vintage, Malescot St-Exupéry 2003.
My memories of Malescot 2003 and 2005 drunk in youth, several years ago was a wine without personality and rather industrialized with notes of cherries and a woody too present.
But this 2003 delivered the goods. The color already led us to a 20 year old wine with a ruby rim. An incredible and very complex nose with powerful notes of leather like a 40-year-old Pessac (Haut-Brion 66 and 70),spicy, with still a hint of barrel but all in finesse and a beginning of the tertiary side - brown sugar.
On the palate, it is velvety and of a magnificent balance. The barrel is still tasted with notes of cocoa but the tannins are round and melted and a nice acidity balances it all. On the start of its plateau and at its best for 5-10 years. 93++pts
Long times I didn’t have 2003 Bordeaux and I was impress by how this 2003 was. Other comment from recent 2003 Bordeaux?
JeanFred
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Re: 2003 Malescot
I had a 2003 Pontet Canet a few months back that was drinking really well after a 2-3 hour decant. It was still pretty youthful with lots of fruit, but not much in the way of secondary characteristics.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Indeed, Jean Fred, my experiences with 2003 have been far more positive than negative.
And Malescot seems to have come to a new level around that time. I've heatedly loved the 2004 Malescot.
And Malescot seems to have come to a new level around that time. I've heatedly loved the 2004 Malescot.
Re: 2003 Malescot
I recall a wise soul on BWE once saying, “drink traditional wines in big years and modern wines in leaner ones”. This applies to Malescot for me, as I a fan of the 04 but not the 05 (I’ve not had the 03, having offloaded most of my wines from that vintage).
Re: 2003 Malescot
Happy this 03 Malescot delivered the goods JeanFred. Knowing you, a rating of 93 is very positive for the quality of that wine, but from your description, don't look like an elegant Margauxberry wine to me, but a very ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. The years in the cellar seem to have helped it, so i have some hope for my 2005 and 2016.
For my part, not a big fan of the 2003 vintage, and in one of the latest Decanter magazine, Mr. Jefford confirms that "yet 2020, 2018, 2014 and 2019 are (in that order) the hottest years in France since 1900, significantly eclipsing 2003". I guess Bordelais have adapted a few things, according to what they lived in 2003, but i guess warmer times in the future will become a challenge for Bordeaux.
Looking at 2018, a vintage with high alcohol in many top Bordeaux (Calon Ségur at...15%, Montrose-Cos d'Estournel-LLC-Ducru Beaucaillou-Palmer-Cheval Blanc-Petrus-Trotanoy- VCC-Conseillante all at 14.5%), it is like 12.5 to 13.5 % alcohol red Bordeaux are behind us.
Finally, i'm looking to see who will be the first to say that "this 2003 Château X is the top wine that Château X ever made".
For my part, not a big fan of the 2003 vintage, and in one of the latest Decanter magazine, Mr. Jefford confirms that "yet 2020, 2018, 2014 and 2019 are (in that order) the hottest years in France since 1900, significantly eclipsing 2003". I guess Bordelais have adapted a few things, according to what they lived in 2003, but i guess warmer times in the future will become a challenge for Bordeaux.
Looking at 2018, a vintage with high alcohol in many top Bordeaux (Calon Ségur at...15%, Montrose-Cos d'Estournel-LLC-Ducru Beaucaillou-Palmer-Cheval Blanc-Petrus-Trotanoy- VCC-Conseillante all at 14.5%), it is like 12.5 to 13.5 % alcohol red Bordeaux are behind us.
Finally, i'm looking to see who will be the first to say that "this 2003 Château X is the top wine that Château X ever made".
Re: 2003 Malescot
Agree Nic that this 03 Malescot isn’t a classic Margaux but I already know that for this wine from my memory. At the end, I had a better Cab than I expected!Nicklasss wrote: ↑Mon Mar 15, 2021 12:08 am Happy this 03 Malescot delivered the goods JeanFred. Knowing you, a rating of 93 is very positive for the quality of that wine, but from your description, don't look like an elegant Margauxberry wine to me, but a very ripe Cabernet Sauvignon.
Finally, i'm looking to see who will be the first to say that "this 2003 Château X is the top wine that Château X ever made".
And for 2003, I still have a Montrose, from comment, one of the best wine of this year. Is it the best Montrose, don’t think so. We will see in a near future...
JeanFred
Re: 2003 Malescot
I had a really great 2003 Kirwan a couple of years ago, that really surprised me to the upside. I hardly bought any Margaux AOC in that year, and wasn't expecting much, but the Kirwan was really terrific.
M St. E is one I don't think I have any left of in any year, maybe a 2000 perhaps.
M St. E is one I don't think I have any left of in any year, maybe a 2000 perhaps.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
2003 D'issan I drank with OrlRobert....one of the most intoxicating perfumes I've ever encountered...the palate was nowhere close to overripe, in fact you might lean towards a moderate climate vintage.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
D'Issan 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006....
Greatest d'issan run ever?
Greatest d'issan run ever?
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Yes! With '01 as my current fav.
OrlandoRobert and I drank the '01 a few months back... gorgeous classic Margaux...D'Issan is possibly the most underrated Bordeaux.
OrlandoRobert and I drank the '01 a few months back... gorgeous classic Margaux...D'Issan is possibly the most underrated Bordeaux.
Last edited by robert goulet on Thu Mar 18, 2021 4:43 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Indeed, Bobby, I elevated d’Issan from fourth growth to third growth in my updated ranking of the left bank:
First Growths
1. Lafite Rothschild
2. Margaux
3. Haut Brion
4. Mouton Rothschild
5. Latour
Second Growths
6. Pichon Longueville Baron
7. Montrose
8. La Mission Haut Brion
9. Ducru Beaucaillou
10. Leoville Las Cases
11. Palmer
12. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
13. Cos d’Estournel
14. Leoville Barton
Third Growths
15. Calon Segur
16. Smith Haut Lafitte
17. Haut Bailly
18. Brane Cantenac
19. Rausan Segla
20. Pape Clement
21. Giscours
22. d'Issan
Fourth Growths
23. Pontet Canet
24. Clerc Milon
25. Branaire Ducru
26. Gruaud Larose
27. Leoville Poyferre
28. Sociando Mallet
29. Lafon Rochet
30. Beychevelle
31. Malescot St. Exupery
32. Duhart Milon
33. du Tertre
34. Talbot
35. Lagrange
36. La Lagune
37. Lascombes
38. Prieure Lichine
39. Domaine de Chevalier
40. d’Armailhac
41. Kirwan
Fifth Growths
42. Lynch Bages
43. Gloria
44. Meyney
45. Malartic Lagraviere
46. Cantemerle
47. Chasse Spleen
48. Haut Batailley
49. Batailley
50. Langoa Barton
51. St. Pierre
52. Cantenac Brown
53. Boyd Cantenac
54. Les Ormes de Pez
55. Phelan Segur
56. de Lamarque
First Growths
1. Lafite Rothschild
2. Margaux
3. Haut Brion
4. Mouton Rothschild
5. Latour
Second Growths
6. Pichon Longueville Baron
7. Montrose
8. La Mission Haut Brion
9. Ducru Beaucaillou
10. Leoville Las Cases
11. Palmer
12. Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande
13. Cos d’Estournel
14. Leoville Barton
Third Growths
15. Calon Segur
16. Smith Haut Lafitte
17. Haut Bailly
18. Brane Cantenac
19. Rausan Segla
20. Pape Clement
21. Giscours
22. d'Issan
Fourth Growths
23. Pontet Canet
24. Clerc Milon
25. Branaire Ducru
26. Gruaud Larose
27. Leoville Poyferre
28. Sociando Mallet
29. Lafon Rochet
30. Beychevelle
31. Malescot St. Exupery
32. Duhart Milon
33. du Tertre
34. Talbot
35. Lagrange
36. La Lagune
37. Lascombes
38. Prieure Lichine
39. Domaine de Chevalier
40. d’Armailhac
41. Kirwan
Fifth Growths
42. Lynch Bages
43. Gloria
44. Meyney
45. Malartic Lagraviere
46. Cantemerle
47. Chasse Spleen
48. Haut Batailley
49. Batailley
50. Langoa Barton
51. St. Pierre
52. Cantenac Brown
53. Boyd Cantenac
54. Les Ormes de Pez
55. Phelan Segur
56. de Lamarque
Re: 2003 Malescot
Jim, you should demote that crappy La Lagune to sixth growth.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
When we can all agree that Mouton is a first growth, and that Lynch Bages is super second we can make progress with our BWE rating system.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
In all seriousness, I can't put Lynch in the same category as Baron, Montrose, Ducru, etc.
And I'm not trying to be contrarian, that's just the way I feel.
From what I've tasted, Lynch has produced one, maybe two "great" wines since 1989.
But that is just one benevolent dictator's position.
And I'm not trying to be contrarian, that's just the way I feel.
From what I've tasted, Lynch has produced one, maybe two "great" wines since 1989.
But that is just one benevolent dictator's position.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2019 all great Lynches
Re: 2003 Malescot
So maybe it’s time for a little political horse-trading? Isn’t that how these classifications get done?
Jim, what do you need to accept Lynch as a (non-super) second?
Jim, what do you need to accept Lynch as a (non-super) second?
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Lynch Bages certainly achieved greatness in the 1980s. For me, it seems to have been defined by a GPL-like record of underachievement since then. As solid as the 2000 is, it has never blown me away. The 1996 has a great bouquet, I felt it was better in its youth. Ian has more experience than me with post 2000 vintages but, of those that I’ve tried, I thought they were Parkerized and international. The 2014 is just weird. I gotta try the 2016 to see if it is as great as they say. As with the 2016 GPL, which everyone thought was “great,” I thought the 2016 GPL was “very good” but not great. It just seems to me that Lynch sold out after those great Jean Michel Cazes vintages of the 80s. As with anything, I’m more than happy to change my mind if I can be convinced.
Davey, I think about the best I could offer would be to move it up to the lowest spot in 4th growth category, perhaps accommodate Stefan by moving La Lagune from 4th growth down to 5th to replace it.
Davey, I think about the best I could offer would be to move it up to the lowest spot in 4th growth category, perhaps accommodate Stefan by moving La Lagune from 4th growth down to 5th to replace it.
Re: 2003 Malescot
Well I don't think we all need to agree, just a vote? Maybe true majority of over two thirds? Although, how many votes does the BD get?Comte Flaneur wrote: ↑Tue Mar 16, 2021 8:51 pm When we can all agree that Mouton is a first growth, and that Lynch Bages is super second we can make progress with our BWE rating system.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Joel this board is not a democracy but there is method in the BD’s madness because we have to ply him with lots of young vintages of Lynch and Mouton at future conventions which will end up seducing him and changing his mind..
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Hey I have Mouton fourth in my First Growths, ahead of Latour! But you can still ply me with Mouton nonetheless. And hey, I don’t know whether you noticed, but I elevated Lynch to Fourth growth as part of a La Lagune switch.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Of all the Moutons and Latours I've had *, the Latours have been better.
cough cough
* (one vintage of each)
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Yeah you had a pretty good little experience there Chris.
I was fortunate to experience a '59 and '61 Latour that Stuart brought to a dinner a few years back.
They were pretty sublime, very different wines, it was tough to pick between the two. Very different styles.
The '61 was big, beastly, immense, minty, still youthful.
The '59 was more sexy, racy.
Both tour de forces.
I was fortunate to experience a '59 and '61 Latour that Stuart brought to a dinner a few years back.
They were pretty sublime, very different wines, it was tough to pick between the two. Very different styles.
The '61 was big, beastly, immense, minty, still youthful.
The '59 was more sexy, racy.
Both tour de forces.
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Re: 2003 Malescot
Great to see the elevation of D'Issan Jim....I should be popping the 1990 here sometime soon, I'll make sure I get a note up on the board
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