Château Margaux - Margaux 2003

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

par Robert Parker le 29/08/2014

This was the finest performance by this wine that I have seen since it was released. I did not expect the 2003 Chateau Margaux to show this well in a vintage where the southern part of the Medoc was clearly less impressive than the north. However, it is a beautiful, dark plum/purple-tinged effort with sensational aromatics, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and a youthfulness, precision and freshness that belie what one generally associates with this vintage. It can be drunk now and over the next 15-20 years. Kudos to Chateau Margaux.

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

par René Gabriel le 06/02/2008

Dunkles Granat mit rubinem Rand. Ein verrücktes, delikates BOuquet mit viel Dörrfrüchten, Rumtopf, Sultaninen und Vanillesüsse, Parisette-Brotkrustenton und frisch gekochtes Pflaumenmus, trotz der schweren Süsse frisch und fast verspielt. Im Gaumen aussen füllig, cremig und opulent, darunter gut stützende Muskeln, aber eher aufgrund der Tannine als der Säure, Dörrbananen, exotische Hölzer, im Finale dann ein gewwiser Tanninüberhang im Verhältnis zum eigenen Weinfett. Ein zweifellos erotischer Wein mit viel Süssepotenzial und von den Tanninen her dem 1961er, vom Fruchtdruck dem 1959er gleichend. Erst in zehn Jahren wird sich weisen, in welche Richtung der powervolle Margaux gehen wird.

Wine Advocate

99 / 100

par Robert Parker le 24/04/2006

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.

Wine Spectator

98 / 100

par James Suckling le 31/03/2006

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.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

par René Gabriel le 03/05/2005

Wine Advocate

96-100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 29/04/2005

An extraordinary wine and undeniably one of the great wines of the Medoc, and qualitatively a wine that towers over what other estates produced in the appellation of Margaux, the 2003 Chateau Margaux is made in a style that almost mirrors Lafite Rothschild in 2003. Last year I thought it could represent a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1996, but the wine has taken on even more opulence and seductiveness in an almost atypical but still fragrant, elegant, classic Chateau Margaux personality. Dense ruby/purple to the rim with an extraordinary floral nose intermixed with blackberries, cassis, mineral, licorice, and some vanilla, the wine is dense, opulent, voluptuously textured, with wonderful sweetness (reminiscent of 1982 and 1990 in that sense), low acidity, but tremendous concentration and an almost seamless integration of all components – alcohol, tannin, new wood, and acidity. This is truly sumptuous stiff that should drink reasonably well young after 4 or 5 years in the bottle and age for 30+ years. Bravo!

GaultMillau

95-100 / 100

le 30/06/2004

Une incroyable concentration le place dans les tout premiers vins du millésime, toutes appellations confondues
Une réussite majeure à qui il faudra beaucoup de temps. Ce vin d'une fabuleuse densité est de très longue garde

Wine Advocate

96-100 / 100

par Robert Parker le 01/04/2004

In an appellation that was not nearly as homogeneous in quality as Pauillac and St.-Estephe, manager Paul Pontallier has produced a prodigious 2003 Chateau Margaux that, qualitatively, towers over all the other Margaux estates. From yields of only 30 hectoliters per hectare, it includes 45% of the total crop, and spiritually as well as stylistically, represents a hypothetical blend of the 1990 and 1996. Opaque purple-colored, with an extraordinary perfume of spring flowers, blueberries, black currants, licorice, and vanillin, this 2003 exhibits an opulent texture, tremendous structure as well as definition, and an ethereal lightness of being despite its prodigious concentration. As the wine sits in the glass, notions of white chocolate and flowers come forth. The attack suggests the 1990, but the finish recalls the 1996. Phenomenally pure, and medium to full-bodied, but surprisingly light in terms of its palate impression, its aftertaste lasts well beyond one minute. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2040.