2003 Margaux
By Chateau Margaux
The 2003 Margaux from Chateau Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux
In the firmament of fine wines, the 2003 Margaux from Chateau Margaux shines with a brilliance befitting its esteemed lineage. This particular vintage, a narrative shaped by an unprecedented heatwave, speaks volumes of the resilience and adaptable mastery of its vintners. That scorching summer set a stage where only the most astute winemaking could harness the elements to craft something extraordinary.
The Art of Vintage Variation
Walking the tightrope between opulent ripeness and delicate poise, the 2003 offers an odyssey of sensory wonderment. It is a true testament to Chateau Margaux's meticulous cultivation and judicious precision in winemaking. The vintage's distinctiveness lies not merely in its survival of climatic trials but in its triumphant expression—a tableau vivant of terroir and human endeavour.
An Investment in Liquid History
For the sophisticated collector or investor, each swirl of this 2003 potion reveals layers once cloaked; from dark cherries and plush cassis to hints of violet and earthy truffle. Its tannic structure remains assertive yet refined—a framework within which the complex narrative of 2003 can age with grace.
The 2003 Margaux from Chateau Margaux encapsulates an unforgettable Bordeaux tale where palates entwine with meteorological saga to inform a future ripe with potential appreciation. Beyond mere enjoyment, this vintage is a cornerstone for investment portfolios, embodying the resilient elegance that collectors seek.
Conclusion: The 2003 Enigma
To conclude, the allure of the 2003 Margaux from Chateau Margaux offers more than just tantalising flavours—it is an archive of a year that challenged convention and yielded a wine befitting connoisseurs looking to diversify their investment narratives. A notable achievement in viticulture, this wine is destined for remembrance as one of the defining hallmarks of early 21st-century Bordeaux vintages.
Market price (USD)
$5,210.00
12x75cl
Highest score
99
POP score
224.21
Scores and 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.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #164 April 2006
A wine with spices, meat, and very ripe fruit on the nose, with hints of dried flowers. Full bodied, and deeply layered, with loads of fruit and spices. Long and decadent, very complex. Pull the cork after 2013.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com, March 14th 2011
Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. The 2003 Chateau Margaux has a lovely nose with superb delineation – blackberry, cedar, minerals and wilted violets. To be brutally honest, it is clearly streets ahead of Palmer that was tasted in tandem. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and (hoorah!) a decent thread of acidity. It is not a complex Margaux, but it has personality, fine balance, elegance and admirable tension and race towards the finish. This First Growth shows its class. Excellent. Tasted March 2013.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013
Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2003 Margaux is fully mature on the nose. There is ample fruit here, well defined for the vintage with blackberry and cedar, this bottle demonstrating a subtle fungal character that I have not discerned in previous bottles. There are faint scents of rust iron piping that develop with further aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannin, offering more fruit than the 2003 Valandraud it was paired with: feisty black pepper and allspice finish with a decent aftertaste. There might be better bottles than this, even so, there is probably not another Margaux that touches this First Growth. I see no harm in broaching bottles now and over the next ten years. Tasted December 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 February 2017