Chateau La Mondotte 2003

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Granat mit lila Schimmer. Delikates Bouquet, Preiselbeeren, Zitronenthymian, weisser Pfeffer, Himbeerkonfitüre, geröstete Himbeerkerne, Ingwernuancen, noch verschlossen und doch schon viel preisgebend. Im Gaumen rotbeerig und frisch, Fruchtessenz bis zum langen Schluss, burgundisch, genial."

WINEADVOCATE: "A killer wine (I’m so sorry I didn’t buy any), the 2003 La Mondotte is clearly one of the superstars of the vintage. An intriguing perfume of licorice, Asian soy, black currant jam, ripe cherries and subtle toast emerges from this extravagantly rich, voluptuously textured, opulent, full-bodied St.-Emilion. Just coming in to full maturity, it is pure, rich and full. Drink it over the next decade or more."

WINESPECTATOR: "Fascinating aromas of blackberry, green olive, fresh basil and black licorice. Great nose. Full-bodied, with very soft tannins and a long, caressing finish. A beautiful wine in every sense of the word. Best after 2010. 665 cases made."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "Deep red. Deep aromas of currant, minerals, leather, smoked meat and sexy oak. Dense, sweet and creamy, with a deep sappy core of red and black berries and rare vibrancy for a 2003. Wonderfully rich, lively fruit coats the entire palate on the back and the chewy tannins are remarkably suave for the vintage. This virtually tastes like it's from another vintage-a testament to its "cold" clay and limestone soil. As I noted last year, proprietor von Neipperg told me that only the property's tiny percentage of young vines lost their leaves in the extreme heat and drought of the summer of 2003."