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."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

WINE SPECTATOR: "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."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Close to fully mature, the wine combines elegance, sensuous textures, ripe, sweet, salty. red fruits and complex aromatics. This is not the most powerful vintage, but the wine is showing quite well today."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "This is BIG! Extremely deep colour, more than 14 degrees alcohol. Gamy at first and piercingly tannic. The spine of this wine (80:20 Merlot:Cabernet Franc), much in evidence, almost has a note of greenness about it. Just a bit too New World for me. St Emilion this ain't! Quite dry tannins on the finish, though it is well made."