Region | |
---|---|
Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Estèphe |
Colour | Red |
Type | Still |
Having just had a brilliant bottle of 1982, I do not believe that Haut-Marbuzet has hit any peaks of greatness since 1990, but 2003 is a good vintage. The 2003 Haut-Marbuzet is ripe, fleshy, exotic, and seductive. Dark ruby/plum-colored with sweet black cherry fruit, dried herbs, and plenty of toasty oak, this wine has good ripeness and purity, and is ideal for drinking over the next 7-8 years.
Lovely aromas of crushed raspberry and Indian spices, with hints of dried flowers. Full-bodied, with fine tannins and a fruity berry aftertaste. I like it better than the 2000. Seductive. Best after 2007.
2003 Haut Marbuzet placed joint twentieth overall, out of 100 wines tasted blind, at the 2003 Farr Vintners Blind Tasting held in October 2010. For more information, please visit www.farrvintners.com/blog.php
An undeniably successful wine for the vintage (as are most St.-Estephes), Haut-Marbuzet’s exotic style seems to work nicely in this vintage. Deep ruby/plum-colored with hints of licorice, figs, and black currants, this wine has an opulent, voluptuously textured palate, low acidity, and plush, creamy textured flavors that cascade over the palate. The oak seems relatively restrained by Haut-Marbuzet’s standards. Drink it over the next decade. The finest effort since 1990?
A strong effort from Haut-Marbuzet, as one might expect in a vintage that favored St.-Estephe, this exotic 2003 reveals a better integration of wood than recent efforts. Dark ruby/purple-colored with a flashy bouquet of blackberry jam, cassis, licorice, smoke, and grilled herbs, it is medium to full-bodied, opulent, and heady. Low acidity as well as sweet jammy fruit suggest it is best consumed during its first decade of life. It is similar in style to the 1982, but slightly more tannic.
Full bodied and very jammy. I like it.