4 | Wine | 2003 | Page 4

"The 2003 Clos Vougeot comes forth with unreal aromas of mocha-laced black cherries, chocolate-drenched plums, and candied blackberries. Full-bodied, immensely concentrated, and deep, this broad, bulky, powerful wine is jam-packed with black chocolate, red as well as black cherries, licorice and tar. Loads of solid yet ripe tannin provide this dense blockbuster with ample structure, detectable in its interminable finish."

"The dense plum/purple-colored 2003 offers gorgeous aromas of blackberries, plum liqueur, sweet cherries, smoke, and melted licorice. Fleshy, full-bodied, and intense, displaying a seamless integration of wood, acidity, tannin, and alcohol." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Revealing more texture, depth, and persistence than I initially predicted, it possesses a dense purple color along with a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, graphite, espresso roast, new saddle leather, and truffles. This opulent, dense, full-bodied, gloriously rich effort can be drunk in 1-3 years, but because of its power, concentration, and overall equilibrium will keep for two decades."

"Black purple to the rim, with an extraordinary nose of smoke, camphor, blackberry, cassis, sweet cherry, white flowers, licorice, and Chinese black tea, the wine has superb richness, huge tannins, massive concentration, and a monster finish." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Good dark ruby-red. Sappy, liqueur-like aromas of maraschino cherry, cassis, licorice and smoky oak. Sweet, supple and chocolatey, with reasonably fresh flavors of framboise, cassis and violet." Reviewed by Stephen Tanzer. 87-90 pts.

"The 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Madrona Ranch is just an amazing wine in the vintage. Notes of smoked meats intermixed with licorice, camphor, graphite, blackberry, and flowers, with a hint of cedar and spice box, have produced a wine that is more up-front and forward than most Abreu wines have been, and gorgeously rich and full-bodied." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"Fantastic aromas of blackberries and tar. Lightly stemmy, which is the sign of a great young Vintage Port. Full-bodied, with wonderfully integrated tannins and a lasting finish. Lots of plums and raspberries. The new 1927?"

"Loads of crushed berries, with mineral, lightly toasted oak and licorice. Full-bodied, with big, velvety tannins and a long, caressing finish. This is the sleeper of the vintage."

"Backward, powerful, and extremely tannic, the dense purple-colored 2003 Mouton-Rothschild, a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, fashioned from yields of 28 hectoliters per hectare, with a finished alcohol of 12.9%, improves dramatically with aeration. With full-bodied, meaty, powerful, dry flavors as well as a huge finish." Reviewed by Robert Parker.