The 2003 vintage was the first vintage ever where they started harvest in August, and this sweltering hot year yielded erratic, yet sometimes brilliant wines. The 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-on success and has lots...
The 2003 vintage was the first vintage ever where they started harvest in August, and this sweltering hot year yielded erratic, yet sometimes brilliant wines. The 2003 Chateauneuf du Pape is a full-on success and has lots of sweet kirsch, roasted herbs, licorice and Provencal garrigue as well as full-bodied richness, impressive concentration, and sweet tannin (tannin ripeness was the true difficulty in the vintage). It's fully mature, and I see no need to hold off, but it will keep for a few years and decline gradually. - Jeb Dunnuck