A stunningly pure and distinctly floral black pinot fruit nose that displays spice plum and hints of smoke and animale that introduces round yet structured muscular yet accessible flavors of phenomenal richness and power. This is a big wine that combines power and finesse though it is a good deal less elegant than it usually is but it is forceful powerful and exceptionally long.

Tasted blind, the 2003 Grands Echézeaux from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti impressed its audience and duped everyone from thinking it heralded from the 2003 vintage. It has a potent ripe strawberry, mulberry and dried rose petal nose that actually had to throw off a little reduction upon first acquaintance. The palate is medium-bodied with layers of sappy red berry fruit. The initial tightness gradually dissipates to reveal quite a "stocky" Grands Echézeaux with good length, if not the detail of a top vintage from this vineyard.- NM