2003 Sparkling Pointe ‘Brut Seduction,’ North Point of Long Island
At a little over 9 years of age, this blend of 51% Chardonnay and 49% Pinot Noir is now in its prime. It has a golden hue… a nose of toast, caramel, brioche and nuts… and refreshing fruit flavors of berries and apple. Uncork this beauty on a… Read more
2003 J Vineyards and Winery Late Disgorged Vintage Brut, Russian River Valley
The wine is a brilliant pale straw color with a fine, persistent mousse. For a 9-year-old sparkling wine that has spent more than seven years on tirage, it is amazingly youthful, vibrant and fresh. Enticing scents of almond, citrus, toast and… Read more
2003 Ch. Latour Blanche Sauternes, Bordeaux
Monster numbers from the big-name wine critics blew this off the shelves upon release. Perhaps it is in a dumb stage right now, or the bottle was a little off. Anyhoo, the ample honeyed tropical and stone fruit notes were at odds with a terpene… Read more
2003 Campo Viejo Rioja Gran Reserva, Logrono, Spain
Is it wrong to judge a wine on expectation? If aging wine was a predictable process, producers would have surely harnessed the full potential of its transformative by now. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth, as evidenced in… Read more
2003 Fattoria Cabanon ‘Oro’ Passito, Pavia, Italy
Hazy brown, almost liquorish — until the smell, a powerful whiff of strawberries and cream, vanilla, maple bourbon caramel and wildflower honey with very little apparent alcohol. Like the best passito-styled wines, this isn’t necessarily a dessert… Read more
2003 Sebastien Riffault ‘Skeveldra,’ Sury-En-Vaux, Sancerre, France
Those that believe you can’t age natural wine are sorely mistaken. Sebastien is a “zero sulfur” producer, and yet his wines – with care and attention – can become even more complex and noble over time. Aging intensifies both the aromatic… Read more
2003 CE2V Meritage, Napa Valley
This cuvee of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc begins as a fruit bomb of spicy black cherry, fleshy plum and black currant. Once in the mouth, cocoa powder and cinnamon impressions emerge. It’s a delightful wine right now, but should… Read more
2003 Hogue Cellars Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley
One first notices the deep, black-purple color. The nose is a bit reticent, showing mocha, cinnamon and cedar woodspices that overshadow the fruit at this point. Still, there is a solid core of black fruits there. Give this wine a few years in the… Read more
2003 Hogue Cellars Reserve Merlot, Columbia Valley
2003 Hogue Cellars Reserve Merlot, Columbia Valley Wow! Oodles of blackberry, cherry and currant fruits, cedar, melted black licorice, roast coffee and black olive. Great sense of balance in the mouth. This is ready to enjoy now. Wine Lines… Read more
2003 Eric Texier Côte Rotie, France
Briary and tart, with pomegranate fruit, sharp raspberry, tobacco and leather. Drying tannins at the end could use a few years to smooth out. MSRP: $39.99 (October 2006) Wine Lines rating: 88 Group:… Read more
