Wine Advisor
La Tour Haut Brion 2003
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
This estate was subsequently incorporated into the Mission Haut-Brion vineyards, but in 2003 it exhibited a complex and perfumed nose of smoke, earth and red fruits. However, its lean, austere mid-palate and tough-textured tannins suggest it was more affected by the heat and drought than other wines.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A less lucid colour than other wines. A very ripe nose of violets, cassis and blackberry. The palate is very fresh, attacked the front palate with its ripe sweet black fruits but leaves the mid-palate hollow. A touch of astringency on the finish. Not balanced at the moment - this should improve with La Mission by bottling when it should be properly evaluated. Tasted March 2004.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A medium-bodied, elegant effort revealing aromas of plums and cassis in a soft, delicately nuanced style, this blend of 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Sauvignon will drink well young. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2016.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The 2003 displays a certain astringent, sinewy character, which should flesh out with another 3-4 years of bottle age. It’s good, but it is not one of the bright, shining success stories for La Tour Haut-Brion. Cellar this medium-bodied red for 2-4 years, and consume it over the following 10-12.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at Farr Vintner’s Left Bank tasting. This is rather pinched on the nose: strong herbaceous aromas at first, cold tea, rosemary and scorched earth but it coalesces in the glass and its fruit components show their heads above the parapet. The palate has a firm entry, good backbone here with decent fruit concentration, but it is tightly coiled and not particularly generous at present. Good definition and linearity...hopefully this will improve with another 1-2 years in bottle. Tasted October 2010.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A blend of 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, this 2003 displays an atypically forward style with notes of cedarwood, road tar, smoke, and earth. There is good sweetness and roundness, but not much depth. Because of its superficial appeal, it should be consumed during its first 7-8 years of life.
About the Producer
La Tour Haut Brion was a separate château, under the same ownership as Châteaux Haut Brion and La Mission Haut Brion. Until 1983 Ch. la Tour Haut-Brion was the second wine of La Mission Haut-Brion, but after the take-over of La Mission and La Tour by the Domaine Clarence Dillon, La Tour gained its own identity. The last vintage of this wine in its own right was 2005, it has since been incorporated into the production of La Mission. The vineyards are planted with 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, a similar mix to Haut Brion itself.
