Le Tastevin Wine Club - 2003 Bordeaux – October 10, 2018

Most of Europe’s wine-growing regions – including Bordeaux - were affected in 2003 by a record-setting heat wave. A persistent high-pressure system became ensconced over Western Europe, raising temperatures to historic highs and blocking the eastward-moving Atlantic rain systems. Temperatures were generally 20-30% higher than normal, killing over 30,000. The Alps lost approximately 10% of its ice mass. And agricultural output in many sectors, including wine, were deleteriously impacted. In France, drought caused river waters to fun perilously low, requiring the shut-down of a number of nuclear power plants. (UNISDR 2004). In Bordeaux, some producers suffered from shriveled vines and plants that shut down photosynthetic production; others, where some late-summer rains fell and/or groundwater provided sustenance to stressed vines, produced good to sometimes stunning results (Winecellerinsider). What was regarded by wine critics as a poor to challenging year has, with time and (sometimes contentious) re-evaluation, changed to an uneven to excellent year (Robinson 2010).

Starter

Clos Marsalette Blanc, 2013 - Pessac-Leognan (WS 91)

2003 Bordeaux

Lascombes - Margaux (RP 94, WS 91)
Calon Segur - St. Estephe (RP 93, WS 95)
Meyney - St. Estephe (WS 91)
Saint Pierre - St. Julien (RP 93)
Branaire Ducru - St. Julien (RP 94, WS 93)
Leoville Barton - St. Julien (RP 96, WS 98)
Gruaud Larose - St. Julien (WS 92)
Pontet Canet - Pauillac (RP 95+, WS 93)
Grand Puy Lacoste - Pauillac (WS 92)
Sociando Mallet - Haut Medoc (RP 90, WS 92)
Le Bon Pasteur - Pomerol (RP 92)
Le Gay - Pomerol (RP 91, WS 90)
Vieux Château Certain - Pomerol (RP 90, WS 90)

Dessert

1997 Ferreira Vintage Port (WS 91)

Images of Wines Sampled

Page last updated: November 13, 2018 (EB)