2003 Château La Tour Carnet drinking window

Never tried the 2003 La Tour Carnet. That said, 2003 was a blazingly hot year, and most wines show it. I didn't buy a lot, but concentrated on upper Medoc (St Estephe especially). But plan on drinking most soon (exception is Leoville Barton). I think a recent Decanter article raised alarms about how even "big boy" 2003s are aging, especially the modern styled (isn't LTC a Magrez property?).

As to 2002, I wouldn't call the bigger Medocs early drinkers. It reminds me more of 1988 and 1994, stern vintages that will never be charming/elegant but pretty solid with some age. 2002 Right Bank is less appealing.

year, and most wines show it. I didn't buy a lot, but concentrated on upper Medoc (St Estephe especially). But plan on drinking most soon (exception i s Leoville Barton).

2003s are aging, especially the modern styled (isn't LTC a Magrez property? ).

Yes. I think he bought it later, so the 2003 is not his making?

me more of 1988 and 1994, stern vintages that will never be charming/elegan t but pretty solid with some age. 2002 Right Bank is less appealing.

Seems 2005 is the best vintage of my line up:

2005 Bordeaux Wine vintage - This is a stunning vintage from top to bottom in all appellations and in all price ranges. If you have the money, this is one of the best Bordeaux vintages to lay down in your cellar. These stunni ng wines will only get better and more expensive. Hold 100 Pts 2004 Bordeaux Wine vintage - This is a moderately priced vintage with some attractive wines, but not great wines from both banks. Drink or hold. 91 Pt s 2003 Bordeaux Wine vintage - An interesting vintage with some stunning Bord eaux wines that were produced in the northern Medoc appellations of Pauilla c and St. Estephe. Some strong wines were produced in St. Emilion from heav y limestone soils. Avoid 2003 Pomerol wines. The vintage lacks consistency. But at the top end, 2003 Bordeaux wines are stunning. Sauternes was also s trong in this vintage. Drink or hold. 93 Pts 2002 Bordeaux Wine vintage - The best wines were produced in the Medoc. Thi s is an average vintage with a lot of wines that can be bought for fair pri ces. But there is an under ripe quality to the wines that will become more pronounced as the years go on. Drink or hold. 89 Pts

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DaleW wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

La Tour Carnet is a wine from Magrez, and I think the first vintage under his direction is 2000 or 2001. I have very fond memories of the 2001, that I drank through several bottles. The wine was a bit tired last year and best bottles were at age 5-6.

Reading Parker, I was in M?doc circa 2006 and purchased several bottles of wine during Foire aux Vins in September. 2003 was the hot thing that year, and I purchased something like two cases of wine, assorted. 3 here, 2 there.... to date, most of the wines have been unappealing, and I concentrated on M?doc (I happen to be a left bank kind of guy). Du Tertre was awful, as was the case with Brane Cantenac. Malescot St. Exupery is just nice and all of them are overpriced even at 2006 prices.

Yes, I concur that Bordeaux is mostly overpriced. There are some gems to be found, but it is too difficult currently.

In another message of this thread there is a mention to THe Wine Cellar's Inside. Let me kindly point out that the owner of that blog is as close to Bordeaux as you can be without being a proprietor. Mountains of caviar being served in his honour at some of the properties during his visits (and that is literal).

I enjoy reading his comments, but do not put too much trust in his notes because he is sort of a public relations man for Bordeaux.

s.

Yeah but the relative ratings of vintages should be fine, as he explicitly says "avoid this vintage". That doesnt sound like a bought mans words.

So you are saying that I shouldnt expect much from my 2003 la tour carnet, so I might as well drink it on a casual night during the holiday?

Michael Nielsen wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@googlegroups.com:

I would say that, on average, 2003 is a vintage that is not my favorite style of red Bordeaux. Whether they fit your taste or not is another thing.

When in doubt, I check with cellartracker, where many users have written their tasting notes on the wine:

or

where you can find some interesting notes from actual users like these:

1) Very enjoyable. Has held up surprisingly well for a 2003. 2) Impossible to rate, really. In some odd way that one is a great success and on the other not my style at all. Starts out extremely ripe, full- bodied, sweet and lush. Flabby and oaky as well. Nose is full of creme de cassis, warm asphalt, coffee and roasted meat. Went quite well with a ribeye steak and sauce bearnaise. On day two, it is more calm and controlled but still shows ripeness and warm. This is a modern left banker alright, and not my kind of wine at all.