WTN: 2003 Pape Clement

I drank a small glass of this as a wine pairing at Alinea in Chicago. Nice to be able to check in on it without popping one of my bottles. I had the drinking window starting in 2012, but now I think I should move that up earlier.



2003 Pape Clement
Surprisingly soft & approachable. Lots of coffee, chocolate. Inky, black with a long drying bitter finish. Very full flavored & bold. Atypical bordeaux at this age. Soft but has the stuffing to last, wonder about the structure for long-term aging.
B++

Yup, that jives with the drinkability of the 03 Leoville Barton I opened recently. Hotter vintages may never close and be drinkable earlier than the usual Bdx rule of thumb, all at the cost of compromised longevity...

[David M. Bueker]

Hotter vintages may never close and be drinkable earlier than the usual Bdx rule of thumb, all at the cost of compromised longevity...

Although if all Bordeaux vintages needed/could stand long aging what would we drink in the interim?

Leoville Barton? That is a real surprise to me. Tomorrow night we'll be drinking a 2003 Montrose, another chateau that typically takes a long time to come around. I'll let you know.

I know hot vintages come around sooner, but 82 and 90 weren't really ready like this.

I know hot vintages come around sooner, but 82 and 90 weren't really ready like this.

Ah, technology is a wonderful thing!

Leoville Barton? That is a real surprise to me.

Just five weeks ago you wrote, in response to my 03 LB note:

This tasting note shocks me. I liked this wine a whole lot in 2006, but I never expect a Leoville Barton to be ready to drink so early or to have such a short (10+ year) window of development.

Sounds like the Pape Clement is on a similar curve...

I've been in a state of shock for 5 straight weeks.