WTN: 2003 Pichon Baron

Have I just been lucky to have been exposed to the GOOD wines from deadly 2003?

This does not taste over-ripe at all. In fact, this bottle, sampled thnks to my very generous neighbor Beau Ragan, was almost ZINGY with acidity. Not particularly "sweet" or "fruity", either. Instead, the tangyness dominates, with some strong and raspy tannins perhaps a flaw? Plenty of leather and savory notes as well. My second glass was even better! Main complaint may be it lacks smoothness and "elegance"-it is somewhat "spiky" in character, but since I like rustic wines that may be less of a problem for me.

I prefer this to the one bottle of 2000 PB I tried last year. The latter seemed thin and sweet and even simple compared to this savory wine.

[Jenise]

Surprising report, Brian. Wonder if it was just shut down...hmmm, maybe not, in that case overripeness could have been the ONLY thing you tasted. Interesting!

Jenise, why do you find the report "surprising"?

While there are some great '03's and I have not yet tasted this wine, I went to an industry tasting of lesser '03's and I would say that for the 100 or so wines tasted, all but a handful of them felt like they were starting to if not had stared to fall apart...and this was last year.....The really good wines were amazing but I don't have the knowledge to project how these will fair.