2003 Crozes Hermitage Les Varonniers
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Tasting notes
Looking first at his Crozes Hermitage, and a wine that will stand toe to toe with any number of Hermitages, the 2003 Crozes Hermitage Les Varonniers offers thrilling black fruits, saddle leather, spice and cured meat-like qualities to go with a sexy, full-bodied, and layered profile on the palate. It will continue to evolve gracefully, but there’s no reason to delay gratification and I’d enjoy this fabulous Syrah over the coming couple of years. Finishing harvest at the end of August, Michel Chapoutier produced a monumental lineup of wines in 2003, and enough can’t be said about the quality coming for this estate. To say I was blown away would be an understatement.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Josh Raynolds
More reviews and scores
Dark red. Meaty, ripe aromas of dark plum compote, chocolate and roasted coffee. Large-scaled and thick, with a density and weight that are almost too much. Finishes with deep notes of dark chocolate and espresso. Very 2003 in style, and as formidable as this is in size and weight, I would like to have seen more energy and precision.
Medium red. Tight nose hints at black fruits, licorice, black olive and fresh herbs, with exotic notes of spice and flowers. Superconcentrated but very dry, with a powerful licorice flavor. Minerally and backward. Finishes with substantial, rather rustic tannins. There's something impressive about this, but it's not my favorite style of Crozes.