2003 Larkmead LMV Salon
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Tasting notes
Good dark red with no sign of amber. Complex aromas of raspberry, cherry, spices, flowers, minerals, licorice and dried herbs, with a faint dusty note that calls to mind a mature Right Bank Bordeaux. Juicy and savory on the palate, with dark fruit and chocolate flavors complicated by a distinct saline element. A step up in texture and harmoniousness from the Solari Reserve, this wine finishes with good grip and length. It shares the high acidity of the Solari Reserve and is actually lower in pH (3.74 vs. 3.87) but is far more enjoyable today. (15.5% alcohol)
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The 2003 LMV Salon is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 6% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Merlot. It takes its name from the iconic San Francisco socialite, Lillie Hitchcock Coit, who established a “salon” at Larkmead. This wine cuts an even broader, more expansive flavor profile across the palate, offering gorgeous notes of creme de cassis, background oak and licorice, and hints of lead pencil shavings and spring flowers. Strikingly complex, this stunning wine reveals a freshness and vivacity that go against the general reputation of this vintage. It is a crunchy, juicy effort with 14.7% alcohol, although the latter component is not the least bit noticeable. Slightly more evolved than the basic Cabernet Sauvignon, this beauty is accessible now, so there is no reason to delay your pleasure. It should be strutting its stuff for 15-20 years. This exquisite, historic (the vineyard was well-known in the 1800s) source for great Cabernet Sauvignon situated on the valley floor, just north of St. Helena, remains one of my favorite wineries of the region. Under the guidance of the winemaking consultant, Scotsman, Andy Smith, they continue to go from strength to strength. Tel. (707) 942-0167; Fax (707) 942-6934
(60% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc, 6% malbec, 5% petit verdot and 4% merlot) Deep ruby-red. Complex nose offers currant, graphite, iron filings and menthol. Juicy, fresh and tactile in the mouth, with a claret-like pliancy and lush, sweet flavors of dark fruits and chocolate. Finishes with substantial broad tannins and excellent length.
(60% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc, 7% malbec, 4% petit verdot and 4% merlot, all from vines on loam over deep gravel, on the east side of the river) Good full ruby. Complex nose melds blackberry, leather, smoke and minerals, plus a hint of band-aid. Vibrant on the palate, with a deep, supple core of blackberry, black cherry and mineral flavors. Not hugely full or powerful but rather fine-grained. Finishes with supple, building tannins.