Millésime 2003

Wine Advocate #170 - Apr 2007

Score : 100

The 2003 Cote Rotie La Mouline is by far the most delicate and elegant wine (11% Viognier is co-fermented with 89% Syrah). but the enormous aromatics of spring flowers intermixed with creme de cassis, black raspberry, mocha, caramel, and cola, and enormous full-bodied opulence and striking velvety, seamless texture make for one of the most memorable wines anyone could every drink. This wine should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years. Drink: 2007 - 2037. Robert Parker.

Wine Spectator - Aug 31, 2007

Score: 99
 

Racy and defined, with a torrent of pure red currant and raspberry ganache that pours out from the core, around which a mouthwatering mineral note swirls. Has a terrific spine, with iron and spice notes mingling with the endless stream of raspberry fruit. Purer than the La Landonne and the La Turque in 2003, without the vintage's extra roasted power. A really stunning display of fruit and precision. Drink now through 2030. 230 cases made. Designation: Collectibles. James Molesworth.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 05

Score : 95-98 

Saturated ruby. Superripe aromas of liqueur-like black raspberry, smoked meat and roasted nuts. A wine of incredible confectionery sweetness, density and depth, and atypically large-scaled (14. 5% alcohol) and glyceral for La Mouline. To suggest it lacks elegance may be quibbling. There's powerful underlying structure here and a deep chocolatey ripeness on the finish, which features major but thoroughly ripe tannins and great breadth. Philippe Guigal noted that the '03s finished even drier than the '02s and '01s, at less than one gram per liter of residual sugar. So the extraordinary sweetness of these wines simply reflects the freakish ripeness of the fruit. Stephen Tanzer.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 06

Score : 95-97

Deep ruby. Rich and warm on the nose, with deep blackberry and cassis aromas tinged by pungent fresh flowers and graphite. Suave and silky on the palate, the fruit tones turning more red, more crisp and focused. Offers impressive inner-mouth floral perfume. Taut and minerally through the very long, pure finish, with persistent, concentrated but thoroughly elegant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. Josh Raynolds.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 07

Score : 96-97

Saturated ruby. Superripe dark berry and cherry aromas, with an intense violet accent and a hint of minerals. Remarkably dense and packed with cherry and dark berry flavors, but with an energetic lift of acidity arriving on the back. Gets sweeter with air, taking on wild strawberry and raspberry qualities. Finishes with fine, dusty tannins and a fresh kick of raspberry. These 2003s are slated to be bottled in February of 2007. Josh Raynolds.