ACCOLADES ARCHIVE : 2003 Vintage Wines (prior vintages - Click here.)
 
December 2005 - 10 Top Vineyards & Top Bottles
Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard 2003
"Silky Pinot, filled with seductive, sweet cherry flavor that lasts and lasts"
Reviews of Siduri's 2003 Vintage - Click here.
Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard Santa Rita Hills 2003
90 Points
Among the bigger, gutsier, more fully extracted entries in this month's parade of Pinot Noirs, Siduri's Clos Pepe bottling treads dangerously close to excess but finds surprising balance for such a big wine and matches its obvious ripeness with a full serving of fruit. It is in all ways a wine with broad shoulders that needs drinking with appropriately flavorful foods, and richness rather than refinement is its forte.
Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, Hirsch Vineyard 2003
91 Points
Medium ruby in color, yet intense and concentrated, with a tight, firm focus on zesty wild berry and black cherry fruit. Complex and deftly balanced, it offers hints of exotic spice, wilted rose and pepper, while avoiding excesses, offering a tapered finish and excellent structure.- JL
Pinot Noir Russian Rivery Valley Keefer Ranch Vineyard 2003
90 Points
Lots to admire in this ripe, fleshy young Pinot. It's brimming with spice, cherry, plum and pleasant earthy sage and nutmeg nuances that give it a range of complexity. Drink now through 2009 – JL
Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Olivet Grange Vineyard 2003
91 Points
Toasty oak gives it an initial aromatic lift and the core cherry, plum and wild berry quickly fill in the gaps. Long, persistent finish. Drink now through 2008. – JL
Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Clos Pepe Vineyard 2003
93 Points
Ripe, rich and lively, with a zesty medley of plum, blackberry, blueberry and hints of raspberry. Tightly focused, with delicate oak shadings peeking through, this is a wonderful expression of Pinot Noir fruit. Drink now through 2008. - (JL)
Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands Pisoni Vineyard 2003
92 Points
Dark, rich, intense and concentrated, with plush blueberry, wild berry and black cherry fruit that's well-focused, deep and persistent. Shows off plenty of rich tannic strength, but in the end it's the fruit that shines through. Drink now through 2008. - (JL)
Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills Cargasacchi Vineyard 2003
92 Points
Wonderful purity of fruit, with a rich, lively core of raspberry, blackberry, black cherry and spicy, floral scents, this wine wins points for its delicacy and finesse, too. Drink now through 2009. - (JL)
Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2003
88 Points
Smooth, with ripe, lively black cherry, plum and blackberry fruit that's neatly tapered. Turns plush and elegant on the finish, where the flavors hold true. A great value. Drink now. - (JL)
Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2003
87 Points
Ripe and generous, nicely balanced with vibrant acidity to keep the black cherry and earthy, cedary spice flavors bouncing through the finish. Best from 2006 through 2010. 828 cases made. (HS)
Tel. (707) 578-3882; Fax (707) 578-3884
2003 Santa Rita Hills, Clos Pepe Vineyard Pinot Noir
Score: 91
The deep ruby/purple-colored 2003 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard offers a glorious perfume of charcoal smoke, black cherries, minerals, and flowers. Medium to full-bodied and elegant yet authoritatively flavored, this is an impeccably made Pinot Noir with loads of character as well as a long, persistent finish. It should drink well for 6-8 years. - Robert Parker
2003 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir
Score: 90
The 2003 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard exhibits a saturated ruby/purple-tinged color in addition to a sweet bouquet of forest floor, new saddle leather, black fruits, and damp earth. This broad, expansive, richly flavorful beauty is still an infant, but it promises to evolve gracefully for 5-7 years.
- Robert Parker
2003 Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir
Score: 89
From a Russian River vineyard, the 2002 Pinot Noir Keefer Ranch Vineyard boasts a deeper ruby hue as well as more floral/black cherry notes, a richer, deeper palate, and more potent alcohol. Overall, it is a rounder, richer, more layered wine than the Sapphire Hill. Enjoy this tasty, full-throttle effort over the next 5-7 years.
- Robert Parker
2003 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
Score: 87
The 2003 Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands displays a dark ruby color in addition to forest floor, resin, and black fruit characteristics, a firm, muscular structure, attractive sweet fruits, and a smoky black cherry and currant style. Its suppleness suggests drinking it over the next 2-3 years.
- Robert Parker
2003 Pisoni Vineyard Pinot Noir
Rating: 92
The beautiful 2003 Pinot Noir Pisoni Vineyard boasts complex notes of flowers, black fruits, licorice, forest floor, and spice box. With full-bodied sweetness, richness, and opulence, long, concentrated, heady flavors, impressive purity, and a layered mouthfeel as well as aftertaste, it should drink well for 5-7 years.
- Robert Parker
2003 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Rating: 90 points
The 2003 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard's sassafras (beet root) character is accompanied by notes of black currants, smoke, earth, herbs, and tar, tart acidity, and an elegant finish with outstanding depth. Consume it over the next 4-5 years.
- Robert Parker
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