20908 Roscoe Blvd • Canoga Park CA 91304 Hours: Mon - Sat • 9AM - 6PM Phone: (818) 341-1234 • Fax: (818) 341-9232 Outside California: (800) 4-FINE-WINE Cheers! from the Duke of Bourbon As promised, we here at the Duke are continuing our search for the best values of 2003 Bordeaux. We only hope that you find our current selections as worthwhile and exciting as we do. New Offerings Chateau Rauzan Despagne - Bordeaux Superieur (RP 90-93) 6-Pack $96.00 Case $185.00 Allocated - please inquire Boy! Does Robert Parker like this wine. . . and our European agent does, also. Read these glowing comments from the former: "The 2003 Rauzan-Despagne is reminiscent of a French version of Napa's Harlan Estate. An astonishing effort, it offers smoky espresso notes intermixed with creme de cassis and graphite in a powerful, concentrated, deep, chewy, loaded style. It should drink well for 5-10 years. It is natural to focus on the great Bordeaux estates that sell for the highest prices, but Bordeaux desperately needs more producers like the Despagnes to produce wines such as this since more than 90% of the entire viticultural area is generic appellations such as Bordeaux and Bordeaux Superieur. Bravo!" We still have a supply of the highly touted Chateau Mont Perat (see tasting notes below from our first Bordeaux email). Both Chateau Mont Perat and this wine are made by the same family. Chateau Lynch-Bages - Pauillac (WS 92-94) 6-Pack $360.00 Case $699.00 James Suckling of the Wine Spectator had this to say about Lynch-Bages: "Very rich and decadent style to this. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a delicious finish. Flashy wine. Long and seductive. May be even better in bottle." (Note: The artwork shown above was created by acclaimed artist Jan Voss especially for Lynch-Bages and is displayed in their collection at the winery.) Chateau Bellevue - St-Emilion (RP 93-95) 6-Pack Case $296.00 Case $589.99 Parker's comments follow: "this estate burst on the scene with a brilliant 2000 . . . given the wine's enormous richness, it should not be surprising to learn the soils are pure clay and limestone, the type best suited to handle the historic weather conditions of 2003 . . The bad news is that there are only 1,500 cases . . . A seamlessly constructed St.-Emilion of great depth, richness, and nobility, it should drink well young given its high pH and alcohol as well as its low acidity." 2003 Pichon-Longueville-Baron - Pauillac (RP 92-94+) 6-Pack $427.00 Case $832.50 Parker pretty much says it all: "Reminiscent of Pichon-Baron's triumphant 1990, the 2003 is powerful and alcoholic (13.46%) for a cru classe Bordeaux, with a high pH of 3.85, and low acidity (3.1). Made from 31 hectoliters per hectare, this blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot exhibits an inky/purple color along with a big, thick, juicy nose of soy sauce, blackberries, creme de cassis, minerals, and flowers. Full-bodied and powerful, with terrific fruit purity as well as depth, this beauty should become increasingly delineated as it evolves in barrel. The finish lasts for 45+ seconds. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2025." Past offerings still available are listed below: Chateau Charmail - Haut-Medoc (RP 88-91) 6-Pack $114.00 Case $222.00 This one is a favorite here at the Duke. Always a delicious and fairly priced wine, Robert Parker enjoyed it and said, "A blend of 48% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, the impeccably made 2003 achieved 13.5% natural alcohol . . . The wine is fleshy, opulently textured, medium to full-bodied, and pure." [Emphasis added] Chateau du Tertre - Margaux (RP 90-92) 6-Pack $175.00 Case $340.00 Robert Parker: "A beautifully made Margaux, the 2003 du Tertre is a credit to proprietor Eric Albada Jelgensma (also responsible for the resurrection of Giscours). A deep ruby/purple color accompanies the chocolatey, berry, smoke, new oak, and plum-scented bouquet. Fleshy, layered, medium-bodied, and seductive, this is undeniably a sleeper of the vintage." Chateau Fonbadet - Pauillac (WS 89-91) 6-Pack $120.00 Case $234.00 Wine Spectator: "This shows intense amounts of blackberry, tobacco and smoke. Full-bodied and very velvety, with a long, caressing finish. A beauty. Best wine I have tasted from here in ages. - J. S." [James Suckling] Also tasted by an emissary of the Duke who reports, ". . . this wine is a big-time winner and should be a 90-92 wine." Goulee - Medoc (RP 87-89) 6-Pack $165.00 Case $323.00 Robert Parker: "Deep ruby/purple-colored with classic aromas of cassis, licorice, underbrush, and spice box, it reveals classified growth quality along with supple tannin, and a forward, fleshy mouthfeel. This is the type of wine Bordeaux producers should be making more frequently, but the price must be realistic given the world-wide competition. This is a new concept from Michel Reydier and Jean-Guillaume Prats, respectively the owner and winemaker of Cos d'Estournel. Isolating some good properties and attempting to create a high quality, branded wine from the Medoc, this stylish blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot is impressive." [Emphasis added] Chateau Mont Perat - Cotes de Bordeaux (RP 89-91) 6-Pack $88.00 Case $172.00 Robert Parker: "One of the most admirable operations in Bordeaux is that of the Despagne family, which produces extraordinary wines from such humble appellations as Bordeaux Superieur and Premieres Cotes de Bordeaux. The beautifully made 2003 Mont Perat is a big fruit bomb offering abundant quantities of black currant fruit inter-mixed with hints of flowers, espresso roast and toasty oak." [Emphasis added] Call today to get the best of Bordeaux! Think of fine wine! Think of the Duke! Home Vine-Line Join Our Mailing List Private Cellars Email Specials Currently Available Wine Futures Duke's Gift Catalog Recent Arrivals Big Bottle Bonanza Email the Duke Wine Association Events Duke's Wine Library Vine-Line Back Issues Map to the Duke Terminal 55 Wine Storage Lockers We are Happy to Deliver or Ship! 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