Stephen Brook: Opaque red. Dense, smoky nose, a touch baked, firm plum and black cherry fruit. Very rich, has power and weight, huge but managed tannins, with no gawkiness or over-extraction. A big mouthful of black fruits and dark chocolate, but not tarry or stewed. Has the burliness of the vintage, but the excesses of the year have been kept in check. Less elegant than Pichon-Lalande, but has more power and depth—a difference in style rather than quality. Quite good length. 17.5

Stephen Browett: Good dense color. Serious, classic Pauillac nose. Good structure for 2003 and even some firm, yet silky, tannins. In the context of the vintage this is a vin de garde.Chewy black fruit. Dense, powerful, and impressive. 16.5

Michael Schuster: Dark red; fine, scented, cedary, “pebbly” nose; concentrated, elegant, finely tannic middleweight claret; ripe, mineral flavored, finely oaky, complex, and long across the palate, with excellent, mineral, and new oak scented length. A fine, complete Pauillac, a fine 2003. Full of long-term promise, for this is one that should turn out well with keeping. From 2018. 17+