Any thoughts on how the 2003 vintage Napa Cabs are/should be drinking? Just received several cases of 2003 Husic Dos Palmas Estate cabernet and am wondering if they are drinking or if they are past their prime.
I’ve had a few of late from Phelps, Chappellet, Keenan, Pride, and others. I am not a very big fan of the wines, and think that almost all have a slight fig newton or date finish that I don’t really like. They are mostly not very fresh, deep fruited, with a caramelized prune/date/fig finish. If you already have several cases of it, you ought to pop one and make the call yourself. I know the vintage was hammered by WS but approved by WA. I’ve tried to withhold judgment, but having now had these wines for 10 years in various stages, I’ll seek out most other vintages over 2003. It’s just not really to my taste.
I have had an enjoyable exception - the 2003 Shafer HSS, which was more plum than prune - but others I’ve had in the recent past have been mediocre (Quintessa, Pahlmeyer, Corison) + starting to crack up for my taste
There is variation in 2003 depending on the where the fruit is from. If you get mountain wines (Howell, Spring Mountain, Veeder, etc), i’ve seen the structure typical of the higher elevation wines, while still getting the warm fruit from the warmer vintage. Those wines i’ve tasted recently (Dunn, Lokoya), have been quite lovely.
The valley wines from '03 lately are beginning to show some age, becoming more ‘stewed’ and ‘figgy,’ (Far Niente, BV), which isn’t to my liking. I’m more of a 2002 fan, and to a lesser extent 2001.
Ive got a few 03 Insignia’s (daughter’s birth year) left and the one’s Ive had so far have been very good
I’ve also been wondering about the vintage. I have a couple of 2003 Togni. I don’t drink such young Togni, but perhaps I should open one and check on it.
Diane,
I had an '03 Togni in 2016 and although I thought it was good, to me it needed additional cellar time to reach potential.
Other '03’s that I have enjoyed are Seavey, both the Estate and the Caravina were excellent, Plumpjack and Mondavi Oakville.
Don, thanks for the data point. I’ll hold off for now.
Agree with these thoughts. In general 2003 was a weak vintage due to very cool temps and, for my palate, I’d be getting through these much sooner than later. I found the Bond lineup to last really well from 03 but the vast majority of wines are well past their peak from this vintage.
I drank a Neal Howell lately which was great. It wasn’t as good as the wonderful 02s but looked like it could go another few years.
I’m not sure that this is correct Phil. My understanding is that 2003 was viewed as a warm year, not a cool year. This is why so many of the wines have that stewed prune characteristic…Have you read that 2003 was considered a cool year?
I recalled it being warm as well.