2003 Puligny Montrachet Les Combettes
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Tasting notes
The 2003 Puligny-Montrachet La Combette 1er Cru is fully evolved on the nose, quite honeyed with peach and crème brûlée scents. The palate simply lacks acidity, rendering this Puligny monotone and lacking nerve on the finish. Bottles ought to have been drunk a while ago—I am sure this was pretty decent back then.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Complex, musky nose combines white peach, flowers and baking spices; shows a distinctly oily character that suggests a very concentrated wine. Then rich, ripe and sweet, with harmonious acidity giving shape to the intense flavors of white peach, minerals and yellow rose. This conveys an exhilarating light touch for the vintage, particularly impressive in light of the wine's sweetness and concentration. The crop level here was around 18 hectoliters per hectare, says Boudot.
One-third of the old vines in Sauzet’s Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes were ripped-up after the 2002 harvest. That, combined with Mother Nature’s wrath, reduced the domaine’s production from the normal 700 cases to a mere 225 in 2003. Its expressive white fruit aromas lead to a medium-bodied personality that is concentrated, deep, and syrupy. Its thick layers of fruit reveal flavors reminiscent of almond milk, nutmeg, minerals, resin, and anise. Anticipated maturity: now-2013. Importer: Vineyard Brands, Birmingham, AL; tel. (205) 980-8802
Good acidity. Lively. Quite flirtatious. Quite long and dense. But is it really burgundy? Pretty expensive for what it is. (JR)