Chateau d'Angludet 2003, CBE Margaux

Deep purple with a tight garnet rim, this is a bigger wine for the class with a great mid-palate impression. This is a very good value for the vintage and is ripe and sweet with fine structure and length. Perfumy and classy 'spa' nose, with the 'rancio' of blackberry, plum fruit, smoke and wood. Red fruits(strawberries and cherries) on the palate. Fresher and riper than its 2002, this 2003 finishes nicely: medium length, dry finish with balanced fruit and wood; the right alcohol; tamed, dense tannins; slowly evolving with discreet charm. This claret has the structure of a classified growth at a great price(thanks to the scores from Robert Parker et al. and from James Suckling).

In a recent Olympian type of tasting, 5 very seasoned wine tasters scored this 2003 Angludet 3rd(weighted average score 88.68), beating a host of better knowns such as Boyd Cantenac, Centenac Brown, Siran, La Gurgue, Dauzac, Ferriere, Marquis de Terme, Monbrison, Marjolla and others. THis 2003 Angludent loses marginally to Durfort Viviens(87.15), du Tertre(87.08)

A sleeper of the vintage, the deep plum/ruby-colored 2003 exhibits a sexy, fragrant perfume of flowers, black cherry jam, licorice, and barbecue spice. Rich, velvety-textured, medium-bodied, charming, and expansive, it should drink well for 10-12 years. (4/2006), even Parker admits that.

A good vintage for this Cru level like Margaux. Needs 40mins full decanting. Neighbouring vineyards are prestigious: Giscours, Brane-Cantenac, Kirwan. On pebbly stones on which no grass growth is possible. One of our first bottles of fine claret 30 years back.