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Goedhuis, April 2004
86% Cabernet Sauvignon dominates unquestionably one of the wines of the vintage, complemented by 9% Merlot ,3 % Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot .Fresh and cool with lovely elegance and depth this is stunning. Packed with fruit but with a firm structure it will age beautifully.
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Neal Martin, May 2018, Score: 96
The 2003 Lafite-Rothschild famously shrugged off the merciless heat of that infamous summer when the temperature at the estate nudge 42° Celsius. It has a lovely bouquet of black plum, pressed iris, a touch of glycerin and (for Lafite) exotic scents of blood orange. The palate is powerful and intense as you would expect. There is great depth and volume with glossy black fruit laced with orange zest, smoke and melted tar. You can almost feel the summer in this Lafite-Rothschild but unlike many of its peers, it has requisite acidity to maintain freshness and avoid cloyingness on the finish. Whilst not my pick of modern-day Lafites, I have to doff my cap because it was and still is, one of the finest Left Banks of the vintage. Tasted at the Lafite-Rothschild 150th anniversary dinner at the estate. 2020-2050
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Robert Parker, August 2014, Score: 100
The 2003 Lafite Rothschild comes as close to perfection as any of the great Lafites made over the past three decades (1982, 1986, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010). This sensational effort came in at 12.7% natural alcohol, it is made in the style of one of this estate’s great classics, the 1959. Composed of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple color to the rim along with a luxurious bouquet of cedarwood, lead pencil shaving, white chocolate, cocoa and cassis. Fat, rich, opulent and full-bodied with low acidity and stunning seductiveness and complexity, this noble wine possesses a bountiful, generous, heady style. It is just coming into its plateau of maturity where it should hold for 20-25 years. This is one of the candidates for the wine of the vintage – make no mistake about that.
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Robert Parker, April 2006, Score: 100
A modern day version of the 1959 Lafite, the 2003 Lafite Rothschild was bottled in mid-May, 2005 after achieving 12.9% natural alcohol – hardly an astonishing figure given the vintage's weatherconditions. A combination of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, it represents a ripe version of the essence of Lafite-Rothschild. Dense purple-colored, with classic notes of graphite intertwined with melted licorice, creme de cassis, smoke, and flowers, it reveals extraordinary richness, opulence, power, purity, intensity, and viscosity. Whether this wine will close down or not is questionable as it is somewhat atypical given its sweetness and softness. Analytically, there are extremely high tannins, which I suspect will assert themselves in the future. Production in 2003 was less than half of normal. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050.
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Robert Parker, April 2005, Score: 96-100
One of the vintage's most prodigious wines, the 2003 may be a modern day clone of the1959 LafiteRothschild. Unusually opulent and viscous, with a dense purple color and an amazingly complex nose of scorched earth, Asian soy, balsamic vinegar, black currants, plums, and even some figs, Lafite tips the scales at 12.75% alcohol (less than they expected). The final blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. A wine of great intensity, tremendous viscosity and density with low acidity (the pH is pushing 4), and a magnificent finish, but all with great precision, purity, and freshness, this is a tour de force in winemaking and something that simply has to be tasted to be believed. I have never had another Lafite Rothschild anything like it, and those who would argue that the 1982 or 1959 are cut from the same mold may have some supportive evidence. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2050+.
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James Suckling, April 2004, Score: 95-100
Currants, blackberries, cedar and light tobacco. Very pure and fresh, like crushed berries. Full-bodied, with a solid core of ripe tannins and a long, long finish. Exciting, yet polished and refined. This is a rich and structured Lafite. Very classic style.
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Decanter, April 2004
Very deep purple ruby, very rich on the glass, almost the glycerine of a vintage Port, marvellous nose of wild violets, with a floral fragrance that explodes onto the palate, beautiful tannins and great length, a great wine. Drink: 2012-35.
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Neal Martin, May 2012, Score: 94
Tasted at the IMW Lafite seminar in London. Comparing the Lafite Rothschild ’03 directly with the Duhart Milon ’03, there is patently more freshness and vitality on the nose. In fact, you would be hard pressed to nail it as a 2003. There are notes of blackberry, brambly red fruit, graphite and a touch of wild heather. Leaving the wine to open in my glass over thirty minutes, it develops a hint of orange rind. The palate is medium-bodied with a ferrous entry. It is well balanced but not as complex as other recent vintages. It is a sedate, refined Lafite that seems to be maturing with some alacrity. The finish is soft with hints of oxtail and dried herbs on the finish. Tasted February 2012.
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Neal Martin, April 2022, Score: 94
The 2003 Lafite-Rothschild has an attractive perfumed bouquet with touches of camphor infusing the blackberry and bilberry fruit. There is a mahogany bureau hint. The palate is medium-bodied with a spicy opening. The sharp acidity slightly jars against the sweet candied black fruit, with blood orange and white pepper toward the mocha-tinged finish. It's missing a bit of sustain on the aftertaste, hence my more parsimonious score. It does cohere in the glass, so decanting will help. Tasted at the Académie du Vin dinner from ex-château magnum 2024-2050
