2003 Dujac Clos de la Roche

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, Mar/Apr 06 ($184)
Medium bright, deep red. Highly nuanced nose combines red fruits, minerals and flowers. Silky-sweet, thick and sappy, with outstanding richness and volume; this has fruit of steel. A perfect example of a 2003 that's superripe without being cooked. One to buy and to cellar. 93 points

Tasting note: A relatively high-toned and perfumed nose of ripe cherries and pronounced ripe soil notes lead to wonderfully detailed full-bodied and mineral-laden flavors brimming with pinot extract and a touch of reduction on the backend. There is outstanding intensity here and an exceptionally long and lingering finish but what sets this apart is the superb overall balance. A terrific wine in an absolute sense and while it is atypical, it's a more than satisfactory effort. Burghound 91