Deep red with ruby highlights. Knockout nose combines raspberry, mocha, fresh blood, spices, minerals and underbrush. Sweet, spicy and penetrating; boasts terrific concentration and volume but does not come across as heavy. Shows a darker fruit character than usual for a young wine from this vineyard. Finishes with palate-staining length and excellent verve. Surely the longest of these 2003s today, and beautifully balanced for the vintage.

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. Drink: 2015+
-Allen Meadows, burghound.com Issue: 21. Tasted: Jan 01, 2006

The 2003 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has an earthy, animally, slightly brettanomyces-affected bouquet, and yet despite its faults, I cannot help falling for its charms. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins considering the vineyard; pleasant raspberry and cranberry fruit segue into a lightly spiced finish of black pepper, leather and sage. It does fade a little rapidly, but it makes a decent effort. Tasted at Sarah Marsh’s 2003/2004 tasting in London.

Not as dramatically much darker than the other wines as for the Combottes, Morey village and Premier Cru. Firm and not nearly as obviously 2003 as most. Sweet but very slightly medicinal. Cuts off at the end of the palate. Good acidity and richness. Solid. (JR)