Margaux was not one of the more favored appellations, although some top 2003s were made there. Du Tertre's fully mature 2003 displays chocolaty, herbal, fig and black currant notes, excellent density, elegance and freshness. However, it needs to be drunk up over the next several years. Drink 2014-2017
Loads of cooked fruit with jammy, blackberry character. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and a long finish. Nicely done.
This dark ruby/purple-colored, luscious, soft, already complex 2003 offers alluring notes of smoked herbs, black cherry jam, camphor, white chocolate, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, silky-textured, heady, and impossible to resist, it can be drunk now and over the next 12-14 years.
This pure, rich, dense ruby/purple-hued 2003 offers sweet aromas of wood smoke, chocolate-covered black cherries, plums, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, seductive, and fleshy with low acidity as well as ripe tannin, it should drink well young yet age nicely for 12-15 years.
Readers should be taking a serious look at this estate as recent vintages have exhibited significant improvement. Du Tertre is a stylish, full-flavored, somewhat exotic Margaux with good aging potential. Moreover, it remains reasonably priced.
A beautifully made Margaux, the 2003 Du Tertre is a credit to proprietor Eric Albada Jelgensma (also responsible for the resurrection of Giscours). A deep ruby/purple color accompanies the chocolatey, berry, smoke, new oak, and plum-scented bouquet. Fleshy, layered, medium-bodied, and seductive, this is undeniably a sleeper of the vintage. Moreover, it is generally fairly priced.
