Wines by Vintage
2003 Wines
Vintage Notes
The 2003 growing season was typically unpredictable. Bud-break began in early April, but was then delayed by a two week cold snap that lasted until the first week of May. This slowed down budding of early varietals like Syrah and Merlot. Immediately we knew we would be looking at a delayed harvest.
Toward the end of May the weather suddenly warmed up causing very fast shoot growth and the rapid arrival of bloom. A cool phase at the beginning of June then slowed things down, particularly for the later-ripening Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. Despite the cool start to the month, June soon introduced us to the heat of summer, with August and September bringing a few heat spikes. All of this resulted in grapes that were wonderfully ripe.
We started harvest in the first week of September with our Jardine Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc and with the Syrah from the Camatta Hills Vineyard near Paso Robles. We moved quickly on and finished our Syrah program by mid September. An unusual heat spell around September 20th ripened some of the Cabernet Sauvignon a little faster than we expected and we had to pick our Jardine Vineyard grapes earlier to avoid very high sugar levels. Huerhuero Vineyard performed admirably and we finished picking our Cabernet Sauvignon there in mid October. The 2003 harvest was nearly completed with the picking of Petite Sirah and our amazing Petit Verdot. All came to an end with the harvesting of our first Tempranillo, which has been a small, but rewarding experiment for Vina Robles!
After harvest was complete and primary fermentation had ended, all the wines were transferred into French and American oak barrels for aging. Preliminary tastings in February showed red wines with ripe, dark fruit and already very soft tannins. The Petit Verdot is stunning!
By mid March we bottled our first Viognier from Huerhuero and our “all stainless steel” Sauvignon Blanc.
2003 Chardonnay
Edna Ranch
Medium, golden straw in color with aromas of fresh ripe fruits, primarily pineapple and apples, with hints of honeyed citrus, and minerals combined with subtle notes of jasmine and toasty oak. Lush and rounded on the palate with flavors of baked apples, baking spices and hints of tropical fruits; a crisp, clean and lengthy finish.
2003 Sauvignon Blanc
Jardine Vineyard
Pale gold color with hints of lime, typical grassy qualities associated with Sauvignon Blanc, overlaid by aromas of white peach, pear and a touch of citrus peel. Medium bodied and round on the palate, with flavors of white peach, pear and grapefruit; pleasant long finish.
2003 Viognier
Huerhuero Vineyard
Clear, pale gold color: aromas of pineapple and tropical fruit, with secondary aromas of ginger, nutmeg and orange blossom. Spices and tropical fruit such as lychee together with citrus; rich and weighty in the mouth with an attractive softness and a lingering finish.
2003 Cabernet Sauvignon
Estate
Deep garnet. Intense aromas of plums, blackberry and cherry with a hint of spice, cedar and vanilla. Ripe, rich, dense fruit with full body and great concentration; juicy plum, black cherry and red current flavors with hints of tobacco and baking spices. A long finish with ripe tannins and good structure.
2003 Petite Sirah
Jardine Vineyard
Deep purple-black in color, intense aromas of dark berry fruits including notes of blueberry and plum as well as earth and pepper are complimented by vanilla and toasty oak. This full bodied wine is juicy and concentrated on the palate with ripe, firm tannins; blackberry, plum and blueberry fruit with a touch of spice and pepper; long, pleasant finish.
2003 Signature
Deep, saturated inky purple, almost opaque in color: intense aromas of dark berry fruits including notes of blueberry and plum. This big wine is supple, lush and mouth filling; complex and refined.
2003 Syrah
Dark garnet with blue-black tints and intense aromas of black fruits together with deep red berry notes, hints of white pepper, baking spices and vanilla. Flavors of blackberries and boysenberries together with currants, spice and a touch of toasty oak. Silky and soft with a lush quality, well balanced acidity and ripe tannins; long pleasant finish.
2003 Zinfandel
Westside
Deep purple, very intense color: aromas of plum and boysenberry with spice and a touch of earthiness. Big full-bodied, packed with intense, sweet, ripe fruit; long pleasant finish.