2003 Vintage: General Appreciation
One of the most controversial vintages and the smallest harvest since 1981. 2003 will be remembered for the excessive heat including a heat wave during half of August where the temperature climbed to 40 degrees centigrade or just over every day. Consequently, it was the earliest harvest on record starting on 18th August and yields were extremely low with fruit shrivelling on the vines turning into raisins. The clear problem is that the wines are really low in acidity and alcohol levels high and most wines were best consumed early-on. The Whites suffered even more than the reds and though many have talked the reds up, there are very few that have sufficient positive complexity, class or elegance to merit huge interest.
Red Wines
Many commentators and merchants have talked-up the reds right from the start and in some cases still continue to do so. In general it is fair to say that they lack the obvious class and elegance and though have some sweet fruits with soft tannins, they lack concentration. One or two growers have produced wines that have merits but in general there are few wines that deserve serious attention.
White Wines
The whites were harvested with the lowest levels of acidity and in most cases the wines have turned out monolithic, flabby and uninteresting. In addition to the lack of acidity some of the wines have a level of astringency. There really are none that are of sufficient interest to merit serious consideration and should have been consumed by now.

Best Red Wines of the Vintage

Red Wines of the Vintage

Gevrey Chambertin: Chambertin (JL Trapet), Chambertin Clos de Bèze (Rousseau), Chambertin Clos de Bèze VV (Perrot-Minot), Chapelle Chambertin (Ponsot), Gevrey Chambertin Clos Saint Jacques (Rousseau), Ruchottes Chambertin (Christophe Roumier)

Morey Saint Denis: Clos de la Roche (Ponsot), Clos  de Tart (Mommessin)

Chambolle Musigny:

Vosne Romanée: Échezeaux (Grivot), Grands Échezeaux (DRC), Richebourg (Anne Gros), Richebourg (Hudelot-Noëllat), Vosne Romanée Les Beaux Monts (Grivot), Vosne Romanée Aux Brülées (Grivot), Vosne Romanée Aux Malconsorts (Sylvain Cathiard)

Nuits Saint Georges: Nuits Saint Georges Vaucrains (Chevillon), Nuits Saint Georges Aux Murgers (Meo Camuzet)

Aloxe Corton: Corton Clos des Cortons (Faiveley)

Pommard: Pommard Clos des Epeneaux (Comte Armand)

Volnay: Volnay Santenots du Milieu (Comtes Lafon)

Best White Wines of the Vintage

White Wines of the Vintage
Pernand Vergelesses/Aloxe Corton: Corton Charlemagne (Henri Boillot)

Meursault: Meursault (Coche Dury), Meursault Les Rougeots (Coche Dury)

Puligny Montrachet: Chevalier Montrachet (Domaine Leflaive)