Starting out, with a bloody, gamey profile that would be easy to pick out in a blind tasting, the 2003 Cornas Les Murettes offers notions of iron, pepper meat, beef blood and blackcurrants to go with a medium-bodied, supple and evolved feel on the palate. It’s a good bottle of wine to drink over the coming couple of years.
Another estate that wrapped up harvest at the end of August (on the 31st), Domaine Michelas St. Jemms made solid wines in 2003. For the most part, they’re fully mature and will need drinking over the coming handful of years. Both of the Crozes Hermitage releases are still going strong and excellent wines.