(only 14 barrels were made instead of the usual 30 to 35) Very deep ruby but not black or opaque. An exceptionally ripe nose of plum jam, cassis and blackberry is complemented by a superb range of spices, including clove, anise and cinnamon plus attractive herbal undertones. The incredibly sappy and powerful medium full flavors are sweet and supple yet there is a very firm tannic spine buried beneath the mountain of dry extract. Despite the very high degree of ripeness, this is quite fresh for the vintage with a chewy but mouth coating and palate staining finish that goes on and on. In short, this is an opulent Musigny with superb underlying material and clearly at another level compared to the other wines in the range.

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($350-$500) Medium red-ruby. The purest of these three 2003s today on the nose: blackberry, black raspberry, minerals and mint. Huge and broad in the mouth, with a flavor of slightly jammy blackcurrant. Not at all flat, but Millet notes that the acidity here is a bit lower than that of the 1990 Musigny. Finishes with a major load of late-arriving tannins.

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Unquestionably one of the glories of the vintage, the 2003 Musigny Vieilles Vignes brings forth a highly boisterous nose of spices, violets, roses, plums, blueberries, and black cherries. Deep, powerful, graceful, concentrated, and sensually textured, it slathers the mouth with plums, blueberries, and cherries. Notes of mocha are intermingled with licorice in its exquisitely long finish. This noble wine is crammed with tannin, yet it is sweet and ripe.

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