What a track record Byron has achieved with this single-vineyard wine, despite the hassles of ownership change. The '03 continues the tradition. It's rich and complex in cola, black cherry, coffee, cocoa and cinnamon spice flavors, with the silky elegance you want in a Pinot Noir. Drink now.

The grapes are from Bien Nacido. The wine was made Burgundy-style, and it shows in the creamy, oaky complexities. The flavors range from Chardonnay-like peaches and tropical fruits to sautéed bananas, but it's the acidity that really makes this wine work.

Big oak, big black cherry fruit, big tannins; a real steak wine.

Quite rich on the nose - dense. Full yet refreshing. Precision winemaking. 11 shoots per metre. Crop thinned. Very easy and gentle. South side picked 10 days earlier than the north side. Sits on the Santa Lucia Highlands line.

Definitely Pinot Noir, quite rich. Sweet. But fresh too. Very lively.

Very nice texture with a dry finish...

Deep sandy soils, deep crimson. Dry and very serious. Not at all the California sweetness factor - signs of real potential in this particular fruit.

Rich and tealeaf - sweet and round. Good sweetness and a bit of freshness...

Very rich and deep and sweet but infantile. Quite aggressive and punchy. Not quite knit. Chewy.

Luscious and well balanced on the nose. Very rich and sweet and readier than the 2001 - supple tannins. Dark chocolate and velvet. Long. Slightly astringent finish.

Slight evolution of color on the rim. Highly aromatic...

Very dark crimson. Rich and sweet and pretty focused, almost like a Penedes Cabernet in its frankness! Sweet and vibrant...

Very dark crimson. Beige volcanic rock. Very fresh Cabernet notes. Clone 7. Quite high altitude. Much richer on the palate...

Warmer, riper, richer nose. Want to drink - very rich and ripe and four-square. Dry tannins underneath. Quite deceptive.

Smells somehow roasted yet mountainous - not unlike a high Argentine fruit. Dry finish. Spice and tar. Real vitality in this very exciting, expressive one-place wine.

Richer nose, broader palate - certain pineapple character.

Very floral - as though some Muscat? In fact it's the Musque'. (Rued) clone...

Quite fresh nose (no longer the classic fruit bomb and much drier than of old). Pretty full front palate but lots of acid on the finish. Quite long.

Very rich nose - almost lanolin. Santa Maria bench - a slice of heaven for Chardonnay. Tropical fruit tones. M3 block! Very sleek and polished...

A mix of grapes and diverse growing regions keeps this wine cool juicy and sleek, with black cherry, black olive, blueberry and spice.

Bottle shot of Chateau Vignot on Cover with $35, 2003 Chateau Vignot St-Emilion Grand Cru Review-A joint venture between Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke of Kendall-Jackson and winemaker Pierre Seillan that returns Seillan to his Bordeaux roots. The hot 2003 growing season shows through in the slightly baked plum. Black cherry, red currant and coffee aromas. Good acidity balances the ripeness and soft tannins round it out. -Tim Teichgraeber

Lassegue-Exceptionally well made wine Three out of Three Glasses (only others listed for Saint Emilion are Cheval Blanc and Chateau Ausone) Wine with a high finesse, voluptuous and harmoniuos.