Enticing bright yellow-gold color. Subdued but very pure aromas of orange peel, apricot, honey and spices. Supersweet, fat and spicy; wonderfully round, chewy and unctuous. As thick and '03-like as this is, it remains fresh and lively. Not the last word in complexity but this fine-grained wine is delicious already, and finishes with superb, palate-staining persistence. (ST)

This 2003 from this vintage of La Tour Blanche, poured from a half bottle, revels in a golden orange hue in the glass, clearly rich and polished. There follows a nose of intense orange peel, barley sugar, marmalade on toast and white pepper. This is complemented by a quite beautiful palate, showing a voluptuous and velvety core, with seams of powdered orange peel, a sweet and powdery structure, with softly polished acidity, and complex layers of toast, praline and marmalade. Long and voluptuous, velvety with toast and praline in the finish, it culminates in a warm and spicy energy to the finish. All in all this is delicious, and proof that even the 2003s can evolve well.

The La Tour Blanche ‘03 offers yellow flowers, melted candle wax and honey on the nose with Muscat-like aromas developing in the glass. The palate is well-balanced on the entry with lemon curd and honey notes, though it needs just a little more acidity to give it tension and freshness. The finish is quite linear, springs no surprises, and just drifts a little when you seek more tautness and race. Still, this is a pleasurable, if not profound La Tour Blanche. (NM)