2003 Fleury Estate Winery “Passionne”

Paul and I recently purchased three bottles of the 2003 Fleury Passionne at the Culture Shapers charity wine auction held in Houston, TX. Culture Shapers is a group of Houston-area businessmen and women who are dedicated to serving student artists in many ways, including unique visual and performing arts contests. If you attend High School in Harris, Waller, Liberty, Chambers, Galveston, Brazoria, Fort Bend or Montgomery counties – you are eligible to compete for more than $100,000 in cash prizes! The Culture Shapers web page can be found at http://www.cultureshapers.com

The Passionne is the flagship wine from Fleury and is a Bordeaux-style blend. Fleury Estate Winery owns 50 acres spanning three vineyards in three appellations and at three elevations: Rutherford, St. Helena, and Howell Mountain. Fleury produces about 3000 total cases of wine a year through winery sales only. The current release also includes a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel/Can blend, three Cabernet Sauvignons and a port. The owner/winemaker is Brian Fleury.

Winery: Fleury Estate Winery

Vintage: 2003

Varietals: Bordeaux-style, exact blend unknown.

Appellation: Napa Valley

Alc: 14.5%

Notes: I cant find anything regarding the 2003 case production, barrel ageing, etc on this wine.

Tasting: On the nose blackberry, blueberry, black cherry fruit, Forrest floor, eucalyptus, cedar, graphite, black pepper, with a nice dusty, rusty mineral component, followed by a hint of vanilla. The wine has a tremendously elegant full body and round mouth-feel with finely grained tannins and well balanced acidity. The finish is very long and pleasant. Go to their website and get this highly allocated wine. It is a gem. http://www.fleurywinery.com/

Rating: 94 JH, 93 PC