Vieux Château Champs de Mars 'Johanna' 2003

Wine Type: Red
Style: Mature, traditionally made Right Bank Bordeaux; savory, earthy, elegant, complex
Vintage: 2003
Bottle Size: 750ml
Grape Variety: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Côtes de Castillon AOC
Country: France
Region: Castillon, Bordeaux
Producer: Vieux Château Champs de Mars
Winemaker: Régis Moro
Vineyard: Estate vineyards in Castillon, east of Saint-Émilion
Soil: Clay-limestone
Farming: Organic and biodynamic practices; traditional, minimal-intervention winemaking
Alcohol: Not confirmed for the 2003 vintage
Fermentation: Spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts; traditional, low-intervention vinification
Aging: Traditional cellar aging; exact élevage not confirmed for the 2003 vintage
Food Pairings: Roast lamb, duck confit, braised beef, mushroom ragù, roasted game birds, aged Comté, lentils, herb-roasted vegetables

Tasting Note:
Vieux Château Champs de Mars “Johanna” 2003 is a rare glimpse into mature, traditionally made Bordeaux from one of the region’s early advocates of natural winemaking. More than two decades of aging have allowed the wine to develop layers of dried cherry, plum, tobacco, cedar, leather, forest floor, and savory spice. The exceptionally warm 2003 vintage brings depth and generosity, while softened tannins and earthy complexity give the wine an elegant, fully mature character. A fascinating library release that rewards patience, good food, and a little time in the glass.

About the Producer:

Vieux Château Champs de Mars was established in the early 1980s by Régis Moro and his family in Castillon, just east of Saint-Émilion. A pioneer of organic and biodynamic farming in Bordeaux, Moro embraced native fermentations, minimal intervention, and traditional winemaking long before these practices became widespread. His philosophy closely aligned with that of the neighboring Amoreau family at Château Le Puy, emphasizing purity, freshness, and vineyard expression over extraction and heavy oak.

In 2022, the Amoreau family acquired the estate, along with an extraordinary collection of library vintages preserved in its cellar. These mature releases offer a rare glimpse into naturally made Bordeaux from a producer decades ahead of his time. “Johanna” 2003 is a particularly compelling example, combining the warmth of the vintage with the complexity and elegance of more than twenty years of bottle age.