2009 French Red Wine Horizontal

“I'm infringing on David Schildknecht’s territory, but he has not yet tasted this wine. From a bio-dynamically farmed estate, this 2009 is a blend of 55% Grenache (from 60- to 75-year-old vines) and 45% Syrah (from 40-year-old vines), all planted in limestone soils, and aged completely in concrete tanks. This remarkable offering is a naked expression of the vivid terroir and excellent fruit found in this region. The incredible aromatics consist of forest floor, spring flowers, sweet black currants, raspberries, licorice, and incense. With a pure, velvety, seamless, full-bodied texture and a finish that lasts 30+ seconds, this wine possesses a stunning integration of acidity, tannin, and alcohol, suggesting this 2009 will age nicely for 3-5 years, possibly as long as a decade. However, it will be hard to resist given its current performance. Bravo!I have followed Chateau Puech Haut for a number of years, and met proprietor Gerald Bru over a decade ago. Bru has employed some extraordinarily talented winemakers, beginning with Michel Rolland, followed by Claude Gros (of Chateau Negly). His current consultant is Philippe Cambie.” (10/2010)

“Wonderful aromas of dark fruits, meat and coffee follow to a full body, with chewy and rich tannins and a long intense finish. This needs until at least 2017 to resolve the chunky tannins. Best ever from here?” (02/2012)

“This opulent, sexy 2009 Rouget is composed of primarily Merlot blended with a touch of Cabernet Franc. Sandy, loamy soil notes interwoven with kirsch and Provencal garrigue jump from the glass of this full-bodied, opulent, rich Pomerol. Abundant fruit on the attack, mid-palate and finish characterize this over-achiever.” (02/2012)

“This rounded wine is dense, with firm tannins that are well molded into its sweet-tasting structure. Packed with ripe fruit...” (02/2013)

“This 18ha estate was the first in Bordeaux to be bought by a Burgundian family, the Labruyères, back in 1992, and appropriately enough they decided to put down roots in Pomerol. Set across clay soils on the plateau, and sandier gravel soils a little lower down, this is a property that I always enjoy following as they have a careful plot-by-plot approach to viticulture and care enormously about terroir expression. Here they have teased out fleshy but restrained flavours in the grapes. The acidity is just a touch higher than some in the vintage but there are wonderful layers of raspberry and blackberry fruits and soft tobacco flavours. It’s ready to drink but will age further. (JA)” (02/2019)

“Very thick. Perfumed. Very sweet and opulent and ambitious. A bit of tannin on the end. You could almost stand a spoon up in this. Clinet? Very rich.” (04/2010)

“The La Gomerie ‘09 is turning out to be a little beauty. It has a very elegant, fleshy bouquet of ripe red cherries, wild strawberry and a hint of marmalade. It is very well defined and pure. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, succulent tannins. It is powerful but refined with a very classy, caressing finish. Delicious – what a great Saint Emilion La Gomerie is becoming. (NM)” (07/2013)

“Bright red-ruby. Inviting aromas of blackcurrant, mocha, cocoa powder, licorice, mint and flowers. Concentrated, fine-grained and vibrant, with highly perfumed flavors of dark berries, cocoa powder, mocha and potpourri spices. Finishes smooth and very long, with nicely integrated tannins. A lovely vintage for this all-Merlot bottling. (ST)” (07/2012)

“The 2009 La Gomerie is tightly wound on the nose, certainly more backwards than its peers, but clean and fresh with blackberry, raspberry coulis, sage and discrete ash/fireside hearth scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well pitched acidity, extremely harmonious with a subtle spiciness towards the Oriental-tinged finish that turns a bit green with time. This has tons of personality and it is very well crafted. (NM)” (03/2019)

“Black cherry, plum, graphite and tobacco flavors show good density in this firm, crisp red. Light herbal notes keep it fresh. Grippy, but focused, pure and dense. (TM, Web-2012)” (04/2012)

“Sweet strawberries, with citrus undertones follow through to a full body, with delicate tannins and a fresh finish.” (02/2012)

“A seductive style of wine, as usual, La Clotte’s blend of generally 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (I do believe a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon is also present) displays spicy, fruity black currant and black cherry notes intermixed with loamy soil undertones, a hint of sagebrush, and herbs. It is a meaty, fleshy, rich wine with moderate tannins and decent acid levels. There is a sense of elegance and purity, but this is not a style that requires a lot of patience from its purchaser. Full-bodied, beautifully round and generous, it is already showing secondary nuances and should drink well for 15-20+ years. (RP)” (02/2012)

“Complex aromas of cocoa powder, spices, pepper and violets. Full body, with ultra-integrated tannins and beautiful fruit. So focused and pretty.” (02/2012)

“Nicely packed and well-delineated, this shows a lovely beam of linzer torte and cassis running through the middle, with mouthwatering spice and mesquite filling in on the side. Rock-solid on the finish. (JM)” (03/2012)

“Darkly tannic wine, packed with dryness. The result is firm at this stage, always likely to be full of tannins, but there is delicious fruit under this dryness. (RV)” (02/2012)

“Tremendously underrated from barrel several years ago, the 2009 Les Gravieres is the best wine proprietor Denis Barraud has ever produced. Yields were not terribly low at 38 hectoliters per hectare, but this wine (made with 100% Merlot and finishing at just under 14% alcohol) has a spectacular, even flamboyant nose of pen ink, graphite, blackberry and black currant liqueur along with hints of subtle smoke and burning embers. On the palate it is full-bodied, with outstanding intensity, a skyscraper-like mid-palate that goes on and on, and an extravagant, even luxurious finish with silky tannins and low acidity. Drink it over the next 15 or so years. Bravo! (RP)” (12/2011)

“The 2009 Château Les Gravieres is a voluptuous, undeniably delicious Saint-Emilion that's drinking at point with its spice-laden red and black fruits, dried tobacco, and underbrush-like aromas and flavors. It's nicely texture and medium to full-bodied, with loads of fruit and a great finish. This beautiful 2009 benefits from a short decant and will continue drinking nicely for another decade.” (11/2020)

“This has a flattering, fleshy feel, with dark smoked mesquite and tobacco notes giving way to cocoa, plum sauce and roasted fig. A solid, hedonistic style, though perhaps a bit obvious for some. (JM)” (03/2012)

“Beautiful fruit of crushed raspberries and cherries, with hints of minerals. Full body, with firm tannins and a chewy finish. Give it two or three years to come together in the bottle.” (03/2012)

“Showing far superior from bottle than it did from cask, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is one of the more gloriously fruity, sumptuously textured wines of St.-Emilion. A pure, hedonistic fruit bomb with terrific texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel and impressive purity and depth, this is a wine worth lining up for to fill up your trunk, since it is usually one of the best values in grand cru classes from St.-Emilion. Drink it over the next 15 or more years. (RP)” (02/2012)

“This focused red is restrained in flavor, but shows excellent balance and concentration. Plum, mineral and toast notes mingle harmoniously over refined tannins, giving way to a floral, spicy finish. Drink now through 2022. (TM)” (03/2012)

“Open, ready to drink, fleshy and enjoyable, great value for money. Brambled black fruits with redcurrant and pomegranate freshness running through, plenty of dark spice and melted tannins. Hard not to say that this is just a great drinking wine, ready to enjoy.” (09/2024)

“This is very ripe with toffee, spice, truffles, and chocolate, as well as ripe-fruit and meat character on the nose and palate. Full body, soft tannins and a flavorful finish.” (01/2019)

“This wine is definitely reaping the benefits of the 2009 vintage. On the modern side, the 2009 Chateau Lilian Ladouys has an opaque purple color with densely packed blackberry, cassis, tobacco, and ash. Very full with round, polished tannins as well as long gripping finish. I have no problem saying this is a candidate to be the sleeper of the 2009 vintage. Chateau Lilian Ladouys is surrounded by big time neighbor's like Chateau Lafite-Rothschild and Cos d'Estournel. (JD)” (03/2012)

“On the toasty, more modern side of the spectrum, with ambitious roasted fig, apple wood and blueberry confiture notes followed by racy graphite, espresso and blackberry pâte de fruit. Not shy, but has the density for balance. *Smart Buys* (JM)” (03/2012)