2009 Domaine Bruno Clavelier Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru "Les Beaux Monts" Vieilles Vignes

“The 2009 Clavelier Beaumonts had been bottled about three months prior to my July visit and was really singing. This is an absolutely superb example of the vintage, jumping from the glass in a blaze of black cherries, dark berries, a touch of pepper, vinesmoke, a complex base of stony soil tones, fresh herbs and espresso. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and black fruity, with great purity on the attack, a rock solid core of fruit, ripe tannins, tangy acids and a lovely sense of reserve on the very long, soil-driven and youthful finish. A superb bottle in the making. 93+” (09/2011)

“This delivers excellent purity to its ripe cherry and currant aromas and flavors. There's a firm structure, too, and fine upper-slope tension and mineral persistence. The mouthwatering finish is long and fruit-filled. (BS)” (05/2012)

“Saturated medium red. Sappy raspberry and crushed rock on the nose and palate, complicated by notes of spices, herbs, pepper and flowers. Sweet but rocky in the mouth, with excellent concentration and energy. Less sweet and more solid than the Brulees, with a very long, rising finish featuring noble tannins. (ST)” (01/2011)

“A ripe Asian spice-box nose is filled with rose petal and red berry fruit aromas that complement well the dense, rich and powerful medium weight plus flavors that brim with dry extract that buffers the firm tannic spine on the mineral-inflected by hugely long finish that is refined but moderately austere. This sophisticated effort is very Vosne and should amply repay up to a decade's worth of cellar time. *Outstanding*” (01/2012)