90 points
Pessac-Leognan. 14.5%
Rich, attractive, though this is pushing ripeness to the limit for Pessac. Greater concentration than earlier vintages, but I think I miss the open-knit Chateau Browns of less opulent vintages.
I suspect this change is as much to do with the Chateau as the vintage. I hope they don’t continue further on this path. They have done well but know risk losing regional typicité.
84 points
Anjou. 13%
I don’t think I have tried Anjou Blanc before, though I have had many nearby Chenin Blancs.
This is a bit disappointing. Green acid dominates. Leave for 3 years at least.
89 points
St Emilion. 13.5%
Apparently between two top estates. Smokey approachable, surprisingly soft.
90 points
Pauillac. 13%
Surprisingly fresh and approachable for 2005. This seems to be the way with classed growths while some of the well reviewed minor wines still don’t seem to opened up – I’m beginning to think they never will.
I believe I have a case of this lost in my cellar so hopefully will get to try this over the next 20 years
91 points
Pauillac. 13.5%
Fine delicious claret. Still oaky. Yet should drink relatively earlier than similar weight vintages like 2004.
87 points
Graves. 12.5%
Hints of the richness of 2009 but disappointingly dilute.
88 points
Nice wine but if I’d cellared it for 25 years or so I’d be disappointed. Fairly robust structure still underpinned by acidity. Little in the way of delicious aged characters – just slowly fading.
Is this the vintage, 1986 had high Parker ratings but 1985 was always the classier vintage, less powerful but it has aged with grace. Perhaps not so for 1986? Or is it Haut-Bages Liberal?
91 points
Margaux. 13%
Perhaps a little two modern but this is very attractive. Supple, rich yet refreshing. Has considerable charm, in spite of youth, unintegrated oak.
87 points
Pessac-Leognan. 13.5%
After enjoying Ch. Haut-Bergy 2009 and Ch. Barde-Haut 2001 so much I had high hopes for this more expensive wine from the same stable.
Raw, brawny, quite tannic. Lacks the charm that some (Ch.D’Issan) have in 2008.
Will improve with time. On the 3rd day after opening (kept carefully in half bottle in fridge) it had improved a great deal, silky, though with jarring oak tannin on finish.
92+ points
Pessac-Leognan. 13.5%
Great wine. Modern, but then so many of the 2009s appear to be modern, more New World. Yet this retains the style & flavour of Pessac-Leognan.
It’s very good now but should age gracefully.
Owned by the Garcin family who also own Chateau Barde-Haut in St Emilion. Also a great performer lately.
89 points
Médoc. Cru Bourgeois. 13.5%
Another well priced 2009 Bordeaux performing at its best. It really is a great buyer’s vintage for non classed growths.
Fairly open knit, rich yet fresh. Already drinking well.
88+ points
Margaux. 13%
Disappointingly lacks the usual elegance of Rauzan-Segla. Quite brawny with heavy expensive oak. Almost Californian.
Best from 2018.
One year later – similar but this time I noticed the brawny tannins more than the oak. A touch of 2003 about this wine. Lacks the usual Rauzan-Segla elegance. It may come right, but I expect it will be for a brief period. Risky. Drink over next 5 years.
88 points. 13.5%
Very dry. Some oxidation from oaking, but searing acid too. Flavoursome but I really don’t think Chenin Blanc benefits from this much oak.
89 points
13%
Flavoursome. Bit too oaky for me but that is true to the Montrachet style. Good wine.
90 points
St Julien. 13%
Savoury, touch green, but with deep juicy blood like core.
90 points
Pauillac. 13%. 2nd wine of Grand Puy-Lacoste.
Delicious claret in an open knit accessible but still quite classic, refreshing, acidic style. Smokey nose.
Classy wine. Good value, a serious glimpse into Cru Classé class.
90+ points
Chablis, Burgundy. 13%. Diam.
Good fine Chablis. Quite rich. Without the piercing acidity of some lessor Chablis.
Reminded me of top class cool climate Australian chardonnay – which says how far Australia has come recently.
91+ points
Haut-Medoc. 13%
This is serious deep claret, with the classic freshness of 2004. Should provide a good deal of pleasurable drinking over the next decade or so. Best kept for another 5 years in a cool cellar if you can resist temptation.
2nd bottle – much more open knit, reminds me of a Graves style. Rather fine drinking now, complexity of age showing.
84 points
Saint-Chinian, Languedoc. 13.5%
Simple, but good Shiraz (70%) blend.
88+ points
Haut-Medoc. 13%
Well crafted, good 2nd wine of Cantemerle. It may be particularly good in this great vintage I don’t know. Good value. Should last a decade easily.
89+ points
Margaux. 14%
An old (150 years) estate unfamiliar to me.
Rich, good potential, though like many 2009 enjoyable now.
85 points
Haut-Medoc. 13%
Solid but a bit plain. Perhaps like many 2005 still closed.
88 points
Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux. 12.5%
Rather classic. Touch green and rustic, but good food wine. Entering its drinking window now til 2020.
85 points
Simple sound Burgundy.
91 points
Serve & Maine, Loire. 12.5%
Muscadet is usually thought of as cheap supermarket wine, useful dry white to wash down Oysters. But here is another profound Loire Muscadet. And 8 years old too!
In perfect condition, I guess it’s been in a cold Loire cellar. Impossible to guess the age by the nose.
Perhaps the creaminess on the palate gives it away but this is still fresh. Quite intense, juicy. Exciting wine.
86 points
Côtes de Bourg. 14%
Good rich simple claret.
Wine Reviews & Comments 