Vinous (95)

The 2009 Charmes-Chambertin is absolutely stunning today. Black cherries, freshly cut flowers, mint, tar, licorice and spices are woven together in a fabric of exceptional class and elegance. A flashy, extroverted finish captures the essence of the very best qualities of the year and the house style.

The Clauzet 2009 is a striking embodiment of French winemaking tradition. This illustrious red wine hails from the Saint-Estèphe appellation in the distinguished winemaking region of Bordeaux, France. Crafted by the eminent Château Clauzet, renowned for meticulous winemaking methods, it truly showcases the hallmark elegance of Bordeaux blends.

Clauzet 2009 captivates the palate with a sterling display of well-structured tannins, layered with intense blackcurrant and cherry nuances, delicately ensnared by hints of earthy truffles and exquisite spice. This masterpiece demonstrates a laudable maturity, attributable to a careful blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, and its prolonged ageing in high-quality oak barrels. The result is a harmoniously balanced fine wine that possesses an impressive cellaring potential.

Savour the exceptional length and depth of flavour that the Clauzet 2009 has to offer. This sophisticated expression of French terroir is a superb choice for the discerning connoisseur.

James Suckling (95)

What an amazing nose of lead pencil shavings and dark fruits. Stunning. Full bodied, with super silky tannins and an amazing depth of fruit. Polished and refined. Gorgeous. 50% Cabernet Sauivgnon, 44% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Carmaere. Best after 2017.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

97-99 Barrel sample. A tasting from several barrels, because the chateau has not made the final blend, so the rating is provisional. But the wine is so rich, with an almost perfect balance of acidity and ripeness, allied to a complete purity of honeyed botrytis. However the final wine turns out, it will be magnificent.

Wine Spectator (95-98)

Blackberry and mineral aromas, with flowers. Full-bodied, but reserved and supersilky and pretty. This is the bomb. Forget the 1989. Score range: 95-98 -JS

James Suckling (94-95)

This is the best Clos du Marquis ever made. Structured and very rich, with flavors of currants, berries, and flowers. A baby Las Cases. Full and fine, with firm tannins and a mineral character. More Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than before. Barrel sample.

James Suckling (94-95)

This is the best Clos du Marquis ever made. Structured and very rich, with flavors of currants, berries, and flowers. A baby Las Cases. Full and fine, with firm tannins and a mineral character. More Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than before. Barrel sample.

Experience the revered elegance of the Clos Floridene Blanc 2009. Skilfully curated by vintners Denis and Florence Dubourdieu, this exquisite wine hails from Graves, the birthplace of Bordeaux wines. The Dubourdieu family brings their scientific expertise through rigorous vineyard management and breakthrough winemaking techniques, ensuring the purest expression of terroir.

Enjoy the beautiful blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc in Clos Floridene Blanc 2009 - two emblematic varietals of the Graves region. Exceptionally hand-picked, these grapes are vinified and aged in French oak barrels, contributing to its stunning complexity. The wine reveals enchanting aromas of citrus and white fruit, evolving into luscious honey and butter notes on the palate, signifying its ageing potential.

A wine not to be missed, Clos Floridene Blanc 2009 expresses elegance, depth, and exuberance that is the epitome of the Graves' landscape.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

95-97 Barrel sample. Black, dense fruits, licorice and dark chocolate over prunes and ripe figs. This is a spicy wine, with the acidity of the fruit forming a great balancing counterweight. Very complete.

Wine Advocate (98)

The 2009 is one of the sexiest wines in Pomerol in this vintage, offering up notes of melted caramel, sweet mocha, blackberry and black cherry fruit, with hints of loamy soil and unsmoked cigar tobacco as well as a touch of white chocolate and some subtle toasty oak. Round, opulent and unctuously textured, with a full-bodied mouthfeel, fabulous purity, and no hard edges, this sumptuous, fleshy, lavishly rich Pomerol can be drunk now and over the next 25 years.

Vinous (93)

Dark ruby with a blackish core. Vibrant nose offers aromas of blackberry, licorice and bitter chocolate lifted by a floral note. Rich, velvety and plush, with mineral pungency and refreshing acidity giving shape to the broad, sweet berry fruit on the palate. With its lush tannins and outstanding length, this wonderfully dense, concentrated cabernet franc has the breed of a fine Saint-Emilion.

Wine Advocate (90)

The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape retains a vibrant dark hue, but it has moved into a savory, meaty, mushroomy phase. It's still full-bodied and supple, turning silky and warm on the finish. Drink up.

Vinous (94)

Full ruby. An exotic, highly perfumed bouquet evokes red and dark berry preserves, star anise and a whiff of Grand Marnier. Juicy, palate-coating raspberry and boysenberry flavors show a felicitous blend of power and vivacity, with no rough edges and slow-building spiciness. Closes on a sweet note, with lingering anise and floral notes.

Wine Advocate (100)

More flamboyant, open and exotic, with notes of kirsch liqueur, cassis, toasted almonds, sandalwood, lavender, and crushed flowers that you can smell from across the room, the 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Sanctus Sanctorum expands on the palate, with incredible concentration, building, sweet tannin and a finish that just won’t quit. Where the 2010 cuts a more focused path, this puppy is overflowing with fruit and texture. It too is a perfect wine that will evolve for another couple decades, yet given this showing, don’t hesitate to crack bottles over the coming couple of years.

Wine Advocate (95)

A blend of 75% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that hit 14% natural alcohol, the wine has an extraordinary purity and vivaciousness in 2009. Dense ruby/purple, with beautiful black currant and black cherry notes as well as hints of raspberry and spring flowers, despite the fact that 100% new French oak is used, it is completely buried beneath a cascade of glorious fruit. The wine is extremely aromatic, with great intensity and beautiful balance. Unlike most vintages, it is somewhat accessible because of the vintage’s low acidity and higher alcohols and should drink well for up to 20 years.

Vinous (87)

The 2009 Bourgogne Rouge is a flashy, exuberant wine with lovely fleshiness at this level. Sweet red berries, flowers and spices are some of the nuances that emerge from this radiant, tasty Bourgogne.

Vinous (98)

There were no reservations about the stellar white. The 2009 Meursault Les Perrières 1er Cru from Domaine Jean-François Coche-Dury is riveting from start to finish. Laser-like precision on the killer nose, it threatens to overwhelm the olfactory senses. Struck flint, citrus peel and linden, it gains intensity with aeration without ever losing an ounce of its breath-taking delineation. The palate followed suit with ethereal balance, perfect acidity, astonishing energy and a mineral-rich finish that leaves you lost for words. After 13-years, this Meursault is at its peak, though I cannot foresee any decline in the near future. Such is the magic of Coche-Dury.

Vinous (94)

Deep but bright aromas of crushed stone and cherry-almond. Fat and opulent; stuffed with soft citrus, spice and stone flavors. A wine of impressive volume, power and fullness but rather backward today. Finishes with lovely balance and superb length. Despite the wine's sheer size and ripeness, the terroir of Rougeots dominates the vintage.

Vinous (93)

De Vogüé's 2009 Chambolle-Musigny was even better, as the vintage is so well suited to near-term drinking, especially at the village level. Totally seductive and engaging, the 2009 Chambolle was a thrill a minute to drink. There are times when wine is all about pure, unrestrained pleasure. This was one of those moments. What a fabulous bottle!

Wine Advocate (96)

Tasted at the Comte Liger-Belair vertical at the Château de Vosne. The 2009 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Reignots has a divine bouquet, beautifully defined with precise red cherries, blood orange, wild strawberry and striking mineral scents that elevate this Aux Reignots above previous vintages. The palate is very precise and poised, very animated and tense, the oak seamlessly integrated. This is a class act, the one that really gets hold of this premier cru and exploits it to the full. This is wonderful. Tasted June 2015.

Wine Advocate (93+)

The 2009 Vosne-Romanee Les Petits Monts comes across as rich, deep and very powerful. It boasts tons of energy and sheer texture. Sweet notes of tobacco, licorice, menthol and crushed flowers come together in the glass. Ultimately structure prevails in defining the wine’s personality. This is going to be a fun wine to taste in a few years, once the tannins have softened a bit. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029.

Vinous (94)

The 2009 Meursault Genevrières wraps around the palate with layers of fruit. The 60 year-old vines add serious muscle and depth in this gorgeous, weighty Genevrières. A textured, expressive finish rounds things out in style.

Vinous (89-92)

(14.4% alcohol, with a pH of 3.9) Ruby-red. Very southern aromas of chocolate liqueur and garrigue: this could be Chateauneuf. Lush, sweet and hugely rich, with powerful, roasted dark fruit and smoke flavors. Finishes with substantial but very ripe tannins. A rather extreme and outsized wine: I never would have picked it as Gevrey-Chambertin, much less Charmes.

Wine Spectator (89-92)

Floral and sweet berry aromas follow through to a full body. A little hard, but shows solid tannins and good fruit. Chewy. Score range: 89-92 -JS

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Another magical wine from this property, the 2009 Château Cos D'Estournel reminds me slightly of the 2005 with its incredibly rich, powerful, opulent style married to stunning finesse and elegance. Still youthful yet with a touch of maturity, its deep ruby/plum color is followed by classic Saint-Estèphe notes of blackcurrants, dried tobacco, loamy earth, Asian spices, and licorice. Deep, full-bodied, and massive on the palate, it's flawlessly balanced and has building tannins hiding under its wealth of fruit, with no hard edges and a great, great finish. This tour de force is still 5-7 years away from maturity and is a legendary wine to follow over the coming 40-50 years.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Another magical wine from this property, the 2009 Château Cos D'Estournel reminds me slightly of the 2005 with its incredibly rich, powerful, opulent style married to stunning finesse and elegance. Still youthful yet with a touch of maturity, its deep ruby/plum color is followed by classic Saint-Estèphe notes of blackcurrants, dried tobacco, loamy earth, Asian spices, and licorice. Deep, full-bodied, and massive on the palate, it's flawlessly balanced and has building tannins hiding under its wealth of fruit, with no hard edges and a great, great finish. This tour de force is still 5-7 years away from maturity and is a legendary wine to follow over the coming 40-50 years.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Another magical wine from this property, the 2009 Château Cos D'Estournel reminds me slightly of the 2005 with its incredibly rich, powerful, opulent style married to stunning finesse and elegance. Still youthful yet with a touch of maturity, its deep ruby/plum color is followed by classic Saint-Estèphe notes of blackcurrants, dried tobacco, loamy earth, Asian spices, and licorice. Deep, full-bodied, and massive on the palate, it's flawlessly balanced and has building tannins hiding under its wealth of fruit, with no hard edges and a great, great finish. This tour de force is still 5-7 years away from maturity and is a legendary wine to follow over the coming 40-50 years.

James Suckling (93)

Intense aromas of sliced mushrooms, blackberries and spices follow through to a full body, with sweet, ripe fruit, velvety tannins and a fresh clean finish. Tangy and fresh. Best ever from here and one of the values of the vintage. Best in 2016.

Chateau d’Armailhac is typically light in style for Bordeaux yet with plenty of Pauillac character. The 2009 is higher in Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a deeper ruby colour with more spice and cedar notes. Wine from this great vintage will improve for well over a decade.