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 (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 Advocate (95)

Last in the lineup is the 2009 Barolo Sori Ginestra that incorporates many of the high points of the two wines described above. You get the toasted spiciness of the Barolo Vigna del Gris as well as the Nebbiolo brightness of the Barolo Mosconi. In between those two poles are shades of licorice, spice, balsam notes, crushed granite and cedar. The wine is stacked tall, one plush layer on top of the next and the palate is rewarded with a lovely quality of tannin that is firm and unyielding but also polished and tight at the same time. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2030.

Wine Advocate (95)

Last in the lineup is the 2009 Barolo Sori Ginestra that incorporates many of the high points of the two wines described above. You get the toasted spiciness of the Barolo Vigna del Gris as well as the Nebbiolo brightness of the Barolo Mosconi. In between those two poles are shades of licorice, spice, balsam notes, crushed granite and cedar. The wine is stacked tall, one plush layer on top of the next and the palate is rewarded with a lovely quality of tannin that is firm and unyielding but also polished and tight at the same time. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2030.

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.

Vinous (94)

Deep, bright ruby. Highly complex, expansive scents of ripe dark berries, cherry pie, mocha, pipe tobacco and vanilla, with a smoky overtone. Sweet, deep blackberry and floral pastille flavors are complicated by notes of spicecake and bitter chocolate, showing unlikely vivacity on the back half. This ripe and rich but elegant Rioja combines finishes supple, smoky and very long, with velvety tannins making a late appearance to add grip.

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.

An extraordinary vintage, the d'Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet En La Richarde 2009 teems with eloquent Burgundian finesse. Crafted under the watchful expertise of renowned winemaker Lalou Bize-Leroy, its origin is the cherished terroir of Puligny-Montrachet, nestled in the heart of Burgundy. This exquisite Chardonnay, produced in minuscule quantities, unveils complex layers of ripe fruit, pared beautifully alongside a seamless mineral backbone and finely honed acuity.

Benefiting from meticulous biodynamic farming, this wine matures in French oak barrels, with partial malolactic fermentation inducing a voluptuous creaminess. A superior expression of its vintage, it harmonises dazzling acidity with generous ripeness. The captivating intensity of the d'Auvenay Puligny-Montrachet En La Richarde 2009 truly delivers the epitome of elegance, setting a benchmark for white Burgundy. With a potential to evolve, this wine cements d'Auvenay as a much-coveted producer in the annals of fine wine.

Wine Advocate (100)

Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind blowing. Pure perfection.

Wine Advocate (100)

Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi, acacia honey, candied ginger, musk perfume and frangipani. Full-bodied and full-on hedonic in the mouth, the rich, tightly wound layers are still amazingly youthful with bags of citrus sparks and an incredibly long, perfumed finish. Possessing a residual sugar of 157 grams per liter and 13.6% alcohol as well as a laser-focused line of freshness, the rock-solid structure and through-the-roof opulence here is simply mind blowing. Pure perfection.