Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 90-93
WA 93
Sweet berry and coffee aromas follow through to a full body, with reserved yet silky tannins and a long and juicy finish. Balanced and refined. Dense. Score range: 90-93 –JS
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Côtes de Castillon
WA 93
This is a gorgeous effort, made from a blend of 80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Cropped at 22 hectoliters per hectare from their clay over limestone soils, the wine displays oodles of new oak, crushed chalk, and blueberry and blackberry fruit with hints of raspberries and pen ink. It is full-bodied and layered, with a fleshy, even succulent mid-palate and a long, long finish. This is terrific Castillon to drink over the next 10-15+ years. Note the name change with the dropping of the ?Les? in between ?Clos? and ?Lunelles.? This property was acquired by Gerard and Chantal Perse in 2001, and has been the reference point for how terrific Cotes de Castillon wines can be, although in 2009 it has to take a backseat to Silvio Denz's Cap de Faugeres remarkable Mouleyre.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Pessac-Léognan
WA 91
Another impressive offering from proprietor Stephan von Neipperg, this blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot displays classic notes of wet gravel as well as jammy, smoky, sweet red and black currants, raspberries and forest floor. A classic Pessac-Leognan with the lush, opulent style of 2009 well-displayed, this is a seductive, full-bodied, fleshy wine to drink over the next 10-12 years.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
Only 800 bottles (less than 70 cases!) of this superb wine were produced by Jean-Luc Thunevin's cellarmaster, Remi Dalmasso, as his "pet project." Incredibly dark in color and made in a modernist style, the nose has intense aromas of crushed black fruits and vanilla. On the palate the flavors of dark fruit and spices are intense and powerful, but well defined and superbly balanced. Very limited quantity available!
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - Côtes de Castillon
WA 91
The 2009 vintage of this stunner from the home estate of star consulting winemaker Stephane Derenoncourt is dark, almost inky in color, with ripe, dark berry fruit and new oak on the nose. It is full-bodied with excellent concentration and flavors of cassis, vanilla, and earth on the palate. Robert Parker has described the wines from this estate as "hedonistic" in past vintages and the 2009 continues that trend. We tasted many Right Bank wines that were over the top, but this was showing perfect balance with excellent length and good acidity on the finish.
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux - St.-Emilion
WS 90-93
Intense aromas of mineral, toasty oak and dried flowers, with cool and dark fruits. Full-bodied, with a lovely silky texture and a racy, fine finish. Serious for the second wine of Valandraud. Score range: 90-93 –JS