2009 Wine between $75 and $100

The 2009 Tignanello is quite beautiful. Cedar, graphite, sweet herbs, licorice and leather add complexity to a core of highly expressive red fruits. The 2009 impresses for its energy, drive and focus. Today, the 2009 comes across as slightly understated relative to many recent vintages, especially 2007 and 2008. There is a silkiness and polish that is reminiscent of the 2004. Tignanello is 75% Sangiovese, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc from vineyards in San Casciano Val di Pesa, one of the most evocative hillsides in all of Italy. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.

2009 Jensen possesses a deep, rich garnet hue. Luscious aromas of cranberry, violets, granite, turmeric and raspberry torte mix with an alluring bouquet of peppery nutmeg and black cherry. This fascinating wine offers flavors of baking spice, ripe strawberries, rhubarb pie, chalky minerality and sweet berry wrapped around a juicy, elegant core of fine grained tannins, then trails off to a long, pleasurable finish.

This 2009 Selleck Vineyard Pinot Noir is fascinating and simply stunning. It begins with evocative flowing aromas of gardenia, red currant, cranberry, flinty minerality, pine and faint black licorice. Flavors are concentrated, intense and velvety; lingonberry, dark cherry, a whisper of cinnamon and citrus rind, and seamlessly encompass the palate with a texture that is graceful, broad and beautifully balanced, then lingers slowly on into a juicy, almost ethereal, mouthwatering finish.

When we tasted the 2009 Langoa Barton with Lilian Barton at her office in St. Julien, we were expecting a well-made, delicious wine, but we couldn't have been more impressed! A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, it was deep purple in the glass with aromas of blueberries, blackberries and a hint of vanilla and pepper. Although it had one of the highest tannin levels in the history of the estate, they were smooth and well-integrated already. It is one of the best Langoa's we've ever tasted from barrel.

Redolent of blackberry and dark fruits, this also features a fascinating mix of mocha, graphite and tobacco flavors. Very juicy as well, which figures into the finish of fine-grained tannins and spice. An exuberant and refined Vintage Port. Best from 2020 through 2050. 5,000 cases made. ?KM

First, this is not the same as the regular (and very pleasant) Beaune Premier Cru that Louis Jadot offers in many vintages. It is a unique selection of Jadot's best Beaune climats, vinified to Grand Cru standards, including an extra 6 months of aging in mostly new oak. (Note the names of all the vineyards amidst Bacchus's curly locks.) The wine clearly shows the greatness not only of Jadot's winemaking, but of the 2009 vintage, which has an uncanny combination of delectably forward, seamless Pinot Noir fruit allied to a formidable structure for long aging. The wine opens with a stunning bouquet of fresh bing cherries, suffused with gentle notes of vanilla from aging in new oak barrels. On the palate, the bold, pure, indelibly seamless Pinot Noir fruit is framed by a wonderful backbone of abundant, silky tannins. Crisp acidity keeps the finish reassuringly dry, with just the right amount of tautness over the deep red fruit to make you desperate for the next sip. They say this wine can last 30 years and I don't doubt it, but I'm going to have a hard time keeping my hands off it from the day it arrives.
-- Ben Giliberti, CW Director of Wine Education