1 | Wine | Saint Emilion, 91 to 95, 2009

"The 2009 Fombrauge has the potential to be the finest wine ever made at this property. Michel Rolland is the consulting oenologist in the vineyard, which sits in the southern sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Christophe des Bardes. It was picked very late in 2009, and the result is a powerhouse wine with an inky blue/purple color and the smell of pen ink, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries and cassis. The wine hit 15% natural alcohol, which gives it lots of glycerin as well as a full-bodied intensity, while the low yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare have provided a striking level of concentration and length. This is very serious wine from an estate that is on the upswing. It should benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades." Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"The 2009 Fombrauge has the potential to be the finest wine ever made at this property. Michel Rolland is the consulting oenologist in the vineyard, which sits in the southern sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Christophe des Bardes. It was picked very late in 2009, and the result is a powerhouse wine with an inky blue/purple color and the smell of pen ink, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries and cassis. The wine hit 15% natural alcohol, which gives it lots of glycerin as well as a full-bodied intensity, while the low yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare have provided a striking level of concentration and length. This is very serious wine from an estate that is on the upswing. It should benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades."

"My favorite Beau-Sejour-Becot to date, this sumptuous, dense blue/purple-hued 2009 reveals a blockbuster nose of blueberry pie, black fruits, licorice, forest floor, spring flowers and a hint of mocha. A blend of 70% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon made from tiny yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare, this big, inky, powerful, tannic wine is sensationally concentrated. With an unctuous texture, full-bodied power and tremendous levels of tannin (largely concealed behind a cascade of rich fruit), this is a fabulous effort from a beautifully situated St.-Emilion premier grand cru classe. It will need 5-8 years of cellaring, and should keep for three decades."-Robert Parker

"The opaque purple-colored 2009 reveals an extraordinary nose of mulberries, black cherries, charcoal, barbecue smoke and forest floor. Rich, full-bodied and opulent with silky tannins as well as a broad, unctuous texture, this beauty can be enjoyed now and over the next 15+ years."-Robert Parker

"Finally we have returned to the great La Dominiques made in 1989 and 1990. This has much of the style of the 1990, with supple tannin and loads of spicy fruitcake, licorice, cassis and kirsch-like notes that jump from this dense ruby/purple wine. Fat, fleshy and full-bodied, with beautiful richness, purity and length, this wine will be approachable in its youth yet last for two decades (just like the 1989 and 1990)."-Robert Parker

"Hyperlush, with very creamy fig, blackberry and boysenberry flavors that stay well-defined, as charred apple wood, black tea and singed vanilla bean notes stride in behind. The long, authoritative finish drips with fruit and toasted spice, offering grip for balance. Very impressive."

"A fleshy, inviting style, with lots of crushed fig and steeped blackberry fruit woven with warmed cocoa and pain d'épices, all backed by a distinctly racy graphite note. Stays fleshy through the finish without being heavy."

"A good value among over-achieving St.-Emilion estates is La Fleur Cardinale’s 2009. Composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, some of the abrasive tannins noticeable early on in this big wine (14.5% alcohol) are now sweeter and better integrated. Made from tiny yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare, this is a concentrated, rich effort revealing lots of black cherry and black currant fruit as well as a fragrant, firm, full-bodied personality. It should be at its best between 2016 and 2030." -Reviewed by Robert Parker.

"The 2009 Fombrauge has the potential to be the finest wine ever made at this property. Michel Rolland is the consulting oenologist in the vineyard, which sits in the southern sector of St.-Emilion known as St.-Christophe des Bardes. It was picked very late in 2009, and the result is a powerhouse wine with an inky blue/purple color and the smell of pen ink, acacia flowers, blueberries, black raspberries and cassis. The wine hit 15% natural alcohol, which gives it lots of glycerin as well as a full-bodied intensity, while the low yields of 27 hectoliters per hectare have provided a striking level of concentration and length. This is very serious wine from an estate that is on the upswing. It should benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades."

"One of my favorite St.-Emilion boutique vineyards, La Clotte’s 10 acres of vines average 40-years of age. The 2009 (80% Merlot and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc) offers a beautifully sweet, ripe, opulent texture (typical for this estate) in addition to a dense purple color, and abundant notes of licorice, smoked herbs, meat, and black fruits. Full-bodied and viscous with great precision and fresh acids (the paradoxical characteristic of this vintage), it combines enormous fruit and extraction with off the chart tannins as well as remarkable finesse and elegance. This 2009 should drink well for two decades or more." 92-94 pts, reviewed by Robert Parker.