1 | Wine | $20 to $50, 86 or higher | Page 5

"The 2009 Rayne-Vigneau is one of the stars of the vintage. It has a very well defined, almost understated nose with white peach, apricot and lime leaf: very pretty and succinct. The palate is very well balanced, beautifully defined with real minerality showing through the viscous, botrytized fruit. Great tension here, effortlessly counterbalancing the richness to perfection."

"An excellent wine from a challenging vintage, with aromas of black cherry and spice opening to rich wild berry, mineral and toasty sage flavors that wrap around a concentrated core of acidity and tannins."

"Its deep ruby/purple color, notes of sweet black currants, incense, camphor, and spice box, and medium to full-bodied style are accompanied by a wine with excellent fruit intensity, purity, and length. It should drink well for 10-15 years. Good value." -Robert Parker

"Merlot displays classic tobacco leaf and smoky barbecue notes along with rich black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied, seductive, attractively up-front style. Some Asian plum sauce is also noticeable in this complex, evolved and delicious wine, which can be drunk over the next 10-15 years. It is a sleeper of the vintage." -Robert Parker

"This is a big, serious, back-strapping wine meant for long-term aging. In fact, I wouldn-t touch it for another 4-5 years. It is clearly the most masculine, concentrated and structured wine of the Canon-Fronsac area. A lot of Merlot is in the wine, but Cabernet Franc and possibly a little Cabernet Sauvignon are also included. This inky purple wine displays notes of Asian plum sauce, creme de cassis and blackberry liqueur as well as a hint of lead pencil shavings. Big, full-bodied, and seriously endowed, this massive Canon-Fronsac needs time to calm down. However, everything is present - acidity, tannin, extract and substantial richness. This is an impressive wine as well as a sleeper of the vintage."-Robert Parker

"Fresh boysenberry and purple plum are garlanded with bitter-sweet flowers; tinged with brown spices; underlain with clean red meatiness; and suffused with saliva-liberating salinity in a Pinot of refined tannins and outstanding persistence."

"It is my opinion that Taylor's tawny ports are the best of their type. Although I find the Thirty Year Old Tawny admirable, I prefer the richer, more vibrant Twenty Year Old Tawny.'

"This has a very primal nose. ...the oak exposed at the moment although there is obviously a great deal of fruit concentration underneath. The palate is well balanced, a little oaky on the entry, dried honey, lemon curd, apricot and orange peel towards the linear finish. Tightly coiled Sauternes, quite modern in style, this should develop over 8-10 years in the bottle before really opening up and one hopes, evolve a little more "personality"."

"The 2009 is one of the greatest wines ever produced from the estate. It has a riveting bouquet of quince, honey, pear and a touch of clarified butter that is beautifully defined, offering scents of yellow flowers with continued aeration. It is a little heavier and more intense than its peers at this stage. The palate is beautifully balanced with perfectly judged acidity and immense purity. The finish offers crisp honey, quince and clementine notes laden with botrytis that is counterpoised by wonderful acidity. It possesses an unerring sense of completeness and composure that is irresistible. Bravo! Drink now-2050."