3 | Wine | Red, Burgundy, 91 or higher

"With a somewhat fresher and very red pinot-infused nose that is followed by detailed, intense and firm medium-bodied flavors that possess good energy and punch on the mouth coating and somewhat linear finish. I like this as it has good development potential as well as a bit more mid-palate flesh though it is not a classic young Beaune as the mouth feel is somewhat stern."
Reviewed by: Allan Meadows

"Reticent nose hints at redcurrant, cherry, smoke, menthol and mocha. Juicy, fine-grained and concentrated; in an essentially tender style but with very good definition and lift. Lovely perfume and energy for 2009. Really resounds on the back end, with fine tannins dusting the entire palate." 90-93 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Perfumed aromas of cherry, redcurrant, licorice and crushed stone. Sweet, pliant and concentrated; at once very ripe and elegant, with lovely lift for the vintage. Wonderfully expressive, penetrating wine, finishing with tangy red fruits and minerals and a light touch." 91-94 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"The 2009 Beaune Clos des Couchereaux is impressive. Silky tannins frame a radiant, expressive core of fruit. This is a beautiful, refined Beaune that should drink well right out of the gate. Clean mineral notes frame the gorgeous finish, where floral notes add lift and freshness." 90-92 pts.

"Redcurrant, cherry and ripe herbs on the nose, complicated by subtle soil tones. Sweet, silky, pliant and fairly full; this really spreads out to coat the plate. A very horizontal style of wine, and nicely filled in from the start. Finishes broad, ripe and classically dry, with very good persistence and a medicinal reserve." 90-93 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Complex, soil-driven aromas of dark berries, cherry, licorice, pepper and minerals, lifted by a note of blood orange. Juicy, intensely flavored and imploded; taut and powerful yet at the same time elegant. The crop level here was close to 50 hectoliters per hectare, noted Lardiere, but the grapes were small and no saignee was done. The long finish shows a distinctly creamy aspect." 92-95 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"Complex aromas of dark fruits, coffee, earth, spices and musky soil tones, with nuances of licorice and ashes. Silky and lush in the mouth, but with lovely sappy energy to the ripe dark fruit and spice flavors. Thanks to its sound natural acidity (it's cooler at the top of the Corton hillside), this cuvee began very reductive, noted Prost. Very long on the aftertaste." 91-93 pts, reviewed by Stephen Tanzer.

"The 2009 Beaune Clos des Ursules is another terrific effort. Nothing in particular stands out, just the wine’s fabulous overall balance. A seamless, beautifully integrated red, the 2009 Clos des Ursules flows across the palate with layers of textured fruit. Silky tannins frame an exceptionally elegant and polished finish." 90-92 pts.

"Black cherry, kirsch distillate, cedar, incense, iron filings, wet stone, and roasted meats and coffee represent a few of the immediate aromatic suggestions forced on this taster. In the mouth, it is similarly compelling, with an eruption of clear black cherry, cassis, and meat juices, faintly bitter notes of fruit skin and pungent herbal and mineral notes adding complexity. The texture is incipiently velvety, imposingly glossy, and a perfect cover for fine, abundant tannins. Spectacularly rich and reverberative in its multifaceted finish, this sensational wine deserves at least a decade of rest before re-opening."