772 | Wine | 91 or higher | Page 167

This wine was named #37 of Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2012.

"Very balanced and lively, with well-defined flavors of red peach, melon, baked apple and spice. Well-concentrated, with a long, luscious, cream- and vanilla-filled finish. Mouthwatering."

"Bright, dark ruby. Aromas of black cherry, licorice and minerals. A very rocky style in the mouth, with distinctly black flavors of dark berries, violet and minerals. Less pliant and deep than the Materium but in a more powerful style, finishing with serious tannic spine and lingering violet perfume. A rather cool site that's open to afternoon breezes from the west. Well worth following."-Stephen Tanzer

"Smoke, exotic spices, chocolate, black cherry, and blueberry aromas set the stage for a plush, rich, hedonistic wine that will evolve for another 5-7 years and drink well through 2025+."

"The 2009 Clos de la Roche comes across as big, powerful and a touch heavy-handed. This shows tons of richness and depth but lacks the sheer excitement of the estate’s finest wines. The Clos de la Roche is made from purchased wine." 92-95 pts.

"The 2009 Torrione impresses for its sensual inner perfume, silky tannins and gracious overall balance. Sweet red cherries, strawberry jam, crushed flowers, herbs and spices meld together in this tasty red. Torrione isn’t the great bargain it once was, but is still a great introduction to the wines of Petrolo. This medium-bodied, feminine Sangiovese-based red is best enjoyed over the next 5-7 years, while the fruit is vibrant."

"Well-balanced, exhibiting flavors of light toast, Gala apple, honey and ginger, with smoke and mineral notes underscoring hints of tropical pineapple and tangerine fruit. There's lovely texture, with a firm backbone of juicy acidity."

"The wine displays plenty of licorice, Christmas fruitcake, black currants, licorice, truffles and some espresso notes. Full-bodied, viscous and somewhat reminiscent of many 2009s, given its blast of fruit, glycerin and heady alcohol, this is a beautifully rich St.-Emilion for pleasure seekers. Don’t discount its ageability, as I am sure it has two decades ahead of it." -Robert Parker