Friday, July 1, 2011

2009/2010

Even as remaining icons are being released en primeur, let’s not forget the 2009! While the 2009 were sold at a high price, the 1st bottle I tasted after just being bottled confirm that it is a great vintage and the word that comes to mind is opulence.
There are plenty of good surprises, even with wines sold at retail for 5 euros, as for famous classified growths, there’s spot on.

I tasted some of my 2009 right after bottling with Jeff Leve, just before dinner - it should never be done with a client, journalist, press. These 2009 were, therefore, totally bottle-shocked from the bottling: 2009 Bad Boy, rich and showy, will be the best since 2005. 2009 Bellevue de Tayac has finesse, a fine modern Margaux that should appeal even to those who do not like my wines on principle ;)

Clos Badon Thunevin 2009 is powerful with huge concentration. I never tried to make this wine more than a good wine in the style and quality of a Saint Emilion Cru Classe. Here we are closer to the style of a Garage wine. Virginie de Valandraud 2009 exceeds the 2005 even though it was already at an amazing level (as some of the best classified growths of Saint Emilion), balance and power, harmony of merlot and cabernet franc, it may also please those who dislike my wines.

Valandraud 2009: it’s a no brainer, if this wine is sold by us for a high price; I think it will be hard to complain about its qualities: complex, opulent, long, fine and powerful, this wine borders on perfection. I cannot wait to find out blind in 2 or 3 months with a few icons from Bordeaux or other parts of the world. This is probably the first time I don’t have any doubts about one of my babies, it is made by Murielle and our team, Remi, Christophe, our employees and with the help of our two consultants Jean-Philippe for the cellar and Paul-Marie for the vineyards.

Drunk with our meal: a very good Pape Clément Blanc 2006 and also tasted blind, guessed by an energetic Jeff: the color, appellation, vintage and type of soil and its category, it was Beauséjour Duffau Lagarrosse 2005 which was really a beautiful bottle, and sold at a very attractive price at that time....

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