PHMG WAG: The '09 Bordeaux

These wines were decanted for 4 hours and served at a temp of around 60 degrees. Lamb bites, cheeses, and my minted goat cheese spread were all hits.

• 2009 Château Graville-Lacoste Blanc 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves

  Tart citrus, grapefruit, and melon flavors w/ some minerals, tart apple, and peach on the backside. Nice weight and depth. Not much "new mown hay" and for that we are grateful. Went well w/ an app of grilled polenta, shaved parm-reg, topped with a slice of genoa salami.

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• 2009 Château Lyonnat Lussac-St. Émilion Cuvée Emotion 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lussac-St. Émilion

  Decanted 4hrs. Typical dark/young color and not a "claret" in appearance. Open nose of plum, cedar, blackberry, and slight earth hit. Great QPR for $22. Now-5 years.

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• 2009 Château Lilian Ladouys 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  Similar to my first bottle in May. Flavors lean towards classic Cab: cassis, blackberry, dark cherry, plus some vanilla, cedar, and earth. Not picking up the tobacco this time. Needs time.

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• 2009 Clos Lunelles 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  This wine is all about balance. The black fruit, the non-fruit flavors, the alcohol, the mouthfeel, and tannins are pretty seamless for such a young tasting wine. Has a decade.

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• 2009 Château Couhins-Lurton 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Another black colored wine in this tasting, with hints of graphite, stone, and cedar dancing on the black fruit palate. Nice balance and length. Loads of time.

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• 2009 Château La Fleur de Boüard 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

  The first SUPER obvious Bordeaux of the bunch, many this night overlapped with Cal Cabs because of the ripeness and intensity. Dark cherries, plum, and cassis are not the giveaway. It's the earth and tobacco notes. Love the texture and length.

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• 2009 Château Rol Valentin 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Just a really nice wine with deep dark fruit, some spice, and earth notes that go on and on. Tannins are there but meld nicely. Now-10 years.

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• 2009 Château Gloria 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

  My WOTN and a bit of a surprise. Gloria did something similar in a big tasting of '96's done in 2006. Over achieved again. Blackberry, cassis, stone/ minerals, cigar box all on a glycerin laden texture. Even the tannins seemed a little sweet, but deep. Still VERY good the next day w/o gas.

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• 2009 Château Lucia Flawed

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru

  Mildly corked. Enough to mute the nose for most and a couple sensitive tasters picked up some sweat socks and cheese (not the good stuff). Others said they'd probably finish the bottle if they opened it for dinner. Amazing how TCA affects some more than others.

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• 2009 Château Prieuré-Lichine 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  This wine had the freshest fruit nose of the bunch. Blackberry, ripe dark cherry, plum, a hint of violet, and some spice/earth. Maybe the sexiest wine of the night based on that perfume. Loads of time.

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• 2000 Château Calon-Ségur 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe

  A bonus pour in this tasting to see what can happen later after a good year. This was better than my last bottle in 2010. Garnet at the rim. Cassis, black cherry and berry fruit. Some pencil and earth notes. The tannins which dominated in 2010 are getting there (compared to 2 yrs ago). Wait another couple...

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served w/ serious French blue cheese that I can neither spell nor pronounce.

• 2005 Château Suduiraut 95 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Also decanted for 4 hours and out of the fridge for 30 minutes. Spice and pineapple hit first, then honeysuckle and marmalade. Great acidity, depth, and length. Pure pleasure. This will outlive me...

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WOW! Such ripeness and depth of fruit from Calif... I mean Bordeaux! The Merlot based wines were more accessible but all were anything but typical "claret". Fun! Now how much can I spend on some more...