Light to medium red. In the nose red and dark berries, some herbal character, some spice, a touch of mineral, some flowery notes, well integrated barrel aromas. Medium bodied on the palate, red and some dark berries, slightly balsamic, mineral, some spice, well integrated tannin, elegant. Somewhat lighter in style than the vineyard-designated DRC 2009 grand crus tasted simultaneously and rather accessible, but otherwise an obvious similarity in style. 91+

Medium red colour, rather dark and slightly blue-tinged. Powerful nose with dark berries, some mint and liquorice, clearly spicy, notes of toasted oak barrels, discrete perfume notes, some minerality. Elegant nose, but almost some notes reminiscent of a Grenache/Syrah blend. Slightly more than medium bodied on the palate, red and dark berries, high acidity, some mineral, some tannin, spicy. Long and rather spicy-acidic aftertaste. The palate is younger than the nose. 91+

This wine is a little differently styled than the other DRC 2009 grand crus. It is more blueish in colour and shows a slightly different nose, and has less strong mineral character. It’s interesting to note that it shows a more obvious oaked character although it actually has less new oak (60%) compared to the rest (95-100%).

Light to medium red. Rather intense nose of red and some dark berries, a light touch of herbal character, rather obvious flowery notes (including violet), mineral, very fine spice and well integrated toasted oak notes. Slightly more than medium bodied on the palate, red berries, noticeable acidity, very present minerality with salinity, very long aftertaste. Young, 93+

Light to medium red. In the nose red and dark berries, violet and other flowery notes, spicy, some toasted oak barrel, and some animal notes that emerge after a while. Initially rather closed nose, an impression of “hidden intensity”. On the palate red berries, noticeable minerality, quite present but fine tannin, spicy, good acidity. Long aftertaste with fine tannin, spice and minerality. Definitely young! 94+

Medium red colour. Intense nose with dark and red berries, spice, flowery notes with violet, very light hints at herbal character, well integrated notes of toasted oak barrels, very elegant. On the palate dark and some red berries, some sweetness of fruit in the attack, noticeable mid-palate minerality, good acidity, finely polished tannin, long and mineral aftertaste. Young, 94+

Darker fruit than DRC Échézeaux 09 and Grands Échézeaux 09, but more open nose than Grands Échézeaux and considerably less tannic.

Medium red colour. Dark and some red berries, noticeable minerality, some mint, discrete liquorice notes with hints of tar and animal notes, a touch of herbal character. Initially a closed nose that hints at hidden power, but it grew in the glass and then also showed more toasted oak barrel notes. Dark berries on the palate, some sweetness of fruit in the attack, very mineral mid-palate, powerful but well integrated tannin. Definitely young, great potential, 94+

Today, Richebourg 09 is a little more “difficult” than DRC Romanée-Saint-Vivant 09, but it could possibly have greater potential for development.

Medium red colour. Intense nose, initially with some very traditional Burgundy notes of dung heap and animal notes, mineral, ripe dark berries, flowery and perfumed notes, noticeable spice and finely integrated toasted oak barrel notes with coffee and chocolate. Very elegant nose. On the palate dark berries, very mineral, noticeable spice, very finely polished tannin that are very well integrated into the fruit. Very elegant and very young, great potential. 96+

Bready and toasted nose, elegantly perfumed, citrus, red apple, discrete notes of red Burgundy. On the palate red apple, citrus, high acidity, intense, slightly spicy, finishes with grapefruit. Elegant, young. 93+

Bright yellow colour. In the nose ripe yellow fruit, some honey, mineral and some oak. Noticeable mineral on the palate, yellow apple, good acidity (but not extremely high), elegant. Considerably more “classically Chablis-styled” and elegant on the palate than in the nose, in my opinion. Served from magnum.