This is now opening up well. There is still some tannin, but the rich, dark plum fruit is dominant. The palate is full and savoury, and the finish is long. A fine example that should keep well and continue to improve.
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I have one more bottle. I'll give it 5 more years. It remains what it was: stiff and a bit hot. Not my preferred style. But this will still appeal to many.
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A fine, elegant St Emilion, with good weight. Ripe plum/blackberry fruit, with some discreet tannin. Just about ready with a good decant (the hour or so I gave it was probably not enough), but perhaps try again in 2+ years.
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Light ruby colored, with medium-to-light body, this is delicious wine - the notes of blackberry and some vanilla hit you right away. Showed some sedimentation. After decanting for about 3 hours, the tannins subside to reveal a pleasant character. The structure is simple and the wine seems perfectly drinkable. Paired with blue cheese.
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Remains a rich velvet red, little browning around the edge, looks younger than it is. Soft, quite buttery sweet fragrance, then blueberry fruit and a hint of vanilla. Soft mouth feel but not rich, toast and then strawberry fruit, oak and tannin grip finish.
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Some bottle stink on opening. Breathed off over an hour. Developed spicey fruit/oak structure. Palate was round, full and soft initially, a little characterless. Became dark fruited, spicy, some quinine characters. Still with that soft merlot backbone and length. Mature but will hold for some years
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Opened and left to breathe for 2 hrs. Red velvet colour, not brown edges. Starts as a licoriche mollasses type of taste, some spice after that. Then vanilla and cedar wood, finishes with v v lovely pear drops. V good
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Very nice inexpensive 2009 Bordeaux. Fully integrated, smooth as silk, no hard edges at all. Paired very well with steaks. Doubt this gets better but should be fine for at least another 5 years.
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Whatever this is I will give it a few more years before trying another. On release I had this pegged in the "hot and hard" end of the spectrum. Rather extracted with strong tannin, including an acrid oaky component. It hasn't changed all that much since circa 2013. It's worth waiting to see if it will develop some interesting secondary characteristics. It does have much stuffing. It was and remains not my favorite style at this point.
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Round edges, balanced, right in the sweet spot of its drinking window. I have 3 left so will probably drink one/year which sounds about right given expected maturity.
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For a 2009 what stands out is it is a well made wine but nothing special in the mouth. The Bouquet is very gentle and never got stronger over the hour to consume. Smooth on the palate and round in the body just not enough of anything to stand out at a very competitive price level.
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This wine is now revealing the promise that it indicated in its early reviews, after passing through an intermediate awkward stage. The fruit is wrapped into a taut assembly of fruit acids, but is now sufficiently revealing to create an elegant and stylish claret of typical merlot-dominated St-Emilion style, with blueberry and bramble flavours, and a hint of something more earthy. The wine continued to develop over the 2nd and 3rd days of opening, indicating it has potential for further aging and will open up further with time. The awkward intermediate stage this wine went through is now over and those who had patience can be well pleased with their purchase.
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This is clearly disappointing despite the Cheval Blanc efforts. This is not even close to a classed growth level, medium palate, simple smell, and linear texture. Few sediments too. I will drink up, little value for further storage.
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The 2009 Château La Tour du Pin is medium(+) ruby in colour with a nose of dusty and ripe red currants, fresh prunes and blue berries.
On the palate, an entry of slight cedar followed by some fresh and crunchy purple fruits. This progresses to some cassis and crunchy black currants before fruit flavours slowly gets taken over by an overriding acidity. Tannins are rather gentle that accompanies the nice ripe fruits (vintage characteristics). Medium finish with an acidity that lasts a little longer. A technically correct wine. (87-88)
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Opened for one day. Didn't get much flavor here on the palate. Feels kinda anonymous. Perhaps a fresher bottle would be better. Not sure if this can make old bones.
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2009 La Tour du Pin is now produced by the same team that makes Cheval Blanc. Made from 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, it offers dark berry, licorice and fresh herb scents. Round in texture, the wine finishes with soft kirsch flavors. 90-92 Pts
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12/28/2023 - La Grappe Likes this wine: 92 Points
This is now opening up well. There is still some tannin, but the rich, dark plum fruit is dominant. The palate is full and savoury, and the finish is long. A fine example that should keep well and continue to improve.
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11/24/2023 - Swintonblade Likes this wine: 91 Points
Improved after a few hours open, still plenty of fruit with well integrated tannins. No rush
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10/16/2023 - Echinosum Likes this wine:
Two years since last bottle. Still excellent, no hurry.
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2/12/2023 - RightBankKane wrote:
I have one more bottle. I'll give it 5 more years. It remains what it was: stiff and a bit hot. Not my preferred style. But this will still appeal to many.
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2/4/2023 - La Grappe wrote: 91 Points
A fine, elegant St Emilion, with good weight. Ripe plum/blackberry fruit, with some discreet tannin. Just about ready with a good decant (the hour or so I gave it was probably not enough), but perhaps try again in 2+ years.
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12/28/2022 - OddCollect Likes this wine: 91 Points
Light ruby colored, with medium-to-light body, this is delicious wine - the notes of blackberry and some vanilla hit you right away. Showed some sedimentation. After decanting for about 3 hours, the tannins subside to reveal a pleasant character. The structure is simple and the wine seems perfectly drinkable. Paired with blue cheese.
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2/18/2022 - lloyd.cochrane@googlemail.com Likes this wine: 94 Points
Remains a rich velvet red, little browning around the edge, looks younger than it is. Soft, quite buttery sweet fragrance, then blueberry fruit and a hint of vanilla. Soft mouth feel but not rich, toast and then strawberry fruit, oak and tannin grip finish.
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1/29/2022 - cugel_saga Likes this wine: 91 Points
Softens nicely after a 3 hour decant.
Develops into damson and spice and a layer of liquorice.
Soft, pleasant tannins. Nice mouth feel. Quite plush.
Not spectacular but enjoyable.
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12/5/2021 - richard.presser Likes this wine: 90 Points
Some bottle stink on opening. Breathed off over an hour. Developed spicey fruit/oak structure.
Palate was round, full and soft initially, a little characterless. Became dark fruited, spicy, some quinine characters. Still with that soft merlot backbone and length. Mature but will hold for some years
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11/22/2021 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Went down very well indeed at a dinner party. Even the "don't really drink red wine" wanted some.
Really providing that blueberry nose I love on mature St Emilion today. To me perfectly drinking, still some structure as I like.
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8/29/2021 - lloyd.cochrane@googlemail.com wrote:
Opened and left to breathe for 2 hrs. Red velvet colour, not brown edges. Starts as a licoriche mollasses type of taste, some spice after that. Then vanilla and cedar wood, finishes with v v lovely pear drops. V good
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12/29/2020 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decanted a few hours before drinking. Was a bit thin on first opening, but the palate filled out by the time dinner arrived. Drank well over 3 days.
Into its peak, but no hurry. Really enjoyed it and very happy with this for the money.
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8/1/2020 - GaryHOhio Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very nice inexpensive 2009 Bordeaux. Fully integrated, smooth as silk, no hard edges at all. Paired very well with steaks. Doubt this gets better but should be fine for at least another 5 years.
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12/11/2019 - RightBankKane wrote:
Whatever this is I will give it a few more years before trying another. On release I had this pegged in the "hot and hard" end of the spectrum. Rather extracted with strong tannin, including an acrid oaky component. It hasn't changed all that much since circa 2013. It's worth waiting to see if it will develop some interesting secondary characteristics. It does have much stuffing. It was and remains not my favorite style at this point.
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11/25/2019 - sole wrote: 90 Points
Round edges, balanced, right in the sweet spot of its drinking window. I have 3 left so will probably drink one/year which sounds about right given expected maturity.
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6/18/2019 - Mhbeaune wrote: 88 Points
For a 2009 what stands out is it is a well made wine but nothing special in the mouth. The Bouquet is very gentle and never got stronger over the hour to consume. Smooth on the palate and round in the body just not enough of anything to stand out at a very competitive price level.
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4/9/2019 - Echinosum Likes this wine: 91 Points
This wine is now revealing the promise that it indicated in its early reviews, after passing through an intermediate awkward stage. The fruit is wrapped into a taut assembly of fruit acids, but is now sufficiently revealing to create an elegant and stylish claret of typical merlot-dominated St-Emilion style, with blueberry and bramble flavours, and a hint of something more earthy. The wine continued to develop over the 2nd and 3rd days of opening, indicating it has potential for further aging and will open up further with time. The awkward intermediate stage this wine went through is now over and those who had patience can be well pleased with their purchase.
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3/9/2017 - jskuek wrote: 88 Points
Modern style, big fruit and straight forward wine. Hope the alcohol would tone down to show more body in the future.
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5/25/2015 - John Tang wrote: 86 Points
This is clearly disappointing despite the Cheval Blanc efforts. This is not even close to a classed growth level, medium palate, simple smell, and linear texture. Few sediments too. I will drink up, little value for further storage.
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1/21/2014 - Average Wine Guy (MH) wrote: 87 Points
The 2009 Château La Tour du Pin is medium(+) ruby in colour with a nose of dusty and ripe red currants, fresh prunes and blue berries.
On the palate, an entry of slight cedar followed by some fresh and crunchy purple fruits. This progresses to some cassis and crunchy black currants before fruit flavours slowly gets taken over by an overriding acidity. Tannins are rather gentle that accompanies the nice ripe fruits (vintage characteristics). Medium finish with an acidity that lasts a little longer. A technically correct wine. (87-88)
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1/18/2014 - Dbrane wrote: 83 Points
Opened for one day. Didn't get much flavor here on the palate. Feels kinda anonymous. Perhaps a fresher bottle would be better. Not sure if this can make old bones.
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6/29/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
2009 La Tour du Pin is now produced by the same team that makes Cheval Blanc. Made from 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, it offers dark berry, licorice and fresh herb scents. Round in texture, the wine finishes with soft kirsch flavors. 90-92 Pts
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