2009 Bordeaux barrel samples, Le Cercle Rive Droite

Full report and analysis at www.amateurwino.com

• 2009 Château de la Dauphine Fronsac

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac

  (3/11/2010)

  Primary, strong, bit of bitterness on finish; not too much oak showing on the nose, but it shows on the palate. Has potential. Definitely showing some oak on the palate. Not crazy about it. 86-87 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Haut-Carles 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac

  (3/13/2010)

  Showing a bit more complexity than the Dauphine, a bit of spice with sweet fruit; palate is tannic, deep, spicy. Pretty impressive 89-91 very well done for Fronsac (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Fonplégade 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  Tannic, deep and concentrated, fairly smooth, not a lot of spice; bit more power than the 06 tasted just before 89-92 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Barde-Haut 85 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  Licorice showing on the nose; grapey. Has a slightly chemical/ estery sense to the nose at this point; sweet but simple fruit. 84-87, but could improve if the chemical thing resolves. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Clos l'Église (Pomerol) 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  (3/13/2010)

  A bit of spice and complexity; has power, quite tannic; retasted later in the tasting, this showed a little coffee on the nose, with very round fruits – refined, quite perfumey, very good, 92-94 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château La Fleur de Gay 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  (3/13/2010)

  my top wine of the tasting, this showed roasted nut/earth, fine slate, and some herbal character on the nose; a bit more perfumey than the other samples, the style is not hugely powerful, but refined and classy, with varietal character. Not as much complexity shows on palate as it does on the nose at this point, but I believe the material is there – tasty fruit, good ripeness, with a hint of spice on nose that I think will develop into good complexity. 93-95 pts. Reminds me a bit of La Conseillante. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Le Moulin 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  (3/13/2010)

  Simpler than fleur de gay, not as concentrated 87-88 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne 88 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  A little spice and character on the palate 87-89 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Fleur Cardinale 93 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  a little spicy character, generous fruit, quality-wise this looks to be in line with other recent vintages of Fleur Cardinale, which have been very strong; slight bit of perfume, certainly good concentration, round in style but not getting complexity yet at this point. 92-94 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château La Fleur de Boüard 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

  (3/13/2010)

  Feels more evolved and less primary than the other samples; good, not huge, bit of herbal character, perfume, lead pencil. Really quite good, excellent for the appellation, and more complexity shown here than in the 2003 and 2006 vintages of this wine (I have not tasted their 2005). 91-92+ (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château La Commanderie Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  Fuller rounder sample than the Fleur de Bouard tasted just before this, showing much more power; tannic but smooth and round, with sweet fruits and some herbal varietal character that is welcome. Oak showing; this is quite nice, in a modern style. Nice bit of perfume as well. 91-93 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Clos des Jacobins 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  More spice than the La Commanderie; similarly tannic and concentrated. 91-93+ On retaste, same, showing a bit more green herbal varietal character. Very good. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Boutisse 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/15/2010)

  Located in the commune St. Christophe des Bardes; good and round, nice acidity. This is totally decent, with not quite the power of the samples tasted just before it, and maybe a bit simple too. 88-91. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Jean-Faure Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  A chateau whose wine I liked very much in the 05 vintage, this shows a bit greener and herbal than most of the samples today, almost floral – owing to the high percentage of cabernet franc in the blend. Also some olive, savory character; bit of spice, medium-strong power. I expect this to be in line with the 2005, some dark notes on the finish, good concentration 91-93. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château La Vieille Cure 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac

  (3/15/2010)

  A little olive, fairly concentrated and deep – there’s power here. Not a huge wine, but has definition, quite nice; bit of bitterness, perhaps a bit extracted, but not as powerful as some of the others. 91-93 pts. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Moulin Haut-Laroque 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Fronsac

  (3/15/2010)

  Deep and concentrated, with some sweet fruit; very impressive for what it is, cuts a broad swath across the palate, a bit rough and tumble; not as finessed as Vieille Cure but more power here 91-93. A sleeper (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Siaurac 83 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

  (3/15/2010)

  little bit of floral, but nothing special here 83-84 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Rol Valentin 94 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/13/2010)

  my big-time sleeper of the tasting, this chateau may surprise many people with its quality in the 2009 vintage. It’s initially a little minty on the nose with sweet fruits; the palate has irresistible sweet fruit, as well as some spice. This is sweet without manufacturing it from heavy oak use, which can lead to artificial-feeling flavors; the allure comes from juicy, high quality fruit. Among the best samples today, it feels a little more evolved and less primary than most. This is not hugely complex yet, but makes an excellent showing based on the fruit, very sweet and pleasant across the palate. A real sleeper, no mistake – tasted three times to make sure. 92-94+ points. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château de Laussac 87 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

  (3/15/2010)

  Bottle says Cotes de Castillon/Cotes de Bordeaux. Has a very dark fruits feel, perhaps a bit extracted, but it's got some sweet fruit to it, not hugely distinguished, but totally decent. Very grapey, very primary. 87-88

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• 2009 Château La Sergue 84 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lalande de Pomerol

  (3/15/2010)

  Has broad, round fruit but not finessed, maybe slightly cheap feeling fruit with oak that imparts a bit of a plastic feel. Powerful, grapey, but nothing special here.

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• 2009 Château Gaby 84 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Canon-Fronsac

  (3/15/2010)

  Nose very full, verging on dark fruits, with a hint of a plastic aroma. Palate is smooth, but nondescript. 84-85. (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château Haut Ballet Canon-Fronsac

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Canon-Fronsac

  (3/15/2010)

  Somewhat lighter nose; a bit floral; kind of dark, extracted, spicy – but not that pleasing 85-86 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château La Rose Perrière 86 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Lussac Saint-Émilion

  (3/15/2010)

  Nose: little bit of red fruits, a bit of talcum powder; palate is interesting, a little spice, fairly primary, decent. A little bit of olive on the finish 85-87 (barrel sample)

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• 2009 Château de Pressac 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/15/2010)

  Fairly sweet fruits on the nose, a bit of talcum powder; palate is pleasing, very nicely done. 90-92 (barrel sample)

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• 2006 Château Tour de Pressac 89 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  (3/15/2010)

  Alcohol on the nose, good decent concentration, sweet fruits happening 89-90. Very decent, quite enjoyable. Well done for a 2nd wine from an unheralded estate.

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