Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2009

The level of the 2009's were high across the board. My notes are short and I refrained from scoring due to the pace of the event and the fact that all wines were delicious. Last year, Pessac was our favourite region. This year we were drawn to Margaux, St Julien and our hedonistic side kicked in and we found ourselves giggling in Pomorol. I planned not to purchase at the event as I already have a good sampling of 2009 coming. Erica changed that and purchases from the event are listed.

• 2009 Château de Chantegrive Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves

  More oak and acid. Not a lot of complexity but there are notes of toast and brioche that are attractive. Not a lot of finesse but nice.

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• 2009 Château Bouscaut Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Differing from the other whites in character, big citrus profile. Good firm finish like there is a heavy tannin balance to bring things together.

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• 2009 Château Carbonnieux Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Sample was a little cold. Lemon cleaner on the nose with good structure. Not a blockbuster.

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• 2009 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Perhaps the biggest white in terms of structure. Some pine notes. Needs time but excellent wine. (Purchased)

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• 2009 Château de Fieuzal Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Lighter body. Sweet, smokey nose. Very interesting. Very good and would purchase.

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• 2009 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Great nose. Excellent balance, excellent wine. Better than Pape Clement??

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• 2009 Château Olivier Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Very atypical, not a fan at all.

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• 2009 Château Pape Clément Blanc

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Most harmonious and complete of the whites at present. Almost understated. A great amount of pleasure.

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• 2009 Domaine de Chevalier

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  The first red of the evening for me and I wasn't disappointed. Nicely perfumed with copious fine tannins, you can see with some cellar time this will be a great wine. Would purchase but have done so already.

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• 2009 Château de Fieuzal

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château Haut-Bailly

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Very bitter and green. It will likely come around but this offered no pleasure at all at present.

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• 2009 Château Pape Clément

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Great wine. Firm but not 30 years so. Crunchier red fruit compared to S.H.L.

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• 2009 Château Smith Haut Lafitte

  France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

  Floral notes. Viscous with firm tannin. Will undoubtedly be great wine. More freshness than Pape Clement.

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• 2009 Château Chasse-Spleen

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

  Good but lacking a little on the finish.

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• 2009 Château Cantemerle

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château de Camensac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château d'Angludet

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château Brane-Cantenac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château Cantenac Brown

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Really held in check, almost closed. Good fruit and acid. One for the cellar.

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• 2009 Château Dauzac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Rocky flowers, smoke. A little light in body.

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• 2009 Château du Tertre

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Candied florals and some spicy pepper. (Purchased)

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• 2009 Château Giscours

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Bell pepper. Harder structure than Du Tertre. (Purchased)

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• 2009 Château Kirwan

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Nice and round. Sandy tannin.

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• 2009 Château Lascombes

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Very elegant and beautifully knitted. Feminine characteristics with sweet perfume. A standout.

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• 2009 Château Prieuré-Lichine

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Upfront tannin with some greenish edges. Tannic and bitter finish.

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• 2009 Château Rauzan-Ségla

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Surprisingly open and complete already. Very fine.

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• 2009 Château Beychevelle

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  S.J. restraint. Good fruit but not as lifted. A step behind Lagrange.

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• 2009 Château Branaire-Ducru

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Some cabbage and stewing notes. A bit rough but in the tune of S.J. Very good with interest.

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• 2009 Château Gruaud Larose

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  I found this a little heavy handed on the nose this year. Was fine in the mouth, however.

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• 2009 Château Langoa Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Yes, we like this but it's starting to get expensive. Cranberry profile noted again.

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• 2009 Château Léoville Barton

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Similar impressions to last time. Seemed to offer more freshness this time around. Getting better.

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• 2009 Château Saint-Pierre

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  The finish really shines and elevates the wine into something special.

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• 2009 Château Gloria

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Honest enough but felt a little chalky in the mouth.

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• 2009 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Really lifted nose, so nice. Delicate flowers. Light and crisp. (Purchased)

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• 2009 Château Talbot

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien

  Grounded with minerals and earth. Blueberries. Very juicy for a Lefty.

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• 2009 Château Clerc Milon

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  More plummy flavours than D'Armailhac. Additional body.

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• 2009 Château d'Armailhac

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Grease pan. Lighter in body than Clerc. Very good.

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• 2009 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Excellent. Round with fabulous structure.

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• 2009 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  No Notes. A favourite of Erica's. (Purchased)

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• 2009 Château Lynch-Bages

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Was really impressed this compared to 3 moths ago. Notes of anise, vanilla and honey. Needs time.

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• 2009 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  Margaux like. Nice thickness with ample glycerine in the mouth. Cool.

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• 2009 Château Canon

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Good purity and focus. Clean. Restrained.

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• 2009 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  More brambly fruit than Canon and a little looser.

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• 2009 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Great, as always. Good perfume but has underlying power to make some old bones. Serious.

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• 2009 Château Figeac

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  For Figeac, showing very well. Such purity. Really caught me off guard but then again so did the price. Excellent wine.

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• 2009 Château La Dominique

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château Pavie Macquin

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  In my top 3 of the right bank. Mind blowing fresh fruit on the nose. Some caramel. A little unbalanced in the mouth, needs time to come together. (Purchased)

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• 2009 Château Troplong Mondot

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

  Very fresh with some pepper notes. Very good but may have been overshadowed by the other superstars.

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• 2009 Château Clinet

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Could be the WOTN. A complete voluptuous package, very intelligent. An experience.

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• 2009 Château Gazin Pomerol

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  Cream cheese and deli meat. Excellent and applauded for uniqueness.

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• 2009 Château La Conseillante

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  In contention for WOTN with Clinet. Christmas spices in a thick, luxurious bath of fruit. Needs time.

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• 2009 Château Petit Village

  France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol

  No Notes.

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Few notes at this point in the evening. Most were excellent, although I wasn't as drawn to Coutet and La Tour Blanche as in the past.

• 2009 Château Bastor-Lamontagne

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château Climens

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  This had the most botrytis and interest (for me). Needs some time to come together.

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• 2009 Château Coutet Barsac

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château de Fargues

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  This was on par with the others in terms of quality but was significantly higher in price.

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• 2009 Château de Rayne-Vigneau

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  No Notes. (Purchased)

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• 2009 Château Doisy-Daëne

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac

  Excellent. Would have purchased but have done so already.

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• 2009 Château Guiraud

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  No Notes.

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• 2009 Château Suduiraut

  France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes

  Probably was the WOTN in this type. Such elegance. (Purchased)

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