Is it good? Yes. Is it great? I don't think so. I looked forward to drinking this wine more than any other given the attention it received from the critics. Parker's tasting notes are quite accurate: "Sumptuous, plump style", "viscous texture, and loads of tannin, extract, and richness". All true. But I do not agree with Neal Martin's notes about this wine's "purity" and "immense clarity and precision". My opinion is that this is a Bordeaux version of a well-made but inexpensive Napa Cab. Think BV Rutherford. Good, but unmemorable. I think this wine is all over the place. Sweet and velvety tannin coat the mouth with rich fruit flavors, but it lacks focus and precision. Almost fat. I could definitely discern the low acidity. I didn't find any sense of place in this wine. My opinion is that one could do much better for $50 in this vintage.
The Gruaud Larose was an entirely different wine than the Gloria. The Gruaud has focus, purity, clarity, and elegance. This is a classy wine. The Gruaud had an expressive and complex nose of terrior layered over wonderful fruit. Many thought this was the wine of the night, myself included. Lovers of traditional Bordeaux will love this wine.
Parker rightly acknowledged that he got this wine wrong during barrel tastings. It's almost like this wine comes from an entirely different vintage than 2009. It is atypically hard and tannic. There is not much else to say. Perhaps it's just closed.
A friend of mine once described the Echo de Lynch Bages 2009 as "a good pizza wine". I think that about sums up the Reserve de la Comtesse, too. This is a straightforward, juicy, delicious wine. The Merlot adds good flesh. But it is a little lighter on its feet than the Gloria -- easier to drink, less palate-fatiguing. I'd drink this over the Gloria any day.
2009 Château Gloria
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
Is it good? Yes. Is it great? I don't think so. I looked forward to drinking this wine more than any other given the attention it received from the critics. Parker's tasting notes are quite accurate: "Sumptuous, plump style", "viscous texture, and loads of tannin, extract, and richness". All true. But I do not agree with Neal Martin's notes about this wine's "purity" and "immense clarity and precision". My opinion is that this is a Bordeaux version of a well-made but inexpensive Napa Cab. Think BV Rutherford. Good, but unmemorable. I think this wine is all over the place. Sweet and velvety tannin coat the mouth with rich fruit flavors, but it lacks focus and precision. Almost fat. I could definitely discern the low acidity. I didn't find any sense of place in this wine. My opinion is that one could do much better for $50 in this vintage.
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2009 Château Gruaud Larose
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
The Gruaud Larose was an entirely different wine than the Gloria. The Gruaud has focus, purity, clarity, and elegance. This is a classy wine. The Gruaud had an expressive and complex nose of terrior layered over wonderful fruit. Many thought this was the wine of the night, myself included. Lovers of traditional Bordeaux will love this wine.
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2009 Château Cantenac Brown
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Parker rightly acknowledged that he got this wine wrong during barrel tastings. It's almost like this wine comes from an entirely different vintage than 2009. It is atypically hard and tannic. There is not much else to say. Perhaps it's just closed.
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2009 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Réserve de la Comtesse
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
A friend of mine once described the Echo de Lynch Bages 2009 as "a good pizza wine". I think that about sums up the Reserve de la Comtesse, too. This is a straightforward, juicy, delicious wine. The Merlot adds good flesh. But it is a little lighter on its feet than the Gloria -- easier to drink, less palate-fatiguing. I'd drink this over the Gloria any day.
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