Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

The Montrose was my red WOTN. Two others agreed with me, but the other table rated it at the bottom of their list. I found it beautifully lean, balance, and full of attractive cedar and lead notes.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

Of the 8 wines, this was furthest from drinkable. It was the darkest and most tannic. Wood, smoke, tar. I'd wait at least another 10 years. It might become great, but it'll require a lot of time and transformation.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

This was mid-pack for me and others. Black fruit, tar. Excellent but not great.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

My #2 WOTN and the winner from the other table. A gambler who values wisdom of the crowd would bet on this one. I've loved old Ducru and wouldn't be surprised to see this evolve into a 98 in time.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

The SHL was mid-pack for me. Some beef and chalk notes. Very good.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

Some others rated this their favorite to drink right now. All agreed it was the smoothest, most elegant, and most balanced right now. But I found it simple and short. Short of outstanding for me.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

My lowest-rated wine of the night and one not loved by anyone. Somewhat harsh. Needs lots of time to turn tertiary and perhaps become something great. In fairness, it would have been rated a solid wine and value outside this comparison set.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

Rather strange that this was the one wine tonight with bright cassis and fresh red fruit. A few preferred it for that reason. I liked it a lot but wouldn't consider it extraordinary on those dimensions.

Tonight's event featured eight 100-point-professinally-rated (by Parker and/or Dunnuck) 2009 Bordeaux reds plus Yquem. The reds: Montrose, Pontet-Canet, Leoville Poyferre, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Smith Haut Lafitte, Clinet, Clos Fortet, and Troplong Mondot. All were purchased upon release, properly cellared, and decanted 3 hours before consumption over another 2-3 hours. In general, IMO and by consensus, none of the reds drank close to perfection. Did they on release? No idea. Will they in time? No idea. I rated them in a relatively tight band of 93-97 tonight. If I owned them, I'd wait on all and gamble on tertiary development. None had material tertiary flavors now. I would hold and gamble on their getting better with it than without. WOTN was unquestionably the d'Yquem. Unlike the reds, it was immortal and perfect.

The 2009 Yquem is absolute perfection in my opinion. Colossal complexity that dances and romances the tongue for a minute+. Beeswax, orange peel, honeysuckle, nectar. A legendary vintage. Don't hesitate to enjoy this now, as I believe it delivers its full potential today. Monumental.