February 9, 2024 - Forward nose right upon opening. Red and black berries, moust earth, hint of green. Medium to full bodied, ripe fruit, well balanced, hints of minerals and herbs keep it fresh, medium-long finish. No aged complexity but a pleasure to drink now, should improve over the next d3cade or two. Excellent.
November 4, 2023 - 100-rated 2009 Bordeaux dinner: 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.
August 3, 2023 - served nearly 3 hours after double-decanting. Still sweet on the nose after all this time, and sweet on the palate. Such an elegant wine now.
June 9, 2023 - It’s a good solid, smooth wine but at this age make sure you decant it for a while to give it sufficient air. Initially was closed off and one dimensional. Opened up well after 2 hours.
May 12, 2023 - First of six bottles. Absolutely brilliant after a two hour decant, served to accompany lamb chops. Velvety plush luxurious deep ripe and delicious.
April 9, 2023 - Very elegant. My WOTN on Easter with a range of nice choices. Still on upswing. Lovely now but probably phenomenal in 10 years.
January 1, 2023 - Ouff...un grand seigneur que cette bouteille!
Complexe, souple et raffiné!
Nez ample sur le cuir, la terre, les herbes
et des épices douces.
En bouche, large d'épaules mais bien
équilibré et décadent.
Il y a des cerises noires, des framboises, des
bleuets, du cèdre, du chocolat noir et de l'anis...en
plusieurs couches, hyper complexe ici!
Les tannins sont bien enrobés et le vin
a pas mal de mâche.
Super long en finale qui culmine sur des
relents d'herbes et de café.
En a encore beaucoup sous la pédale mais
se boit tellement bien en ce moment.
Tout simplement renversant!
December 23, 2022 - Beautiful dense red fruit, with floral, plum and chocolate notes. Quite an impressive young wine and preferred this to last night’s 09 Beausejour Duffau. Much improved the second day, so it’s better to hold for remaining bottles.
July 1, 2022 - Brought to CWG by Joel (blind).
This wine is full body, young, vibrant, nice round tannins, sweet dark fruits and all well integrated. What’s not to like about this masterpiece???
Drink over the next 15-20 years!
July 1, 2022 - SO'd for 30 min then double decanted for 2 hrs, deep ruby, black cherries with chocolate that seems Californian, typical of the 09s, med/firm tannins, long finish; outstanding & has entered its peak drinking where it should last years, drink or preferably hold