Médoc - Red Wine
191197 (XD) 750 mL
$23 per btl $69 per 3-btl. lot
RP: 87-88
JR: 15
TASTING NOTE: Shrewd bargain hunters looking for a classic Bordeaux that sells for a song should check out the wines of d’Escurac. Their 2009 reveals more punch, density, and richness than usual, and the wine’s suppleness as well as its cedary, black currant, herbaceous undertones, medium to full body, and fleshy style will offer attractive drinking over the next 7-10 years. (Tasted once.) Drink: 2010-2020. Score: 87-88 (RP)
192914 (XD) 750 mL
$39 per btl $117 per 3-btl. lot
RP: 89-91
WS: 88-91
JR: 16.5
WE: 90-92
GD: 16
TJW: 9.1
TASTING NOTE: Made by Cos d’Estournel’s Jean-Guillaume Prats and owner Michel Reybier, Goulee is meant to offer an introduction to a top-flight Bordeaux. Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, it exhibits a sexy, upfront nose of sweet black currant fruit, cassis, blackberries, forest floor, and underbrush. Dense purple-colored and fleshy with abundant glycerin, this pure, deep, chewy wine will be delicious young and age nicely for 7-8 years. (Tasted once.) Drink: 2010-2018. Score: 89-91 (RP)
192070 (XD) 750 mL
$64 per btl $192 per 3-btl. lot
RP: 91-93*
TASTING NOTE: Another offering from proprietor Jean Guyon, the 2009 Haut-Condissas possesses terrific concentration, perfect balance, and lots of black currant and blueberry fruit intermixed with forest floor, incense, and cedarwood. Viscous, rich, full-bodied flavors with abundant glycerin as well as fine elegance and purity reflect a top-notch effort. This impressive sleeper of the vintage can be enjoyed over the next 10-15 years. (Tasted once.) Drink: 2010-2025. Score: 91-93* (RP)
189043 (XD) 750 mL
$26 per btl $78 per 3-btl. lot
DEC: ***
JR: 17
WE: 87-89
TASTING NOTE: Very dark purple. Super-fragrant, scented wine with medium weight. Glossy nose with no hint of excess sweetness or alcohol. Sweet palate entry and then very well managed tannins and the exotic black fruits richness of 2009 insinuates itself even on this bastion of Médoc restraint!. A bit of a kick on the end but not jagged or drying. Good harmony. Good mouthful of intense fruit. Needs a little time for the tannins to melt. Cooler and drier than most. Fresh finish. Could be GV [Good Value]. Drink: 2015-2025. Score: 17 (JR)
194019 (XD) 750 mL
$32 per btl $96 per 3-btl. lot
RP: 90-92*
DEC: ***
WS: 87-90
JR: 15
TJW: 9.2
TASTING NOTE: Proprietor Bernard Magrez has fashioned a big time sleeper of the vintage composed of 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon. It reveals a dense purple color as well as a powerful nose of black currants, licorice, and camphor, full body, and 6-8 years of drinkability. (Tasted once.) Drink: 2010-2018. Score: 90-92* (RP)
197780 (XD) 750 mL
$39 per btl $117 per 3-btl. lot
RP: 89-91*
DEC: ***
WS: 87-90
JR: 17
WE: 91-93
GD: 16.5
TJW: 9.1
TASTING NOTE: A sleeper of the vintage, the 2009 is probably the finest Potensac ever made, eclipsing even the stunning 1982. This blend, dominated by both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, hit 13.9% alcohol, but the pH is a normal 3.58. Dense, rich, and full-bodied with lots of freshness, the wine reveals abundant red and black currant fruit, a distinctive minerality, and a plush, full-bodied mouthfeel. It should drink well for 10-15+ years. (Tasted once.) Drink: 2010-2025. Score: 89-91* (RP)
191262 (XD) 750 mL
$29 per btl $87 per 3-btl. lot
RP: 90-92
DEC: ***
WS: 88-91
JR: 14.5
TASTING NOTE: Proprietor Jean Guyon and consultant Dr. Alain Raynaud continue to produce a wine that over-performs its humble pedigree. The dense blue/purple-tinged 2009 boasts abundant amounts of blueberry and black currant fruit intermixed with graphite and forest floor notes. Full-bodied, rich, and pure, it is ideal for drinking during its first decade or life. (Tasted once.) Drink: 2010-2020. Score: 90-92 (RP)
189910 (XD) 750 mL
$18 per btl $54 per 3-btl. lot
RP: 88-90*
DEC: ***
GD: 16
TJW: 9.1
TASTING NOTE: This has been one of the most reliable wines in Bordeaux over the last 30+ years, and I have enjoyed many vintages of it. It sells for a song, and the 2009 may turn out to be the best they have ever made. This inky purple-colored wine offers up notes of creme de cassis, spring flowers, and forest floor that seem to have more in common with a classified growth than a petite chateau. Medium-bodied, luscious, and rich, this is a beauty to drink over the next 10 years. (Tasted two times.) Drink: 2010-2020. Score: 88-90* (RP)
Scores:
We have included corresponding scores from various sources including:
RP: Wine Advocate, www.erobertparker.com
DEC: Decanter magazine, www.decanter.com (5-star system)
WS: James Suckling, Wine Spectator, www.winespectator.com
JR: Jancis Robinson MW, www.jancisrobinson.com (20-point system)
WE: Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast
GD: Greg Dunlop, Category Manager, VINTAGES European Wines (20-point system)
TJW: Tom Wilson, Vice President, VINTAGES (10-point system)
Note: An asterisk (*) next to a Robert Parker score indicates "...the finest potential of all the offerings I had ever tasted from that estate in nearly 32 years of barrel tasting samples in Bordeaux."
Prices may change without prior notice. VINTAGES reserves the right to limit quantities per customer.
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