2011 o r F d e a u x u t u re s tasting notes

Transcription

1 2011 tasting notes

2 Left Bank Medoc Goulee Red Medoc $38.00 Very pure, almost sweet, with a creamy edge and gorgeous cherry pie, lightly toasted vanilla and creamed plum notes. (WS) Potensac Cru Bourgeois Medoc $40.00 A sleeper of the vintage, this blend of 52% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Cabernet Franc exhibits outstanding ripeness (13.5% alcohol) as well as a deep ruby/purple color and excellent notes of crushed rocks, red and black currants, licorice and earth. Supple-textured, medium-bodied and nicely concentrated, it should provide pleasure over the next 7-10 years. (RP) Saint Estephe Calon Segur 3eme Cru Classe Saint Estephe $89.00 A very strong effort, it boasts an opaque purple color as well as surprisingly sweet tannin and abundant quantities of black cherry, black currant and dusty, loamy scents. Medium to full-bodied with beautifully integrated tannins and sensational purity and length. Moreover, it is potentially one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage and should drink well for 25 or more years. (RP) Cos d'estournel 2eme Cru Classe Saint Estephe $ Lilac and violet aromas quickly give way to dark toasted spice and black tea notes, followed by remarkably creamy-textured cassis and plum compote flavors, all offset beautifully by a hint of bitter cherry and tamarind on the finish. There's a saturated feel that shows no hard edges. A touch languid rather than driven, but this wine tends to put on weight and gain greater focus as it ages. (WS) Cos d'estournel Blanc Saint Estephe $ This 2011 consists of 67% Sauvignon Blanc and 33% Semillon. Structured white with a lemon curd and orange peel character. Full and juicy, with a savory character and a dense structure. Serious. (JS) Dame de Montrose 2nd Wine of Montrose Saint Estephe $66.99 The 2011 Dame de Montrose also benefited from a strict selection as well as top-notch winemaking. Composed of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, it is spicy and ripe with lots of fat as well as abundant notes of blueberries and black currants in addition to a sexy, open-knit, mid-weight personality. Drink this seductive effort over the next decade. (RP) Lafon Rochet 4eme Cru Classe Saint Estephe $54.99 Kirsch and dark plum fruit is succulent, and is offset nicely by brisk, chalky minerality, which gives a good driven feel to the finish. (WS) Le Boscq Cru Bourgeois Saint Estephe $39.00 This 2011 Le Boscq has some freshly crushed cherry and damson plum notes, along with a lightly chalky frame on the finish, but it's a bit shy on stuffing and length in the end. (WS) Les Pagodes de Cos 2nd Wine of Cos d'estourn Saint Estephe $70.00 The 2011 Les Pagodes de Cos is a stylish, elegant, mid-weight blend of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot with a small dab of Petit Verdot. It offers attractive berry fruit, licorice, underbrush and spice box notes in a finesse styled format. Drink it over the next decade. (RP) Marquis de Calon 2nd Wine of Calon Segur Saint Estephe $42.00 Sweeter more plummy nose than the grand vin but still very fresh with just a hint of cedar. Denser and firmer and less elegant. More chocolate and less fluid freshness on the palate, though it is still fresh. A more gourmand wine for the second wine. Powerful but velvety. Less elegant, more rounded, less tension. More monolithic. (JR) Montrose 2eme Cru Classe Saint Estephe $ This wine has aromatic range and depth of fruit, offering enticing dark currant, plum and blackberry notes that show lots of savory herb and racy chalk notes, with a long, gravelly finish. A terrific effort in one of the more heterogeneous appellations of the vintage. (WS) Pauillac D'Armailhac 5eme Cru Classe Pauillac $68.99 Bright and racy, with pronounced acidity giving nice cut to the red currant, plum and cherry notes. A singed wood hint slides in on the finish, adding length and definition. Not massive, but pure and precise. (WS) Carruades de Lafite 2nd Wine of Lafite Rothsc Pauillac $ This has a richness that stands out for 2011, delivering roasted fig and plum flavors, with good smoldering tobacco and black tea notes, before the tangy damson plum and iron elements more typical of the vintage finally start to emerge on the finish. (WS)

3 12951 Clerc-Milon 5eme Cru Classe Pauillac $80.00 Displays a strong tobacco leaf edge from the start, along with smoke and singed balsam wood notes, all weaving around a core of dark plum and black cherry fruit. A touch firm in the end right now, but shows very good range. (WS) Duhart Milon 4eme Cru Classe Pauillac $ This 2011 shows lots of sweet tobacco and blueberry character. Full and silky with fine tannins. Keeps fresh. Long. Well done. (JS) Grand Puy Ducasse 5eme Cru Classe Pauillac $74.99 Soft and velvety wine with polished tannins and juicy acidity. Medium to full body. Wait and see how the mid-palate fills in. (JS) Grand Puy Lacoste 5eme Cru Classe Pauillac $85.00 Nice, fresh, floral style, with violet and sandalwood notes up front followed by a core of plum, bergamot and cherry sauce flavors. Lightly dusty finish. Has some weight in reserve and so could flesh out more. (WS) La Coste Boire 2nd Wine of Grand Puy La Pauillac 15.5 $42.00 A light and lively Pauillac with attractive, forward fruit. Drink (DEC) Lafite Rothschild 1er Cru Classe Pauillac $ Still tightly wound and very restrained, but there's a serious well of black plum and macerated currant fruit in reserve, held behind substantial but well-ripened tannins and a strong chalk and iron note. There's a nice austerity to the very driven mineral finish. (WS) Latour 1er Cru Classe Pauillac $ This is all silk and velvet, with a gorgeous mouthfeel as the wine sails along, with cassis, cherry eau de vie and freshly sliced plum flavors, with a deeply ingrained iron note that adds considerable length on the finish. (WS) Le Petit Mouton 2nd Wine of Mouton Roth Pauillac $ A supple red, with charming cherry and plum perfume notes. There's good focus to the cassis and blackberry fruit, which is backed by a stylish finish. (WS) Les Forts de Latour 2nd Wine of Latour Pauillac $ This wine is sleek, velvety, caressing even, with no angles at all, offering pure cherry preserves and floral notes, with a long, cassis-infused finish that expands nicely as this airs. (WS) Lynch Bages 5eme Cru Classe Pauillac $ This has nice weight and intensity, with a solid core of plum, blackberry and cassis that's offset by a racy, spicy frame. Very sleek through the finish, with latent depth in reserve. (WS) Mouton-Rothschild 1er Cru Classe Pauillac $ Delivers a pure beam of cassis, raspberry and cherry, with lightly toasted spice notes and a firm plum skin edge holding sway on the finish. Stretched out somewhat already, this seems nicely tuned and has good buried minerality. (WS) Pichon Baron 2eme Cru Classe Pauillac $ This splendid Pauillac exhibits an impressively saturated ruby/purple color as well as notes of spring flowers interwoven with creme de cassis, licorice and background incense and toasty oak. The tannins are firm and the wine is medium-bodied and rich with layers of fruit and extract as well as a long finish. An outstanding example of the vintage, it will need 3-4 years of cellaring and should drink well for years. (RP) Pichon Lalande 2eme Cru Classe Pauillac $ The final blend for the 2011 Pichon Lalande was 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Under the administration of the new owners, the Merlot component has been dramatically reduced in favor of more Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend. A strong effort, the 2011 boasts a dense ruby/purple color and abundant aromas of black currants intermixed with unsmoked cigar tobacco, serious body, more concentration than most of the classified growths, and a bigger, more structured style that may suggest a subtle change in the winemaking philosophy at this estate. This impressive wine is one of the vintage s most interesting efforts. It should drink well for years. (RP) Pontet Canet 5eme Cru Classe Pauillac $ A wine with very clear fruit definition and minerals with hints of flowers. Full body with fine tannins and a a fresh finish. Mineral and dried flowers. Long and crisp. Lovely quality of tannins. Love to see a little more fruit concentration in mid-palate. (JS) Reserve de la Comtesse 2nd Wine of Pichon Laland Pauillac $64.99 A wine with a seamless tannin structure of ripe tannins. Very fine and polished. Lovely subtle fruit. Well done for second wine of Pichon Lalande. (JS)

4 Saint Julien Beychevelle 4eme Cru Classe Saint Julien $ Well-expressed Cabernet fruit and typical Beychevelle restrained elegance, with more fruit and depth to show as it matures. Drink (DEC) Branaire-Ducru 4eme Cru Classe Saint Julien $70.00 A very pretty red with flowers, blackberries, and blueberries. Full and silky with racy tannins and a long finish. Some hints of cocoa and pleasant bitterness. Well structured. (JS) Clos du Marquis 2nd Wine of Leoville Las C Saint Julien $72.00 A top-notch success that tips the scales at 13.6% natural alcohol, this is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 13% Cabernet Franc. Deep purplecolored with lots of pure creme de cassis and black cherry liqueur notes intermixed with notions of cedar, vanillin and spice box. With good acidity, ripe tannin and surprising concentration as well as depth, this classic St. Julien has once again over-performed. (RP) Du Glana Cru Bourgeois Saint Julien $40.00 This has a succulent core of raspberry and blackberry fruit, laced with roasted tobacco and backed by a hint of tar. (WS) Ducru Beaucaillou 2eme Cru Classe Saint Julien $ One of the vintage s stars, the 2011 Ducru Beaucaillou is a riveting blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of creme de cassis, licorice, subtle wood smoke and spring flowers, a surprising, full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning intensity, purity, symmetry and length. Production at this estate used to be 12,000-15,000 cases, but after instituting a strict selection in addition to the smallest yields ever at this vineyard, it is down to 9,000 cases. The 2011 has considerable tannin, but it is soft and well-integrated. It should drink well for 20+ years. Readers should also be aware of just how sensational the second wine can be. (RP) La Croix de Beaucaillou 2nd Wine of Ducru Beauca Saint Julien $54.00 The opaque ruby/purple-tinged 2011 La Croix de Beaucaillou (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot) exhibits copious aromas of incense, Christmas fruitcake and red and black currants presented in a richly fruity, opulent style that is almost atypical in a vintage such as 2011 (which generally emphasizes acidity, delineation and more traditional structure and freshness). This beauty is clearly a sleeper of the vintage. It should drink well for years. (RP) Lagrange 3eme Cru Classe Saint Julien $80.00 Supple, with a nice creamy feel to the plum, fig and blackberry flavors. A light stony edge lends some additional length and definition on the finish. (WS) Lalande Borie Cru Bourgeois Saint Julien $40.00 This blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon is a fleshy, open-knit vin de plaisir offering copious fruit, not a great deal of complexity, but a fleshy mouthfeel and good texture as well as length. Drink it over the next 7-8 years. (RP) Langoa Barton 3eme Cru Classe Saint Julien $74.99 This is dense with a lovely blueberry and mineral character. Full body, with silky tannins and a long finish. It is very pretty. Well done. (JS) Leoville Barton 2eme Cru Classe Saint Julien $ Very floral with blueberry and blackberry on the nose. Mineral undertones. Full body, with chewy tannins and long intense finish. Serious structure and balance for the vintage. (JS) Leoville-Las Cases 2eme Cru Classe Saint Julien $ This has very solid guts, with dark, almost brooding plum compote, currant paste and anise notes, followed by a hint of roasted juniper wood on the finish, which smolders nicely. An iron hint lurks throughout as well. (WS) Les Arums de Lagrange Bordeaux Blanc Saint Julien $36.00 The Les Arums de Lagrange 2011 is a white wine, made by Château Lagrange. Its origin is Bordeaux Contrôlée in Bordeaux, France. It is made from a Sémillon- Sauvignon Blanc blend. It is produced from the 2011 harvest Les Fiefs De Lagrange 2nd Wine of Lagrange Saint Julien 16.5 $38.00 Bright crimson. Attractive sweet red fruit, touch of spice. Fragrant and inviting. Elegant, juicy, fresh and so bright. Fine boned and scented. Dry, fresh finish. (JR) Sarget de Gruaud Larose 2nd Wine of Gruaud Laros Saint Julien $38.00 Bright and clean fruit with some currants and flowers. Medium body. Slightly hollow center palate. Second wine of Gruaud-Larose. (JS)

5 Listrac Fourcas Dupre Cru Bourgeois Listrac $24.00 Friendly plum and black cherry notes with a lacing of sweet tobacco on the finish. Not big, but nice purity. Soft. (WS) Moulin Chasse Spleen Cru Bourgeois Moulis $54.99 It is a medium-bodied, straightforward Medoc displaying classic herbal and black currant notes as well as light but noticeable tannin in the short finish. (RP) Mauvesin Barton Moulis 15.5 $28.00 Lifted fruit for Listrac with more elegance than power. Drink (DEC) Poujeaux Cru Bourgeois Moulis $50.00 A wine with blueberry and violet character on the nose and palate. Citrus rind too. Intense. Very well done. (JS) Haut Medoc Beaumont Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc $25.00 Attractive cassis fruit, nice smoothness and some charm, as well a grip. Drink (DEC) Belgrave 5eme Cru Classe Haut Medoc $48.00 A wine with velvety tannins and a lots of blueberries on the nose and palate. Full body, soft and structured. Nicely done for the vintage. (JS) Belle-Vue Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc $25.00 Nice, ripe, saturated feel, with lots of cassis and crushed plum fruit coursing along, and mouthwatering spice and graphite kicking in on the finish. Very tasty. (WS) Cambon La Pelouse Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc $27.00 Good depth of Cabernet fruit a well made wine. Drink (DEC) Cantemerle 5eme Cru Classe Haut Medoc $56.99 This is a traditional, authentic example of Cantemerle s vineyard as well as its general winemaking style. Elegant and mid-weight with a finesse-filled style, the 2011 exhibits a dark ruby hue with purple nuances in addition to a bouquet of mulberries, cranberries and black cherries intermixed with flowers and forest floor. Medium-bodied and soft as well as crunchy and vibrant, it can be enjoyed over the next years. (RP) Caronne St. Gemme Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc $21.00 Very fine and racy, with licorice and blackberries and pretty and racy tannins. (JS) D'Arche Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc $25.00 Red, Smooth & Supple. Made from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot Demoiselle De Sociando 2nd Wine of Sociando Ma Haut Medoc $30.00 The second wine of Sociando-Mallet. A rich and dark hue, with a vibrant purple rim. A great depth of fruit on the nose, rich and impressive. The same fine substance on the palate, with a lovely depth of dark fruits, ripe yet fresh, showing some appropriate acidity. A very bright and stylish character on the palate overall, but there is also the substance to back it up, so that although it has good structure there is rich fruit too. A successful second wine. (JR) La Bernadotte Haut Medoc $30.00 A sleeper of the vintage, this estate, owned by the proprietors of Pichon Lalande, has produced a seductive, charming Composed of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it offers up a seductive bouquet of tobacco leaf, red and dark berry fruit, and hints of cedar, wood smoke and earth. Ripe, medium-bodied and silky smooth, this dense ruby/plum/purple-colored La Bernadotte can be enjoyed over the next 8-10 years. (RP) La Lagune 3eme Cru Classe Haut Medoc $78.00 A dark plum/ruby/purple color is followed by aromas of dense, rich black raspberries, black currants, loamy soil and a hint of new oak. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, decent acidity and loads of fruit and glycerin presented in a forward, appealing, seductive style, it can be enjoyed over the next decade. (RP)

6 12879 La Tour Carnet 4eme Cru Classe Haut Medoc $58.00 This blend of 57% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot exhibits a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of black cherries, black currants, graphite and smoky oak. Medium-bodied with excellent density and fruit, good acidity and silky tannins, this striking 2011 should drink well for 15 or more years. La Tour Carnet is usually priced very fairly. (RP) Lanessan Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc 15.5 $31.00 Good broad fruit, needs time to open up. (DEC) Peyrabon Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc 15 $22.00 Nice open fruit, its an easy, supple Médoc. (DEC) Senejac Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc $ Sociando Mallet Cru Bourgeois Haut Medoc $50.00 The 2011 may turn out to be even better than the 2009 Sociando Mallet. Its opaque purple color is not unusual for a young Sociando Mallet, but the creme de cassis, graphite and floral characteristics impressively saturate the olfactory senses. Medium to full-bodied with excellent purity, texture and length as well as remarkably sweet tannins, this wine should drink nicely for years. (RP) Margaux-Red Alter Ego de Palmer 2nd Wine of Palmer Margaux $ Taut but sappy, with lots of white pepper and kirsch flavors and a chalky energy on the tightly wound finish. (WS) Angludet Cru Bourgeois Margaux $40.00 This wine offers an intriguing range of açaí berry, loganberry and blueberry fruit, with supple texture and a creamy milk chocolate hint on the finish. (WS) Brane Cantenac 3eme Cru Classe Margaux $72.00 Made in a sexy, perfumed style, this 2011 seduces the taster with its wonderful aromatics of blue, red and black fruits, flowers, damp earth and forest floor. With excellent to outstanding concentration, fresh acidity and velvety tannins, this plush Margaux is atypically opulent/flamboyant for the vintage. Drink it over the next years. (RP) D'Arsac 3eme Cru Classe Margaux 15.5 $33.00 Good floral, quite easy fruit, nice easy Margaux. Drink (DEC) D'Issan 3eme Cru Classe Margaux $74.99 A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and 31% Merlot, it possesses a dark ruby/purple color as well as a classic Margaux perfume of sweet blueberries, black currants, spring flowers and licorice. Ripe and deep with impressive intensity, it is one of the stars of the 2011 vintage. The wine s silky tannins, fresh acids and stunning length suggest it will drink well for years. (RP) Du Tertre 5eme Cru Classe Margaux $60.00 This is really well done with soft tannins and berry, cherry and chocolate character. Full body, with round tannins. This year has more Cabernet Franc with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot. (JS) Durfort Vivens 2eme Cru Classe Margaux $72.00 Light and friendly, with soft-edged plum, tea and incense notes that linger gently through the finish. (WS) Lascombes 2eme Cru Classe Margaux $94.00 A blend of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot that tips the scales at 14% natural alcohol, the 2011 Lascombes is another knock-out effort. Made in a more modern style with plenty of toasty oak intermixed with blueberry and black currant fruit as well as hints of licorice and camphor, the wines textured lushness on the mid-palate, sweet, well-integrated tannins and full-throttle finish result in an impressive Margaux to drink over the next 15 years. (RP) Margaux 1er Cru Classe Margaux $ A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, only 38% of the harvest made it into the grand vin. The wine offers an inky/purple color, barely noticeable sweet tannin, and a beautiful nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers and lead pencil shavings backed up by fresh acids and good overall structure. This medium to full-bodied effort possesses tremendous personality and character. (RP) Marquis de Terme 4eme Cru Classe Margaux $72.00 Very solid, with good cocoa and espresso notes leading the way for dark plum and currant preserve flavors. Rich, velvety finish has nice underlying grip. (WS)

7 12917 Palmer 3eme Cru Classe Margaux $ Shows an ample core of kirsch and bright cherry fruit that's very expressive, with flecks of white pepper, violet and tobacco. The racy acidity is well-embedded, and this has solid length, with a velvety edge in reserve that lets extra cassis and violet notes emerge. Should stretch out nicely during the rest of its élevage. (WS) Pavillon Rouge 2nd Wine of Margaux Margaux $ The 2011 Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux is one of the finest examples of this cuvee I have ever tasted. It hit 13% natural alcohol and represents only 28% of the harvest. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc reveals more structure than most vintages in addition to lots of dark berry fruit intermixed with hints of wood smoke, forest floor and spring flowers. Very pure with striking minerality as well as a long finish, it should drink well for two decades or more. (RP) Rauzan Gassies 2eme Cru Classe Margaux $80.00 A strong effort from this somewhat forgotten Margaux classified growth, the 2011 Rauzan Gassies reveals a healthy dark plum/purple color in addition to a sweet nose of creosote, black currants and mossy, foresty notes, and a lush, medium-bodied, soft, round mid-palate as well as finish. The tannins are wellintegrated, and the acidity is sufficient for freshness and definition. Drink it over the next years. (RP) Rauzan Segla 2eme Cru Classe Margaux $ The 2011 Rauzan Segla is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. The 2011 possesses some characteristics reminiscent of the estate s fabulous 1986, both wines sharing great intensity, structure and formidable aging potential. Moreover, analytically, the 2011 has similar numbers to both the 2009 and 2010, which is remarkable given the overall weather conditions in Bordeaux during the 2011 growing season. The natural alcohol is 13% and the wine is full-bodied, but this 2011 will require patience as it needs a minimum of 5-6 years to become drinkable. It should keep for two decades or more. (RP) Tour de Mons Cru Bourgeois Margaux $32.00 Shows a perfumy, sandalwood edge, with plush plum, earth and lilac notes that all glide through the dusty-edged finish. (WS) Margaux-White Pavillon Blanc White Wine of Margaux Margaux $ The density and crispiness of this Sauvignon Blanc is fabulous with dried lemons, oranges and mangos. Full body with fabulous acidity that drives to the finish. Mineraly. Turn to white pepper! Lively. (JS) Pessac Leognan-Red Wine Brown Rouge Pessac Leognan $40.00 This has concentration and grip, with layered cassis, raspberry coulis and blackberry paste flavors driving along hints of sweet spice. The finish is dense but polished. (WS) Carbonnieux Rouge Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $56.00 A tangy mix of damson plum, loganberry and cherry pit notes, with lightly taut structure framing the finish. (WS) Chapelle Mission Haut Brion 2nd Wine of La Mission Ha Pessac Leognan $ Tight, with hints of mesquite and tar, showing good racy tobacco leaf and cassis notes. (WS) Domaime de Chevalier Rouge Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $70.00 Very polished tannins to this refined and beautiful red with minerals and blackberries. Some wet earth too. Full and very integrated now. (JS) Haut Brion 1er Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $ Manages to harness the angularity of the vintage extremely well, almost burying the acidity in the core of cassis, black cherry skin, plum pit and maduro tobacco flavors. This is typically among the most backward wines of the vintage when young, and it's still tight and primal, but with admirable length and density already. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. (WS) Haut-Bailly Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $ Classic red and black currant aromas interspersed with notions of wet stones/crushed rocks, tobacco leaf and spice box are followed by a medium-bodied, wellbalanced, impressively pure wine built on finesse and understatement. This beauty is capable of drinking well young or over the next 15+ years. (RP) La Garde Pessac Leognan $32.00 Nice range of plum, blueberry, raspberry and black cherry, all melded together, along with sleek mouthfeel, enticing spice notes and a lingering black tea edge. Nicely done. (WS)

8 12934 Le Clarence 2nd Wine of Haut Brion Pessac Leognan $ Offers the racy, taut edge of the vintage, but shows slightly better flesh than its La Chapelle counterpart. In the end, this offers a nice briary edge to its range of red and blue fruits, with a lively iron note on the finish. (WS) Les Carmes Haut Brion Pessac Leognan $ Polished, with nice mouth feel range of cassis, black cherry and raspberry fruit. Sweet spice fills in on the finish. This wine should stretch out more as well. (WS) La Mission Haut Brion Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $ Tightly wound, with a good chalky vibrancy and taut red currant, damson plum and bitter cherry notes that show ample length. (WS) Rahoul Pessac Leognan $22.00 Open knit, but with a nice briary edge guiding the plum and currant notes. Flashes of savory herb and iron on the finish. (WS) Smith Haut Lafite Rouge Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $ Offers pure, driven plum, cassis and black cherry notes inlaid with graphite and roasted wood spice. Dense without being overextracted. Very sleek. Rock-solid. (WS) Pessac Leognan- White Wine Brown Blanc Pessac Leognan $40.00 This wine still has to stretch out a bit, as the large core of citrus oil, kiwifruit and gooseberry notes is still tightly wound. Yellow apple peel and tangy fleur de sel notes check in on the finish. Youthfully raw, but with lots of material. (WS) Carbonnieux Blanc Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $60.00 Riveting acidity carries the sweet pea, mâche, chalk and kaffir lime notes in this super racy, light-bodied version. (WS) Domaine De Chevalier Blanc Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $ Amazing nose of dried fruits from peaches to apples to mangos. Pink grapefruit too. Full and very powerful white with an incredible length and intensity. It's like a beautiful block of velvet in your mouth. It goes on for minutes and becomes so mineraly and subtly fruity at the end. Turns just to honey. Wow. (JS) Haut Brion Blanc 1er Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $1, Floral and lifted dry herbs on the nose. Quite rich on the palate with great vivacity and elegance, great purity and length. Drink (DEC) La Garde Blanc Pessac Leognan $38.00 Solid and layered with sliced green apple, lemon, chalk and minerals. Full and structured. The mouth feel of a top red, even though it's white. (JS) Rahoul Blanc Pessac Leognan $25.00 Lots of lemon zest and grapefruit pulp notes lead to a fresh, floral and very lively finish. Brisk and nervy. (WS) Smith Haut Lafite Blanc Grand Cru Classe Pessac Leognan $ Shows lovely ripeness, with peach, melon rind and yellow apple fruit flavors, but still plenty tangy, with fleur de sel and gooseberry notes along the edges. Very long, with a great interplay between ripe fruit and bracing minerality. Mouthwatering finish. (WS) Sauternes/Barsac/White Wine Carmes de Rieussec 2nd Wine of Rieussec Sauternes/Barsac $42.00 Semillon - 80% Sauvignon Blanc - 20% The second wine of Chateau Rieussec is selected from the same standards as the wine. White - Rich & Creamy. Its constant feature is a fine aromatic one dominated by citrus aromas Climens (750ml) 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Climens (375ml) $82.00 Tasting through individual lots, I was struck by their purity and tautness, developing engaging floral aromas with aeration, with occasional notes of yellow plum and ginger. On the palate, once again there is a common theme of purity and crisp acidity, although they alternated between a lighter and a more mellifluous style. One or two significant lots demonstrated enticing spicy notes that define great Climens. There is certainly enormous potential here, one that beckons an intense, vivacious Barsac underpinned by freshness and focus. (RP) Coutet (750ml) 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Coutet (375ml) $48.00 This is really packed, with heather, golden raisin, dried pineapple, fresh white peach, quince and honey notes all woven beautifully together. The long, pure, singing finish has loads in reserve. (WS)

9 12936 D'Arche 2eme Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $50.00 The Chateau D Arche has a seductive bouquet that opens teasingly with each swirl of the glass, with pure aromas of honey, quince and a tang of marmalade. The palate has a vibrant, racy opening with superb acidity that has more energy than it knows what to do with! It is threaded through with pure citrus fruits complemented by apricot and white peach that leads to a defined crisp, focused, tensile finish. This is an impressive Chateau D Arche. Drink (RP) Doisy Daene (750ml) 2eme Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Doisy Daene (375ml) $33.00 Very backward today, with viscous green plum, green almond, quince, pineapple, fig and pear notes still assimilating one another. The long, toasted almond and ginger-filled finish has terrific depth. (WS) Doisy-Vedrines 2eme Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $60.00 A bright, almost chiseled style, offering fresh-cut pineapple, quince and candied Meyer lemon flavors, with a long, floral-filled finish. Seriously long, with lovely lacy detail already showing on the finish. Should be long-lived. (WS) Extravagant Doisy Daene (375ml) Sauternes/Barsac $ The 2011 Extravagant does not have an explosive nose like other vintages, but one that unfurls in the glass with gorgeous ripe kiwi fruit, dried honey and quince. The palate possesses a ravishing entry with vibrant white peach and apricot notes; a silver thread of acidity that cuts through its viscous texture like a knife through (very sweet) butter. The tongue positively tingles with pleasure after this elixir has been ejected. This is nothing short of spectacular even if personally, I think the regular Doisy-Daene is just as worthy. Drink (RP) Filhot (750ml) 2eme Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Filhot (375ml) $20.00 This is really intense with dried apricot and lots of botrytis spices from nutmeg to white pepper. Full body, very sweet and a rich finish. Best Filhot in years. (JS) La Tour Blanche 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ A very flattering style, with a good range of fresh-cut pineapple, white peach, golden raisin and creamed pear notes that all glide through the lush, inviting finish. (WS) Lafaurie Peyraguey (750ml) 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Lafaurie Peyraguey (375ml) $34.00 The impressive Lafaurie Peyraguey has a light but well-defined, almond-scented nose with a satisfactory level of botrytis. With aeration, hints of pineapple begin to emerge with aromas of vanilla and white peach. The palate is medium-bodied with a very composed, very pure entry and a keen thread of acidity. It shows admirable weight and botrytization, with a gorgeous spicy finish that has impressive persistency. Drink (RP) Myrat 2eme Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $54.00 Ripe and well-endowed, with youthfully raw apricot, peach and orange notes still knitting together, liberally laced with almond cream and ginger. Powerful finish. (WS) Raymond Lafon (750ml) Sauternes/Barsac $ Raymond Lafon (375ml) $27.00 Quite ripe, offering a large core of orange peel, date and almond notes, with a toasted hazelnut-filled finish. There's plenty of dried mango and apricot in reserve, with a toasty piecrust note. Powerfully rendered. Needs some time. (WS) Rayne Vigneau (750ml) 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Rayne Vigneau (375ml) $33.00 Sweet and rich, but with a racy edge, showing nicely detailed orange zest, fig, apricot and nectarine notes. A firm hint of bitter almond adds length on the finish. Very solid. (WS) Rieussec (750ml) 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Rieussec (375ml) $54.99 This is a fabulous Sauternes with dried peaches, pineapples and mango. Apricots and hints of spices. Even jam. Full-bodied, medium sweet with intense and powerful palate. This wine has 147 grams of residual sugar. So balanced and long. (JS) Sigalas Rabaud (750ml) 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Sigalas Rabaud (375ml) $35.00 Quite rich, with mango, pineapple and apricot notes on a large frame. The long, creamy finish features a lot of ginger and nectarine. Shows raw power now, but the purity and length are here. (WS)

10 12805 Suduiraut 1er Cru Classe Sauternes/Barsac $ Suduiraut (375ml) $49.00 Superlively, with orange blossom, white cherry, pineapple, apricot and peach flavors all bouncing off one another. The long, piecrust-framed finish lets it all hang together nicely. (WS) Doisy Daene Blanc Bordeaux Blanc Bordeaux Blanc $32.00 The aromatics on the Doisy Daene comes racing out of the blocks like a March hare, soaring from the glass with honey, quince and lychee aromas with a sorbet like freshness and vivacity. The palate is supremely well balanced with a heightened level of tension and purity, offering delectable but subtle notes of white peach and apricot towards the beautifully composed, mineral-rich finish. Curiously, it reminds me of a top-flight Mosel Auslese, but what a fabulous Barsac from Denis Dubourdieu! (RP) Right Bank Fronsac Gaby Fronsac $28.00 An impressive blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2011 Gaby is deep, rich and concentrated. A sleeper of the vintage. Enjoy this beauty over the next decade. (RP) La Rouselle Fronsac 15.5 $30.00 Agreeable depth of fruit. Fresh and long with leafy, floral notes (35% Cabernet Franc). Satisfying. Drink DEC Pomerol Clinet Pomerol $ Made from a final blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc that hit 14% natural alcohol, the inky, opaque purple-colored 2011 exhibits notes of blackberries, blueberries, espresso roast and subtle oak. Full-bodied, layered, opulent and flamboyant for a 2011, with loads of concentration and glycerin as well as a long finish, this is one of the most impressive wines of the vintage. It should drink well for two decades. (RP) Conseillante Pomerol $ Shows the elegant, caressing fruit of the vintage, with supple cassis, blackberry and cherry compote notes, while harnessing the lively acidity and burying it nicely in toast- and black tea-infused wood. Features a classy, silky finish. (WS) de Sales Pomerol $38.00 Owned by the same family since the late 15th century, this domaine is the largest in the Pomerol appellation: 47.5 hectares, 70% of which are planted with Merlot, and the remainder with equal amounts of Cabernet-Franc and Cabernet-Sauvignon Eglise Clinet Pomerol $ The powerhouse 2011 Eglise Clinet is one of the most densely packed and stacked wines of Pomerol. Inky ruby/purple-colored with a classic bouquet of black currants, black cherries, creme caramel and vanillin, it reveals great fruit on the attack and mid-palate, medium to full body, lavish extraction, no bitterness, sweet, well-integrated tannins, and enough acidity for vibrancy and definition. It should be drinkable in 3-5 years and last for two decades or more. (RP) Evangile Pomerol $ Love the nose of flowers, blackberries and minerals. Full and very silky with fresh acidity and a clean, long finish. Sexy. 94% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. (JS) Gazin Pomerol $99.00 Still quite primal, with fleshy plum skin, warm raspberry confiture and dark roasted woodspice notes still wrestling a bit with each other. A bit thick on the finish as this seems to have aimed for extraction; it will need to develop some finesse during the élevage for balance. (WS) La Pointe Pomerol $58.00 Lots of mineral, flower and blueberry character in this. Full body, with silky tannins and a juicy, lemon rind finish. Stylish for the vintage. (JS) Le Gay Pomerol $ Dense and masculine with an inky/purple color, the 2011 Le Gay offers notes of truffles, roasted meats, black fruits, graphite and flowers. It is a powerful, rich Pomerol with stunning intensity and a long finish. This burly, full-throttle effort has a lot in common with the style of Trotanoy (even though the terroirs are different). Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. (RP) Petit Village Pomerol $ Nicely refined, with a supple feel to the light wood spice and sandalwood shadings that frame the core of cassis, mulled cherry and blackberry fruit. Stays velvety through the finish. (WS)

11 13058 Vieux Chateau Certan Pomerol $ Made in a big, bold style with 13.6% natural alcohol, it reveals a stunning perfume of graphite, mulberries, black currants, kirsch, licorice and forest floor. This full-bodied, dense Pomerol transcends the overall vintage character. Thienpont compared the style of the 2011 with their 2000, but with more density to its core because of the extremely low yields. Only 60% of the crop made it into this cuvee. It will need 5-8 years of cellaring, and should still be intact and drinking beautifully at age 30. (RP) Saint Emilion Angelus 1er Grand Cru (B) Saint Emilion $ A final blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. The color is a typical dense blue/purple, and the nose offers up wonderful notes of black raspberries, blueberries, flowers, vanillin and spice box. With authority, velvety tannin, good extract and glycerin, this rich, pure, beautifully textured St. Emilion should drink well for 20+ years. (RP) Ausone 1er Grand Cru (A) Saint Emilion $1, The 2011 exhibits a murky, inky, blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of creme de cassis, plum sauce, crushed rocks (primarily chalk), acacia flowers and hints of graphite, truffles and damp forest floor. The riveting aromatics are followed by a wine that does not let the taster down in the mouth. Fullbodied with extraordinary purity, oozing richness and well-integrated velvety tannins, acidity, oak and alcohol, this is another superb achievement by Vauthier from this phenomenal site on the decomposed limestone hillsides of St. Emilion. Possibly the longest-lived wine of the vintage, it should evolve for years. (RP) Beausejour Duffau-Lagaros 1er Grand Cru (B) Saint Emilion $ Open and inviting, with almost gushy blueberry, fig and boysenberry fruit at first. But then there's lively acidity stitching the finish together, with bouncy spice and anise notes and a streak of graphite that should emerge more through the élevage. This has some serious range, echoing with fruit and spice. (WS) Bellevue Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $85.00 This has range, but stays suave, offering creamy-edged blackberry and blueberry fruit, with gentle spice and toast shadings and a very nicely melded feel on the finish. This has power in reserve. (WS) Bellevue Mondotte Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $ This wine exhibits massive, full-bodied power, extraordinary depth and richness as well as a boatload of tannins that have yet to soften and mellow. This appears to be a long-term proposition for most readers. I suspect it will soften considerably during its upbringing in oak barrels, and will undoubtedly require 5-6 years of cellaring after its release in If you are young, wealthy and have a lot of patience, purchasing this wine should be a serious consideration as it should turn out to be one of the great 2011s. (RP) Berliquet Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $64.99 This stunning success from Berliquet is unquestionably a sleeper of the vintage. Made from 75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, The dense blue/purple-colored 2011 offers a big, sweet kiss of blackberries, black cherries, licorice and crushed chalk. It possesses plenty of minerality as well as impressively concentrated fruit and a nicely extracted (but not over-extracted) personality. It will provide plenty of enjoyment for 15 or more years. (RP) Canon 1er Grand Cru (B) Saint Emilion $ This has a clean, sleek profile of fresh plum and raspberry coulis, relatively light-handed toast and nice flashes of anise and mineral on the silky finish. (WS) Canon La Gaffeliere Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $90.00 Exhibits very pretty red currant, violet and red licorice notes, with a sleek, mineral-tinged finish. This is also sneakily long, relying more on purity than power. This could move up if it puts on weight. (WS) Cantenac Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $30.00 Plenty of juicy fruit with blackberry and mineral character. Medium body, with chewy tannins and a medium finish. Little hollow. (JS) Carillon De L'Angelus 2nd Wine of Angelus Saint Emilion $92.00 Taut, slightly austere style, with a roasted cedar frame to notes of loam, mulled blackberry and bittersweet cocoa. (WS) Chapelle d'ausone 2nd Wine of Ausone Saint Emilion $ The 2011 Chapelle d Ausone offers a dense opaque purple color as well as striking floral notes intermixed with notions of blackberries and blueberries. It possesses full-bodied richness, good minerality, terrific palate-penetrating characteristics and an unreal finish. It, too, is one of the top wines of the vintage, and it should be drinkable at an earlier date than its bigger sibling. (RP) Cheval Blanc 1er Grand Cru (A) Saint Emilion $ Somewhat reminiscent of their brilliant 1998, the 2011 Cheval Blanc has turned out to be a top-notch success. Its deep garnet/plum/purple color is followed by hints of blueberry confiture intermixed with raspberries, mocha, damp forest and a hint of mint. Exhibiting a velvety, opulent texture along with considerable class and flesh as well as sweet tannin, this flavorful, forward 2011 should drink beautifully for two decades or more. (RP)

12 12819 Cheval Noir Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $54.99 Here is a big and solid wine, dominated by dark wood tannins. It is heavy on the toast. (Wine Enthusiast) Clos Fourtet 1er Grand Cru (B) Saint Emilion $ Starts slowly, with modest dark plum and blackberry fruit, but then the acidity kicks in and takes the fleshy core and bouncy side notes through the lengthy finish, which has a lovely echo of raspberry. (WS) Clos La Madeleine Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $54.99 This has a toasty coating for now, but there's a solid core of plum and cassis in reserve and a very pretty violet note that adds lift on the finish. A tiny property worth keeping an eye on. Hubert de Boüard de Laforest is now consulting here. (WS) Dassault Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $50.00 Lush and open, with lots of velvety plum coulis, blackberry paste and dark cherry notes, and ample anise and graphite on the finish. Rich, but sleek too. (WS) Faugeres Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $45.00 The impressively endowed 2011 Faugeres is a big wine for the vintage, boasting an opaque ruby/purple color as well as notes of creosote, black currants, blueberries, coffee beans and toasty oak. This modern-styled, full-bodied, pure, textured, long St.-Emilion s zesty acidity gives freshness and vibrancy to this big wine. It tips the scales at 14% natural alcohol, and is a blend of 85% Merlot with the rest primarily Cabernet Franc and a tiny bit of Cabernet Sauvignon. It should evolve for years. (RP) Figeac 1er Grand Cru (B) Saint Emilion $ A reticent, muscular style, with lots of macerated dark currant and plum notes and ample briary grip cutting through on the finish. This has depth and heft and needs some time to stretch out fully. (WS) Fleur Cardinale Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $52.00 Another top-notch success, the 2011 (70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon) hit 15% natural alcohol. Yields were a low 30 hectoliters per hectare, and the harvest occurred quite late. The result is a dense purple-colored wine with a stunning bouquet of blackberry jam, graphite, charcoal and blueberries. With superb density and purity as well as a multidimensional mouthfeel, this intense St. Emilion is a sleeper of the vintage, although consumers are catching on to the exquisite quality emerging from Fleur Cardinale. The 2011 should drink well for 15+ years. (RP) Fonroque Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $47.00 This biodynamically farmed vineyard owned by Alain Moueix has turned out an attractive, deep plum/ruby-hued 2011 offering dusty, earthy notes intermixed with hints of tobacco leaf, licorice and red and black currants. With attractive levels of fruit, this mid-weight St.-Emilion can be drunk over the next decade. (RP) Garcia Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion 15 $ Ripe to overripe with 'confit', plum notes. Plush, sweet fruited palate yet chewy and drying on the finish. (DEC) Grand Barrail Lamarzelle Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $34.00 This estate is on the up-swing, and their 2011 may be the finest effort I have ever tasted from La Marzelle. A deep ruby/purple color is followed by attractive red and black fruit notes intermixed with flower, soil and barrique undertones. Medium to full-bodied with good acidity, freshness and vibrancy as well as a surprisingly textured, heady finish, it should drink well for a decade or more. (RP) La Tour du Pin Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $62.00 Good damson plum and black cherry fruit, with a light sanguine edge threading the finish. (WS) Larcis Ducasse Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $74.99 This is lovely, with floral notes at first, which are then followed by pure, precise blueberry, plum and blackberry fruit aromas and flavors. Features a silky texture, fine acidity and a buried mineral hint on the finish. Classy. (WS) Le Carre Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $ Another beauty from Jonathan Maltus, this opaque purple-colored blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from vineyards near Clos Fourtet and the property formerly known as Cure Bon, possesses a thick purple color as well as a big, sweet bouquet of blackberries, charcoal, crushed chalk and new oak. Intense and full-bodied with elevated, but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this big wine should drink nicely for two decades or more. (RP) Le Dome Grand Cru Classe Saint Emilion $ A blend of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, this backward, slightly unformed St.-Emilion is bursting with exciting potential. An inky/blue/purple color is accompanied by notes of wet steel, lead pencil shavings, Asian spice, spring flowers, blueberries and black raspberries. While the aromatics are suppressed, the flavors explode across the palate with thrilling intensity and purity. This should be a remarkable success story in this vintage, which has been somewhat forgotten as it follows the great years of 2009 and Give the years of cellaring in order to develop more aromatic complexity, and drink it over the following two decades. (RP)