Long-time readers know d’Aurilhac is one of my favorite under-the-radar Bordeaux in top vintages. This impressively made Medoc offers a lot of quality for its price. The 2009 reveals copious black cherry, black currant, earth, and spice notes intertwined with a hint of background oak. A luscious texture, a succulent style, and a juicy, long finish suggest it will drink well for 5-7 years. (Tasted once.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

Not to be confused with St.-Emilion’s Bellevue, this has been one of the most consistent Medoc cru bourgeois over a number of years, and the 2009 may reach new quality heights. A big-time sleeper of the vintage, this blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Petit Verdot boasts a dense purple color as well as notes of creme de cassis and spring flowers, terrific fruit, sweet but noticeable tannin, and medium to full body. It can be drunk young or cellared for 8-10 years. (Tasted once.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

The finest La Bernadotte made to date, this 2009 is an undeniable sleeper of the vintage. Composed of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, it reveals a dense purple color along with a big, sweet kiss of black cherries, black currants, charcoal, and spice. With layers of fruit, decent acidity, freshness, and precision, and an opulent, fleshy, succulent style, it should drink easily for a decade or more. (Tasted once.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the Cabernet dominating, looks to be the best they have ever produced, even eclipsing the 2005. Dense purple in color, with extraordinarily elegant floral notes intermixed with raspberry, black currant, cherry, and spice box, it is medium to full-bodied, not massive, but again, very seamless, with beautiful precision, sweet tannins, and an endearing fleshiness and depth of flavor that are neither heavy nor fatiguing. This wine will be relatively approachable in 3-5 years and drink well for 25-30. (Tasted two times.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

This classic over-performer has turned out another super-attractive, supple-textured, dark ruby/purple-colored wine displaying notes of flowers, licorice, spice, and background oak. It should drink nicely for a decade or more. (Tasted two times.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

  Consultant Jean-Luc Thunevin has produced the finest wine yet made at Clement Pichon, a vineyard at the southern end of the Medoc. The 2009 reveals exuberant black currant fruit intermixed with incense, spice box, roasted herbs, and Christmas fruitcake. Fleshy, medium to full-bodied, opulent, and impressively pure as well as textured, it should evolve easily for a decade or more. (Tasted two times.)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

The 2009 Gironville is the best wine I have ever tasted from this estate in the southern Medoc. A blend of 50% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Petit Verdot that achieved 14% natural alcohol, this sleeper of the vintage exhibits a dark purple color in addition to beautiful notes of graphite, blueberries, flowers, and cassis, and a long, layered mouthfeel. A sensational value, the 2009 should drink well for a decade. (Tasted once.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

 I don’t think anyone could possibly rate this higher than the 2005, which is certainly the greatest wine made at this estate since 1982. However, this is another blockbuster, gorgeously aromatic, with notes of subtle oak interwoven with perfumed black, blue, and red fruits. Its opaque purple color, the gorgeous elegance allied to compelling intensity of flavor, and its full-bodied opulence make for the quintessential expression of this terroir. This is beauty that will be relatively approachable in 3-4 years and evolve for 20 or more years. (Tasted three times.)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

Generally a St.-Julien/Pauillac-like offering, the 2009 Lanessan seems more explosive and concentrated than prior vintages. I’m not sure it is the finest I have ever tasted, but it boasts a dense purple color as well as copious creme de cassis, cedar wood, underbrush, and spice notes. Beautiful opulence, silky tannins, and a long finish suggest this sleeper of the vintage will drink well for 2-3 decades. (Tasted once.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

Run by the Cordier family, with the vineyard managed by Alfred Tesseron’s team at Pontet-Canet, this is the first vintage from their biodynamically farmed estate, and it is certainly the best wine I have ever tasted from Senejac. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, oodles of black currant fruit are intermixed with some licorice, underbrush, and foresty notes. Great fruit, a sumptuous, fleshy texture, and plenty of succulence and length make for a big, rich, nicely textured wine to drink over the next decade. (Tasted two times.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

Ferocious tannins are not unusual for Sociando Mallet, but I was surprised that in a vintage that produced exceptionally tannic, but ripe wines, the Sociando Mallet tannins were atypically austere. Nevertheless, the wine boasts huge concentration along with an inky/purple color, a full-bodied, powerful palate, and a long finish. Excellent purity, density, and minerality are present in this cuvee, and it is capable of lasting 30-40 years. This estate is situated on some of the finest terroir of the Haut-Medoc, near Calon-Segur in St.-Estephe. (Tasted two times.) 

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes

The finest wine made here since the 2005, the 2009 (a blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) was harvested between September 29 and October 22. Its dense purple color is followed by abundant aromas of camphor, charcoal, barrique, blackberries, and creme de cassis. Dense, structured, and full-bodied with high, but sweet, well-integrated tannins, and tremendous precision as well as freshness, this 2009 should evolve for 20-25 years. (Tasted three times.)

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)

  Wine notes