Chateau Cantemerle is terrific in 2009

These are the two appellations, alongside Moulis & Listrac [next post], have served up some of Bordeaux most affordable and exciting wines in 2009 – and many are still widely available. There is such joy, fragrance and fruit to be found here and considerable structure beneath. Amongst the crus classes Chateau Cantemerle is outstanding. I didn’t have the opportunity to taste their legendary 1983 at a similar age, but this wine must rank as one of the best efforts ever from this estate.   Chateau Belgrave is also a beauty, though a notch below Cantemerle at present. Chateau La Lagune should prove excellent although it did seem a fraction subdued. Chateau de Camensac had a slightly vegetal streak to me and was the least impressive at this stage while Chateau La Tour Carnet is opulent and sexy in the Bernard Magrez style. Wonderfully forward wines have been produced at Chateau Beaumont, Chateau Citran and Chateau Coufran. These are already appealing and wonderful to drink. Chateau La Tour de By has produced a delicious Médoc.

Chateau Cantemerle

2009 Saturated, deep colour; wow! Lovely plush sexy nose; seductive and deep and immediately appealing; fabulous nose with some coffee/mocha at the back; Margaux like, velvet palate with violets and blackcurrants and some mocha. This is excellent and tremendous value. Buy this in spades if you see it about. This is the best Cantemerle I’ve ever had. 94+/100

Chateau La Lagune

2009 Deepsish; some oak resin, red/black fruits; feels a bit ‘super Tuscan’ on the nose; tobacco, red fruits on the palate; maybe a little subdued and bottle shocked. Expected a better showing and expect it will show better later. Score reflects this likelihood.  91-92/100

Chateau Belgrave

2009 Deep and dark; ripe and deep nose; less immediately sexy and overt than Cantemerle but that’s relative; lots of blackcurrant fruit; open and plush palate; velvet quality here but with extract and intensity too. Grippy and tannic on the finish suggests real lasting power with lots of puppy fat. As good if not better than the lovely 2005 here. 91+/100

Chateau La Tour Carnet

2009 Deep and saturated; dense; jam and lots of red fruits in a super-ripe style; feels quite late picked; ripe and thick on the palate; strawberry and molasses; chewy and dense. Good length and very extracted. Very Magrez. 90+/100

Chateau Citran

2009 Mid red; very sexy and open red fruits on the nose; ripe and almost Burgundian; sweet entry on the palate; ripe, strawberry fruit; soft and ripe tannin. Lovely wine. For drinking from the off. 90+/100

Chateau de Camensac

2009 Deep and dark at core; deep blackcurrant nose; obvious depth but not as come-hither as some; open palate; quite worked with slight vegetal streak – maybe let’s call it ‘earthy’ – very grippy and tannic on the end with real bite. Not as immediately appealing as Cantemerle or Belgrave, it’s immediate classed growth competitors. See how this develops. 87-89?/100

Chateau Beaumont

2009 Mid red; fresh, almost maceration carbonique tones; vibrant certainly; more Moulin a Vent or Morgon! Palate chewy and deep – like this; youthful, vigorous yet fruity style that will be drinking wonderfully from the off. Fresh and fruity. 88+/100

Chateau Coufran

2009 Purple hues; mid depth and legs; lifted leaf and tobacco with blackcurrants and strawberry tones; spot on Haut-Medoc in 2009; blackcurrants, undergrowth and leaf; some chew here suggests a little time required to settle; Will develeop. Needs 2-3 years. Excellent Coufran. 88+/100

Chateau de Lamarque

2009 Red; fresh and dense Cabernet with some mineral freshness; earthy tones too; red fruits on the palate; lift; cassis and some jam; some density and ripe tannin but chew suggest needs a few years to settle. 87+/100

MEDOC

Chateau Greysac

2009 Mid depth; more red fruits; lifted; open and quite sexy; ripe red fruits; some strawberry jam and cherry; tannic finish. 86-87+/100

Chateau La Tour de By

2009 Deepish; some earthy blackcurrant tones; freshness here; blackcurrant Cabernet and leaf; good Medoc – this doesn’t disappoint; some chew and ripe tannin on the finish. Good stuff 87+/100