Bordeaux 2009 Primeurs: Pomerol
2009 is a beautiful vintage here in Pomerol. Lovely wines full of attractive fruit with concentration and intensity. Extraction very much in check compared with St Emilion. Seductive and packed with fruit, these are wines that should be approachable early and some are already showing well. The following were tasted at Chateau Gazin as part of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux tastings.
Chateau Beauregard, Pomerol, 2009
Mid red/black; quite dense; solid fruit nose, some sweetness; attractive; some red fruits and also minerals and chalk; palate quite taut and dense; nicely done with chocolate. Well balanced compared to the wines of St Emilion. Very good [later] Appealing fruit driven nose; some red fruits; attractive and violets. Will give lots of pleasure. Palate sweet entry and attractive.92+/100. Tasted 31st March 2010.
Chateau Clinet, Pomerol, 2009
Mid depth; deep; very perfumed and attractive nose; plums, spice and lovely oak; red fruits too; seductive; Palate round and generous; big and bold but tannin extraction well done here. This is excellent. Some coffee on the finish. [Later] Very ripe nose; almost like the Petit Village; attractive; sweet, fragrant and seductive; excellent; red fruits, plums; very sublime palate, pretty spicy. Tannins nicely done. Wonderfully seductive wine. 95+/100 [85% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon – 14% degrees]. Tasted 31st March 2010.
Chateau Gazin, Pomerol, 2009
Mid depth, dark, quite tight – a little dumb at first; attractive palate, quite extractive and tannic, not as silky as the Clinet. Alcohol here. Little disjointed. [Later] Smokey note and intense, more forthcoming; palate rich and ripe. Much better. Lots of fruit and extract. Score reflects the second sample. 90+/100 [90% Merolot, 7% Cab Sauvignon, 3% Cab Franc]. Tasted 31st March 2010.
Chateau La Cabanne, Pomerol, 2009
Mid depth; some intensity; soft, ripe and round; little complexity but fruit driven; Not unattractive. More old fashioned. Palate full, lacks interest. Tannins a little dusty and present. 86/100. Tasted 31st March 2010.
Chateau La Conseillante, Pomerol, 2009
Mid depth; quite stoney and mineral note; red fruits beneath; attractive though not as seductive as expected on the nose [cf Clinet]; palate very attractive with richness and balance between the oak and fruit; coffe and mocha at the back. [Later] Some fruit and prettiness; stones and minerals on nose; fresh; soft entry to palate. Tannin later. Not as flamboyant as I’d hoped but nevertheless very good. 90-92+/100 Tasted 31st March 2010.
Chateau La Croix de Gay, Pomerol, 2009
Deep black, intense; very succulent attractive nose, plums and red fruits and sweet toasty oak; luscious; spices at the back. Fat palate, lovely and lush – this is really showing well. Not over extracted and with soft tannins. Coffee and mocha on the finish. Lovely. [Later] Ripe and seductive, very open; sexy; wonderfully lush palate and well balanced. Not over extracted. A beauty. 92-94+/100. Tasted 31st March 2010.
Chateau La Pointe, Pomerol, 2009
Deep red purple; fresh nose; nice strawberry and fresh fruit nose; some oak; attractive and very polished. Palate thick and rich, not over tannic, some restraint here; lots of material but without that hard edge to the tannins so common in St Emilion. A very good effort. 90-92+/100 Tasted 31st March 2010.
Chateau Petit Village, Pomerol, 2009
Mid depth, dark at core; not the densest; superripe nose; very attractive; some jam but not unattractive or loose; some lifted Cab Franc elements; sweet and some spices with plums; palate very full and ripe; lots of extract but also softness. Really very good. Coffee and mocha at the back. Tannins ripe. Well done. 92-94+/100 [75% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc]. Tasted 31st March 2010.
Tags: 2009, Chateau Beauregard, Chateau Clinet, Chateau Gazin, Chateau La Cabanne, Chateau La Conseillante, Chateau La Croix de Gay, Chateau La Pointe, Chateau Petit Village, Pomerol, Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux