I remain enthused about the 2010 Chantegrive ‘rouge’ [Graves] but would note the fruit is transforming, and assuming most tasters enjoy some fruity elements, would encourage consumption. It’s a huge estate, widely available, but the wines - they make a range - are solid and analagous to what Ch. Gloria might have been a generation ago. Plum, cassis, saddle are present on the bouquet with the palate showing more black plum, and a still grippy texture, with medium body, with normal 14% abv (for our era). Lots of sediment, so there’s some chewiness to the last, lovely goblet. It’s not as smoky, charry, ‘Gravesy’ as other estates might show at age 15…but the winemakers have really dialed in the balance between commercial popularity, appellation typicity, and ageability. Another B+ and better on the back nine.
Another nice surprise last night:
Château Desmirail - Margaux 2009
On opening this was horrid. Everything I dislike about many 09s: sickly sweet aromas and jammy, syrupy flavours. I recorked it and left it in the cellar for three days. Last night it was a wine transformed: lovely aromas of roses, sweet red cherry and strawberries, with a little leather and spices, then a really appealing attack of redcurrants and red cherries, rich but measured, before a killing wave of wild strawberry and finally a cool but persistent blackberry finish. Great stuff. Probably 92 pts.
I’m tasting a lot of 09s at the moment in order to clear the decks a bit and this was definitely in the out tray at first, but now I wouldn’t mind some more!
I’ve no doubt that if there was a poll about which Bordeaux CC should be demoted, or even declassified, Desmirail would be high on most people’s lists. It’s so under the radar as to be practically invisible. But the wines are not actually that bad, on the contrary. I was impressed recently by the 2016 and the 2009 is far from a slacker. And they’re cheap, so well worth a try.
I will be going through my stocks in the next month, bringing some 09s and 10s out for drinking. 09 Angludet and 10 du Tertre are in there somewhere. Chris Kissak particularly raves about the du Tertre so I am looking forward to the first of six.
When I was younger I wasn’t paying attention and allowed some 1996 and 2000 du Tertre to age too long. But tasting later vintages when they were younger demonstrated the houses quality and character. I think you will have more success than I did if you pull corks on your 2009s and 2010s by age 15 or so.
I quite enjoy your photos with the tasting notebook!
How’s this even possible?
Two wines still drinking well today!
Was at a Lynch Bages tasting with the chateau last night. Lineup was '09, '14, '16
I was not a fan of the '09. It’s fine, but really shows the vintage and I have no idea what the future holds. Seems disjointed to me. However they were very high on '09 putting it alongside the fantastic '90. The '14 is lovely and classic, if not a long lived vintage. '16 is absolutely 
, will last forever and I think be on par with '89 one day. I will certainly be looking to add some more to my cellar.
- 2009 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac (10/11/2025)
This was not my style. Nose was a little volatile, and alcohol poked through. Quite ripe profile with back fruits, hints of espresso notes but held the edge here well avoiding over ripe notes. Palate really lacked cohesiveness though was lush and accessible and easy to drink. Coarse clunky tannins. I'm not sure about the future of this one. Keep in mind I've never been high on '09 vintage in general. (90 points)
Posted from CellarTracker
The 1979 was still going strong in 2018. One of the best wines of the vintage, a year that Margaux (and Pomerol) was particularly strong. I still have a couple of bottles, and should try one.
At the same tasting, we opened a magnum of 1966. Certainly, it was still alive, with plenty of fruit,but it had a slight dankness which was borderline unpleasant.
2009 du Tertre has aged well, and compared to many other wines in that vintage I felt that the du Tertre was more restrained and classical in style. Glad I bought a 6 pack on futures.
Giscours was another one that wasn’t OTT.
3 of 4
Decanted an hour before drinking.
Colour is medium garnet, it has shed depth.
A whiff of cedar on opening then plum with earth, pencil shavings and again a touch of cedar.
Tannins have softened, this is now a gentle sweet fruited claret, as much charm as power, enough dark fruit and cedar to say Pauillac. One left, no hurry, ****+.
I have managed to extract a 2010 du Tertre from storage.
Double decanted an hour before drinking
Medium red/garnet, some bricking at the rim.
Not too much nose, dark fruit, cedar and a little floral touch.
Light and tight, pleasant enough with some dark fruit and cedar, but not exciting.
Another hour in this has really opened up; lovely black cherry fruit, cedar and a lighter floral touch. The tannins and acidity are softly supporting the fruit, just delicious. **** or 93.
What book is this?
Jess - that was ‘Wine’ 5th Edition (2004) edited by Andre Domine. Big European coffee table tome, won a James Beard award.
I have not been a big fan of the 2009 vintage, but last night I had a awfully good one. It was Chateau Haut Brion. Haut Brion is probably my favorite first growth and I love it. The 2009 was very well balanced and rich, but probably not as longer or nuanced as it is in great vintages. Still young, it probably will eventually show more nuance, but it was a pleasure to drink last night.
2009 Chateau Lafite Rothschild
I’d received a lot of different advice about decant time for this wine, in the end, I decided to decant at the beginning of dinner and poured about 3 hours after opening which was perfect. Bouquet was absolutely intoxicating with cedar, leather, and beautiful ripe plums. The palate had great structured with softening tannins and lots of complexity. The acidity was perfectly balanced. The finish was intense and extremely long. A first growth drinking in a beautiful early stage is really hard to beat.
A 2009 Latour not too long ago showed equally well. All datapoints I’ve heard for the 09 First Growths have strong.
Im just glad to see you drinking good wine for a change! 
It wasn’t bad! Third best type of wine that dinner behind the burgs and champagne, but ahead of the Napa 
Anyone have 09 pll lately?
2009 Sociando-Mallet. Purchased in 2012 In Leclerc for €33.
Decanted, loads of sediment, strong scent of cedar/pencil/graphite on pouring.
30 minutes later. Medium garnet with signs of maturity at the rim.
Nose of cedar and pencil with dark fruit mulberry/plum, tobacco, floral touch and a whiff of the sea.
Tannins are structural but not drying or harsh. Acidity is medium. Cedar and graphite minerality first, then dark fruit. Serious rather than frivolous. A structured Northern Medoc. Drinking nicely but easily a decade in hand. ****+ 93ish.