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French wines and the appellations they come from are very diverse. That might be the reason why the French are currently the number one producers of wine and the number one consumers of wine.
France is blessed as both a cool-climate producer of wines in regions such as Burgundy, Champagne, Loire Valley, and Alsace where grapes like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling thrive, while the warmer ocean-influenced climate of Bordeaux allows for near perfect ripening of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in most years. Even warmer sub-tropical influences can be tasted in the rich, extroverted, and largely Grenache-based wines of the Southern Rhone Valley such as Chateauneuf-du-Pape, as well as in Provence and the Languedoc/Roussillon located near the Mediterranean Sea in Southern France.
Winemadeeasy.com has an excellent selection of French wine from inexpensive Cotes-du-Rhone and hand-selected petite Bordeaux, to highly rated wines including Chateauneuf-du-Pape and first-growth Bordeaux, and an eclectic mix in-between.
WE9595 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 7/1/2012 A prodigious effort, the 2009 Vieilles Vignes from Grand Veneur includes a whopping 40% Mourvèdre in the blend (there’s also 10% Syrah, with the balance being Grenache), which no doubt accounts for its dark flavor profile. This is a full-bodied, lushly textured, expansive wine, with a finish that seems to go on forever. Approachable now, it should age well for 10–12 years at least.RP93+93–95 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2010 The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes (a cuvee that was first made in 2006) is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvedre and 20% Syrah, all aged in new oak casks. Despite all the new oak, its influence is marginal. Some toasty notes are present, but the wine is very full-bodied with extraordinarily intense aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, kirsch, lavender, licorice and hints of lead pencil shavings and smoke. Dense, full-bodied, tannic and super intense, this is a massive 2009 that begs for 4–5 years of cellaring. It should drink well for 20–25 years thereafter.
RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011 A colossal effort, the 2009 Montrose represents a hypothetical blend of the monumental duo of 1989 and 1990 combined with the phenomenal 2003. With 13.7% alcohol (an all-time high at Montrose), it is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and the rest tiny quantities of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Some structure and minerality can be detected in the background, but the overall impression is one of massive blackberry, black currant and mulberry fruit intermixed with forest floor, damp earth, crushed rocks and a hint of spring flowers. Full-bodied with sweet but abundant tannin, Jean-Bernard Delmas believes this is the greatest wine he has made during his short tenure at Montrose since retiring from Haut-Brion. This wine will undoubtedly shut down for a decade, then unleash its power, glory and potential perfection. Anticipated maturity: 2020–2050+.SP9797 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2012 A bit of a brute, with a very chewy bittersweet ganache, tobacco and roasted fig core splayed open right now by a dagger of roasted apple wood, allspice and cedar. Long and dense through the finish, with a strong singed iron edge. The stuffing is certainly there, but this will take a while to come together as it’s running unbridled right now. Proves you can still get classic old-school Bordeaux. Best from 2020 through 2040. 17,000 cases made.ST9797 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jul/Aug 2012 Bright, deep ruby-red. Drop-dead gorgeous nose offers cassis, mineral and candied violet aromas of great depth. Enters the mouth sweet, suave, and dense, showing utterly seamless, highly complex flavors of dark berries, underbrush, minerals and cedar. For a wine with such amazing depth of flavor, this comes across as almost weightless. Though it displays the upfront fruity charm of the 2009 vintage, this is a complex, rich monster that will prove extremely ageworthy. One of the wines of the vintage, and the best young Montrose I’ve yet tasted.
VN9393 pts. - Vinous - May 2021 The 2009 Vintage is another stellar wine in this range from Billecart-Salmon. This is the first time the Vintage includes Meunier in the blend. That approach has worked out so well here. Resonant and generous, the 2009 is so expressive today. The low dosage of two grams per liter is expertly judged. The 2009 is rich, but not heavy, while offering all of the natural generosity of the year. (Antonio Galloni)
RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011 One of the more flamboyant and sumptuous wines of the vintage, this inky/purple-colored St.-Julien reveals thrilling levels of opulence, richness and aromatic pleasures. A soaring bouquet of creme de cassis, charcoal, graphite and spring flowers is followed by a super-concentrated wine with silky tannins, stunning amounts of glycerin, a voluptuous, multilayered mouthfeel and nearly 14% natural alcohol. Displaying fabulous definition for such a big, plump, massive, concentrated effort, I suspect the tannin levels are high even though they are largely concealed by lavish amounts of fruit, glycerin and extract. Anticipated maturity: 2018–2040.VN9696 pts. - Vinous - Sep 2021 The 2009 Léoville-Poyferré is intense but beautifully controlled on the nose with an enticing but not exotic mélange of red and black fruit laced with pencil box and smoke. Superb intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, brisk and spicy, brimming with energy and fanning out gloriously towards the finish. There is nothing overblown or extravagant, yet it harnesses the precocity of the vintage to glorious effect. Drinking supremely well now and for a number of years. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier. (Neal Martin)WE9696 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 2/1/2012 An immensely structured wine, packed with dark tannins promising aging potential. It is complex, powerful, layered with new wood and concentration, finishing with dark plum fruits and acidity.ST9595 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jul/Aug 2012 Bright medium ruby. Classic Saint-Julien aromas of cassis, licorice, tar, minerals and dark chocolate. Lush, sweet and powerful, with a superb glyceral texture to the dark berry and dark chocolate flavors. Huge wine but not at all heavy. The extremely long, echoing finish features utterly noble tannins that saturate the front teeth. Offers a show-stopping combination of sweetness and structure. Built for three decades of life in bottle.SP9393 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2012 Solid notes of steeped black currant, ganache-coated fig and plum eau de vie pump along in this very dark red, but with well-integrated structure. Long and winey through the finish, with the grip extending everything nicely. Best from 2016 through 2026.
RP9999 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011 A brilliant offering from the Mentzelopoulos family, once again their gifted manager, Paul Pontallier, has produced an uncommonly concentrated, powerful 2009 Chateau Margaux made from 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. As with most Medocs, the alcohol here is actually lower (a modest 13.3%) than most of its siblings-. Abundant blueberry, cassis and acacia flower as well as hints of charcoal and forest floor aromas that are almost Burgundian in their complexity are followed by a wine displaying sweet, well-integrated tannins as well as a certain ethereal lightness despite the wine’s overall size. Rich, round, generous and unusually approachable for such a young Margaux, this 2009 should drink well for 30–35+ years.
SP9696 pts. - Wine Spectator - Sep 7, 2011 Sinewy and reserved, with a light dusting of cocoa powder over the tangy damson plum, red licorice and cassis notes. The long, supple finish, with a lovely wafting note of Lapsang souchong tea, is packed with minerality and tight-grained tannins that will need time to fully evolve. One of the more backward 2009s, though this should pick up steam in the cellar. Best from 2013 through 2025.RP9595 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 30th Oct 2011 The 2009 is showing better out of bottle than it was last year. Gorgeous kirsch liqueur notes, raspberry jam, forest floor, spice box, new saddle leather and a peppery spiciness are all present in this deep, voluptuously textured, open-knit Clos des Papes, which is atypically forward, luscious and approachable already. These wines often need a good 5–10 years of cellaring in the more structured vintages, but the 2009 is gorgeous from the get-go. This full-bodied, deep, concentrated wine has a deep purple color and should drink well for 20–25 years without ever really closing down. Readers may want to think of this as a slightly more concentrated version of the 2003, which is one of the great stars of that vintage.ST93+93–95 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Mar/Apr 2011 Deep ruby. Intensely perfumed cherry, garrigue and flowers on the nose, plus notes of licorice and smoky Moroccan spices. At once fleshy and sappy, with incisive, spicy red fruit flavors complicated by herbs and floral pastilles. Finishes spicy and with superb intensity, echoing the spice and floral notes emphatically. This sample was a blend from five of Avril’s giant, mostly old foudres Avril averred that “14.5% alcohol is the jumping off point for high-quality grenache, any less and the flavors aren’t complete. This should be just above that so it will be fresh and balanced.”
ST92+92–95 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 2011 Full red-ruby. Captivating nose offers crushed cherry, rose petal, spices, smoke and vanilla. Lush, sweet and liqueur-like in the mouth, with good floral lift giving it a light touch. Really echoes with flowers and minerals. This very strong wine finishes long and subtle, with lovely mineral grip.RP9292 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 1st May 2011 The 2009 Clos St. Denis presents lovely nuance and detail in its precise, perfumed fruit. This is totally elegant from start to finish, with silky tannins that give the wine its sense of proportion and balance. The Clos St. Denis was aged in a single new 600-liter barrel. Anticipated maturity: 2014–2024.
RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 26th Dec 2012 Another perfect wine is the 2009 Cote Rotie La Turque. It possesses a slightly denser purple color than the opaque Cote Rotie La Mouline as well as notes of Asian spices, roasted meats, bouquet garni, spring flowers, camphor and truffles. It is a different expression of Syrah as this comes from the more iron-laden soils of the Cote Brune. Although never as aromatic, precocious or enjoyable as La Mouline is in its youth, La Turque is, nevertheless, a remarkably concentrated, profound wine that is built like a skyscraper. It possesses a level of intensity and richness that must be tasted to be believed. Despite the flamboyant personality of the vintage, the 2009 will require 4–5 years of cellaring and should age effortlessly for 25–30 years.SP9898 pts. - Wine Spectator - Oct 31, 2013 A pure, unadulterated raspberry confiture aroma and flavor is the dominant note today in this deep and expressive red, with extra singed anise, alder, juniper and black currant notes filling in the background, followed by a very dense yet supremely polished finish. Features the weight and density of this fleshy vintage, but the fruit is so inviting this is almost approachable now. Better to wait though. Best from 2015 through 2035. 400 cases made.
RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 26th Dec 2012 Another perfect wine, the 2009 Hermitage Ex-Voto is surprisingly supple and more approachable than the two single vineyard 2009 Cote Roties, La Turque and La Landonne. The massive Ex-Voto boasts abundant notes of spring flowers, blackberries, cassis, licorice, graphite and forest floor. Extremely full-bodied with sweet tannin and levels of extravagance and flamboyance that are mind-boggling, it will drink well for 30+ years.SP9797 pts. - Wine Spectator - Oct 31, 2013 This has a distinctive singed mesquite note out front, along with sandalwood, black tea and juniper hints, followed by a very densely packed core of raspberry, plum and blackberry confiture flavors. The long, charcoal-studded finish has a great tug of roasted earth. Dynamic and expressive, this should cellar effortlessly. Best from 2015 through 2035. 656 cases made.ST9595 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Mar/Apr 2014 Dark purple. Seductive aromas of cassis, cherry compote and floral pastilles are lifted by peppery spices and smoky minerals. Sweet and expansive in the mouth, with a chewy texture to the vibrant blackcurrant and bitter cherry flavors. Supple tannins come on late and are quickly absorbed into the wine’s dense fruit. Finishes on a smoky note, with outstanding clarity and lift and sweet, penetrating persistence. Stash this one away in a dark corner of the cellar and forget it for a long time.
RP100100 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011 A perfect wine, the 2009 Ermitage Le Pavillon (1,093 cases) boasts a black/purple color as well as an extraordinary bouquet of acacia flowers, blackberries, blueberries, roasted meats, creme de cassis, truffles, graphite, powdered rock and new saddle leather. Extremely dense, noble and pure, this monumental Ermitage is built for 50–100 years of cellaring.SP9797 pts. - Wine Spectator - Jul 31, 2012 This has a very alluring ganache edge, which melds nicely into the core of crushed plum, blackberry and currant notes. Lots of anise and briar emerge on the back end, along with ample toasted spice and incense. The very long finish has riveting acidity, while the fruit and ganache notes echo on and on. Dense but precise. Best from 2015 through 2035. 1,093 cases made.
RP97+97+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 22nd Dec 2011 As I wrote last year, the 2009 Hermitage La Chapelle is easily the greatest, most profound La Chapelle since the 1990. Most of this cuvee comes from Le Meal and Les Bessards vineyards, with a touch of Les Roucoules fruit in the blend. It is an opaque purple-colored wine with enormous concentration in addition to an extraordinary bouquet of graphite, creme de cassis, blackberries, licorice, beef blood and a touch of smoked game. Boasting phenomenal intensity, a full-bodied mouthfeel and 50 years of longevity, the only thing that could possibly hold it back is that most consumers should plan on laying it away for 8–10 years.SP9595 pts. - Wine Spectator - Jun 30, 2012 This is packed and well-rendered, with notes of fig, boysenberry confiture and ganache at the core and powerful structure pushing from behind. Shows plenty of roasted tobacco and vanilla bean on the slightly stolid finish, but there’s a density and brooding length here that sets it apart form the pack. Best from 2017 through 2032. 250 cases imported.ST94+94–96 pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jan/Feb 2011 Glass-staining purple. Intense, assertively perfumed aromas of blueberry preserves, cherry, licorice and violet, with a strong incense quality. Impressively deep and spicy, offering floral-accented dark berry flavors that show superb clarity and a lively mineral quality. Tangy acidity adds lift and cut to an endless, sappy finish. This wine’s blend of richness and energy is outstanding.
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Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes
Château Montrose Saint-Estèphe
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Vintage Extra Brut
Château Léoville-Poyferré Saint-Julien
