2009 Wine from France

jebdunnuck.com, 95 points: Showing beautifully, the 2009 Château Brane-Cantenac is loaded with classic Margaux notes of sandalwood, dried flowers, spice, truffle, and blackcurrants. Based on 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points: Even at this early stage, it is impossible not to be awed by what's in your glass! Concentrated, opulent, flamboyant and compelling, the wine explodes from the initial scent. Full-bodied, deep, sensuous and rich, the...

jebdunnuck.com, 94 points: The 2009 Pagodes De Cos is a blockbuster that I wish I had more of in the cellar. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot (there’s a small amount of Petit Verdot) brought up in roughly 50% new French...

Decanter, 97 points: This is delicious, with grilled cedar, cassis, blackberry and black pepper spice to the fore. For me it is the 2010 that is standing out in this tasting, but that's not always the case because the 2009 vintage is so...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: This is wonderful to taste, with plums, berries, strawberries, and flowers. It's full and creamy textured, with gorgeous ripe tannins and a long, long finish. Such balance. Amazing tannin quality. Second wine of Margaux...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 99 points: If you like great Cuban Cigars, the nose here has your name on it. From there, add forest floor, leaf, red fruits, spice, flowers and a waft of smoke. Full-bodied, powerful, graceful and concentrated, this is a perfect...

jebdunnuck.com, 97 points: Talk about value, the 2009 Duhart-Milon is straight up sensational stuff. Made from 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot, it gives up classic notes of blackcurrants, pencil shavings, saddle leather and smoked herbs, it’s...

Decanter, 96 points: On clay over limestone soils, relatively cool compared to Sauternes, this has a purity and freshness that is striking and moreish. Full of the quince, candied orange, truffle, apricot and lemon curd that you hope for in a...

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 100 points: If you are wondering what heaven in a glass feel, smells and tastes like, look no further. This is everything a great wine needs. The texture is pure silk and velvet. And speaking of purity, the fruit delivers that in...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: Hallelujah—what a glorious nose! The deep garnet colored 2009 Montrose features beautiful Black Forest cake, licorice, crème de cassis and warm blueberries scents with hints of charcoal, truffles, tapenade and menthol...

Wine Enthusiast, 95 points: Dark and structured this is a firm wine. It has a smoky wood character powerful tannins over intensely ripe fruit. Acidity and sweetness balance to give a dense wine powered with richness and destined to age for many years.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 96 points: The 2009 Calon-Ségur is deep garnet in color and opens with a beautiful fragrance of redcurrant preserves, cassis, black cherry compote and red roses plus nuances of cigar box and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied and...

Wine Spectator, 89 points: A plump rounded style with friendly brioche white peach and floral notes offset by a hint of melon rind that keeps the finish balanced. Drink now. 500 cases made. -JM

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 87 points: The second wine of this outstanding Fronsac estate, the 2009 La Sacristie de la Vieille Cure is virtually all Merlot. It possesses wonderfully sweet black cherry fruit, medium body, a lovely perfume, a supple, silky...

Decanter, 95 points: Individual judge’s scores: SB 19 AG 19 SS 18.5 Owned by the Borie family, this is the sister château of the better known, more highly regarded Grand-Puy-Lacoste (see left). It generally has less structure than the latter...

jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: The greatest Clos Fourtet I've ever tasted, eclipsing the heavenly 2005 and 2015, the 2009 Château Clos Fourtet offers an insane bouquet of black cherry and black currant fruits as well as a loads of smoked tobacco...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 100 points: Pale to medium gold colored, the 2009 d'Yquem bursts from the glass with gregarious crème caramel, allspice, dried apricots, mandarin peel and pineapple upside down cake scents plus a fragrant undercurrent of fungi...

jamessuckling.com, 99 points: Let yourself go and sink into this deep dark chasm that will swallow you whole if you let it. Enormous concentration, but every bit as much finesse, the finish extremely long and fine. And this is just beginning to give...

jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: Showing better than a previous bottle, the 2009 Larcis Ducasse is just now starting to come into its own, offering terrific, full-bodied aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, licorice, espresso, and leafy herbs. This deep...

jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: The 2009 Branaire-Ducru is another killer wine from this vintage that’s drinking spectacularly well at age 10. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it’s still...

Wine Spectator, 100 points: (WS 97-100 points) The nose on this already suggests a deep and contemplative wine with blackberry dried flowers and sweet berries. Evolves to black olive and hints of asphalt. Full-bodied with supersilky tannins and...

jamessuckling.com, 95 points: Rich yet firmly structured this is a very classic St.-Julien that's generous and polished with so much energy driving the long plush finish. Delicious now, but should hold for many years.

TheWineCellarInsider.com, 100 points: If there was a trophy for future legend, this would be a contender for first prize. Everything here was simply perfect! Rich and concentrated beyond belief, texturally, this is pure sex and sensuality. Opulent, rich...

Decanter, 100 points: If you want to drink a Margaux 2009 any time soon, you need to go for the Pavillon - the grand vin is still extremely young, holding back its power and impact for another five or 10 years time. It's still closed up enough...

jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: Possibly my favorite vintage ever for the Northern Rhône (2010 and 2015 are both in the running), the 2009 Côte Rôtie La Turque is a mammoth of wine that offers everything you could want. Deep purple/plum-hued, this...

jebdunnuck.com, 100 points: I’ve been lucky to have drunk close to a case of the 2009 Côte Rôtie La Landonne, and if there’s a more perfect Syrah out there, I don’t know of it. Revealing a vivid ruby/purple color, it delivers a spectacular bouquet...

jamessuckling.com, 93 points: Lovely ripe fruit with spiced pears and hints of ripe apples. Full-bodied. Lots of fruit with tangy undertones to the dense and compact palate. Gingerbread. Some phenolic or tannin influence. Drink or hold.

jamessuckling.com, 94 points: Pretty nose of blueberries, currants and blackberries, follows through to a full body, with ultra-refined tannins and polished, caressing texture. Very refined and long. Perhaps the best ever from here. Try after 2018.

jebdunnuck.com, 96 points: I continue to just love the 2009 Château Rauzan-Ségla. It's such a classic Margaux, remarkable for its elegance and purity yet still showing classic 2009 depth, richness, and sexiness. Giving up loads of crème de cassis...