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A remarkable wine in this vintage, L’Eglise Clinet’s 2008 has a color almost as dark as the barrel sample of 2010. Classic mocha and caramel-infused creme de cassis and black cherry notes, with hints of licorice and loamy soil soar from the glass of this opaque ruby/purple, aromatically compelling wine. Opulent, expansive, and savory, with a broad texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel, terrific purity and a layered finish, this is another big, massive wine that transcends the vintage character, and will probably need 7-10 years of bottle age. It should keep for 20 or more years as well.Robert Parker | 95 RPThe 2008 l’Eglise-Clinet was picked 1 to 6 October and matured in 80% new oak. It has a very refined and detailed bouquet that is less powerful than the 2009 or 2010, yet there is wonderful articulation of the terroir here, dusky black fruit laced with black truffle and a touch of undergrowth. It is the most recent vintage that suggests moving onto secondary aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, grippy in the mouth, fresh and vibrant with an almost chalky finish. This certainly deserves to be part of the 2008/2009/2010 triumvirate and it is furnished with a beautiful mineral-driven aftertaste. The insider’s choice? Most certainly. Tasted at the l’Eglise-Clinet vertical at the château in April 2018.Vinous Media | 95 VMA smokier expression than most, this is hugely enjoyable and still intense in colour on its 10th birthday. Expect layers of juicy, succulent black cherry with graphite, and just a hint of black truffle that should develop more over the next decade. Great depth of flavour that stretches out through the palate. Drinking Window 2018 - 2036Decanter | 95 DECThis is lilting, with perfumy incense and warm cherry confiture aromas giving way to a still-compact core of plum, red currant and melted red licorice. The long finish has some grip to shed, with plum skin, spice and floral notes flittering in and out. Best from 2013 through 2018. 1,465 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

One of the finest over-achieving efforts in this vintage as well as a “best buy” for a top-flight St.-Julien, this 2008 is an irresistible success. It reveals an opaque ruby/purple color, lots of unctuosity and a boatload of sweet cassis and black cherry fruit intertwined with notions of licorice, smoke and oak. Full-bodied, remarkably concentrated and stunningly pure and textured, this sensational wine is already drinking well, and will be even better with 2-3 years of cellaring. It should last for 20-25 years. Bravo!Robert Parker | 94 RPThe 2008 Léoville-Poyferré has long been one of the best Saint-Julien’s of the vintage. It has a vibrant, exquisitely delineated bouquet with precise black fruit, cedar and hints of liquorice that unfold seductively. The oak here is beautifully enmeshed. The palate is medium-bodied with melted tannins, a fine bead of acidity, very harmonious with pure red fruit laced with allspice, clove and bay leaf towards the finish. A brilliant wine from former winemaker Didier Cuvelier. Tasted at the Léoville-Poyferré vertical at the château with Sara Lecompte Cuvelier.Vinous Media | 94 VMGenerous and ripe, obviously extracted, this is a wine that is packed with tannins sharpened with black fruits. Spice, wood and acidity add to the depth of flavor.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEI am impressed with the fruit and velvety tannins. Full and deliciously fruity with soft tannins and rich fruit. Blueberry. Open and gorgeous. Impressive for the vintage.James Suckling | 93 JSAn excellent wine from this tricky vintage. Lovely ripe black fruits, a very pure expression of St-Julien, with ripe cassis and classic cedar and tobacco notes. There are some savoury hints on the palate, accompanied by lots of blackberry compote, dark cherry fruit and firm elegant tannins. Drinking Window 2018 - 2035Decanter | 93 DECVery direct, with black currant and fig paste jumping out and driving all the way through the lightly muscular finish, where extra iron, espresso and charcoal notes fill in. An iron edge lingers. This needs a little time. Best from 2013 through 2019. 18,330 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Closed and tight right now, there are clear bright and well-defined cassis notes but those tannins still have grip and attitude, and it is pretty clear that a full ten years in bottle is not always enough to fully soften Opus. This vintage saw a very low yield, two tonnes instead of the usual four, due not only to the heat spell in September but also because it was the last year of an irrigation programe where they were restricting water to drive the roots further down into the soil. 1% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 22 days skin contact. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040.Decanter | 96 DECA gorgeous wine, the 2008 Opus One is just beginning to enter its first plateau of maturity. The tannins have softened while the aromatics show lovely complexity as well as depth. Blueberry, blackberry, gravel, lavender, licorice, leather and dark spice notes all add character. The 2008 is an especially dark, somber Opus One, although the softening tannins make the wine approachable today. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec.Vinous Media | 95 VMFabulous roses, currants and dark berries on the nose that go to currants and blueberries. Full and refined with bright acidity and a precise and vivid finish of dark fruits and hints of cream. Some orange peel too. Pretty tannins. Better after 2014.James Suckling | 94 JSGraceful and elegant, very understated and delicate, with floral, spice, mint, bay leaf, currant, cedar and tobacco notes that are complex and vibrant. Full-bodied, gaining on the finish, then firming and drying. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Drink now through 2021. 16,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The 2008 Redigaffi is impeccable in its elegance and polish. Dark cherries, licorice, espresso and mocha meld together beautifully in this textured, fleshy wine. Despite its sophisticated personality, there is plenty of tannin lurking underneath to provide support. This is a beautifully round, opulent, yet impeccably balanced wine of the highest level. Smoke, minerals, licorice and tar wrap around the intense finish. Redigaffi remains a unique and powerful expression of Merlot from the Tuscan coast.Antonio Galloni | 96 AGTua Rita’s Redigaffi is one of the best reds to emerge from Italy and the 2008 vintage delivers all the promise and hope of previous editions. The wine is set apart by its enormous richness and deeply concentrated layers of sweet cherry fruit, chocolate, tobacco and cinnamon spice. Put this bottle in your cellar for ten years or more.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEA flamboyant wine that reminds me of California, with lots of ripe berries and toasty oak. Full and opulent, with raspberry sauce and coconut oak flavors. Needs time to come together. Pure Merlot. Best after 2013.Wine Spectator | 94 WSThis is showing some age, with lots of sweet cherries, figs, prunes and chocolate orange. Mellow, ripe and fruity, with a full body and supple tannins. A little obvious, but delicious nonetheless. 100% merlot. Drink now.James Suckling | 94 JS

The 2008 Syrah is a big, expressive wine loaded with varietal character. Iron, minerals, bacon fat and blackberries are just some of the nuances that blossom in this striking wine. All of the aromas and flavors build towards the exciting, viscerally thrilling finish. I have said it before, and I will say it again. The Syrah is the most distinctive wine at Tua Rita. This is a great, great bottle. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2028.This is a fabulous set of wines from Stefano Frascolla and Tua Rita. The 2008s show the real class of the year in Maremma.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThe 2008 Syrah is a big, expressive wine loaded with varietal character. Iron, minerals, bacon fat and blackberries are just some of the nuances that blossom in this striking wine. All of the aromas and flavors build towards the exciting, viscerally thrilling finish. I have said it before, and I will say it again. The Syrah is the most distinctive wine at Tua Rita. This is a great, great bottle.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGMeaty and rich with decadent aromas. Full and juicy with lots of fruit and soft tannins. Black pepper and dark fruits.I like the voluptuous style to this. Why wait? But better in 2013.James Suckling | 95 JSThis is really delicious, with meat, berry and game aromas and flavors. Full and decadent—just how I like my Syrah. One of the best Syrahs in Tuscany. Best after 2011.Wine Spectator | 94 WSRita’s blockbuster Syrah oozes thick, inky concentration with luscious layers of ripe fruit, blueberry, leather and bitter dark chocolate. You’ll sense cedar wood and licorice as well and the mouthfeel is super soft and smooth. Drink after 2015.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

The 2009 Meursault is similarly rich and tropical, but also comes across as quite young next to the 2002, which is an ever-present reminder of how these wines can age. Although the 2009 is gorgeous, if I owned it, I would try to give it more time in bottle.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThe 2009 Meursault Villages is drinking brilliantly, wafting from the glass with a beautiful nose of preserved citrus, crisp peach, nougat and honeysuckle. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied, layered and elegantly textural—glossier and more sweetly sun-kissed than the 2008 drank alongside it but bright and precise nonetheless, with beautiful energy and delineation on the finish. Given its profile, I suspect this was Coche’s bottling from Vireuils of Luchets rather than Narvaux, but he makes no indication on the label.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP(Domaine Jean-François Coche-Dury Meursault Villages White) A pretty, ripe and very Meursault nose of both white and yellow orchard fruit, hazelnut and a gentle touch of wood toast leads to delicious, round, concentrated and quite generous flavors that possess excellent depth and length, particularly for a villages level wine. (Drink starting 2016)Burghound | 90 BH

Phenomenal aromas and flavors of pure fruit with stones and rock. Turns to mint and eucalyptus. Full body, with powerful yet polished tannins. Creamy and fresh. Changes continually. The finish goes on for minutes Savory. And juicy.James Suckling | 99 JSComposed of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2009 IX Estate exhibits a flowery bouquet with notes of subtle smoke, blackberries, black currants, kirsch and baking spices. Rich, deep and full-bodied, this voluptuous, sensational blend boasts an inky/purple color. While approachable, it should hit its stride in 4-5 years and last for two to three decades.Robert Parker | 97 RP(69% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 6% petit verdot): Saturated deep ruby. Pure but subdued aromas of black cherry, blueberry, menthol and sweet butter. Pure liquid pleasure in the mouth, combining the seamlessness of the Tychson Hill with the tannic force of the Cariad. This wonderfully sweet, palate-saturating wine is downright penetrating without betraying any rough edges. Finishes strong and very long, with mouthfilling chocolatey ripeness. A classic example of the way the best Napa Valley cabernet-based wines can combine sheer sweetness and size with structure.Vinous Media | 96+ VMA muscle-bound effort, tight, dense and chewy, with tar, blackberry, cedar and tobacco flavors. Ends with a pleasant wall of tannins and a persistent push of flavors. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2014 through 2030. 1,300 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

The 2009 Maya Proprietary Red Wine displays a deep garnet-purple color, exploding with notes of rose hip tea, dried lavender and candied violets over a core of raspberry preserves, blackberry pie and redcurrant jelly plus suggestions of spice cake, tobacco and forest floor. Full-bodied, concentrated and boldly fruited, the palate is beautifully lifted with racy freshness and supported with a very fine-grained frame, finishing long and incredibly poised.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 99 RPAlso with an endearing elegance and freshness, the more full-bodied 2009 Maya reveals more kirsch, black raspberry and cassis style fruits intermixed with complex tobacco, spice, and a Graves-like minerality. Silky, seamless, and perfectly balanced, it too is drinking spectacularly well today yet I suspect has another two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDBright, saturated ruby to the rim. Black fruit and baking spice aromas are complicated by deeper, musky soil-driven minerality. Enters the mouth thicker than the Napa Valley bottling but maintains its shape and definition through to the finish. Lovely integrated acidity gives verve and definition to the dark berry, spice and graphite flavors, with notes of violet and tropical dark chocolate contributing to the overall impression of energy. Really stains the palate and resounds on the aftertaste, with the granular, building tannins ultimately sweeter than those of the Napa Valley version. Outstanding depth of flavor here.Vinous Media | 95+ VMA classy effort that delivers richness and density, with layers of dark berry fruit, spice, cedar, espresso and black licorice, firming with fine-grained tannins and a finish that offers elegance, finesse and structure. Best from 2013 through 2028. 500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

The 2009 Conteisa sees fruit harvested from the Cerequio cru in La Morra and is one of two “Barolo-inspired” wines made by the Gaja family. A small percentage of Barbera is added to the blend. Very expressive of the cru, Conteisa opens with a beautifully floral footprint of pressed rose and blue violets followed by bright cherry, cassis, chopped mint, licorice, tar, ginger and delicately smoked cedar. Again, the complexity is mind-blowing. The wine glides effortlessly over the palate, but make no mistake, that tight, tannic austerity kicks in at the back. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2040.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 96 RPPlentiful red fruits here with hints of toffee and dried flowers on the nose. Full-bodied and tannic with chocolate and orange peel on the palate. Flavourful finish. Try after 2016.James Suckling | 95 JSElegant, vibrant and beautifully balanced, this features cherry and raspberry fruit aligned with a firm, harmonious structure. Licorice, tar and spice notes chime in, with a lingering finish of cherry, tobacco and menthol. Shows great energy and drive. Best from 2016 through 2030. 625 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WSGood medium red. Explosive aromas of redcurrant, red cherry, violet and licorice. Wonderfully silky and fat on the palate, with highly concentrated, pliant red fruit flavors that don't quite show the delicate herbal and floral high notes of the 2010. But this big, broad, plush 2009 boasts an element of finesse to its tannins that's rare for the vintage.Vinous Media | 94 VM

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 tangy, rich fruit. It really grabs hold of you and wants to tell you it’s special. Loads of ripe tannins too. Big and structured. Turns to tapenade.Wine Spectator | 97-100 WSProprietor Denis Durantou has produced a blockbuster Pomerol from a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, tipping the scales at just over 14.5% natural alcohol. A riveting wine, pure, elegant, but at the same time, extremely powerful and concentrated, with stunning texture, opulence and density, the tannins are abundant, and the wine certainly in need of a decade of cellaring. Fabulous creme de cassis and cherry liqueur notes are intertwined with hints of licorice, truffle, and graphite. Full and rich, but still in an infantile state of development, this wine needs to be cellared for 10 years but should keep for five decades or more. This 2009 is absolutely profound.Robert Parker | 99+ RPThe 2009 l’Eglise-Clinet was picked 14 to 28 September and matured in 80% new oak. It remains remarkably youthful on the nose, rendering the brilliant 2010 a bit introverted by comparison. This comes racing out of the blocks with ebullient red cherries, crushed strawberry and raspberry fruit, touches of dried rose petal and melted tar. With aeration there is just a touch of liquorish. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin that belies the arching structure underneath. It manages to retain awesome power and yet deliver a refined finish that feels long and tender. Stunning. Tasted at the l’Eglise-Clinet vertical at the château in April 2018.Vinous Media | 97 VMAromas of dark fruits, hazelnut and dark chocolate, follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins that are polished and refined. Beautiful depth of fruit to this. Best in 2018.James Suckling | 96 JS

The greatest wine I’ve ever tasted from this address is the 2009 Léoville Poyferré, which is a step up over both the 2000 and the 2010. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and the balance Cabernet Franc that hit 13.9% alcohol, it offers everything you could ask of a wine and reveals a saturated purple color as well as incredible notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, lead pencil, exotic Spices, and dried flowers. Incredibly full-bodied, super concentrated, deep, and opulent, yet still pure, fresh, and lively, it has sweet tannin and a hedonistic vibe that hides its underlying structure. Drink it anytime over the coming three decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 100 JDOne 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.Robert Parker | 100 RPBeautiful blueberries and blackberries with some blackcurrants and flowers on the nose. Some black olives and crushed stones, too. Full-bodied with creamy tannins and lovely depth. The tannins are so integrated and plush, but fine-grained. Persistent finish. A red that gives wonderful pleasure now, but will continue to do so for decades ahead.James Suckling | 97 JSRich, exotic and generous, this is still young and firm but light on its feet, dancing through the palate. There’s lovely depth to the fruit, with a great silky texture. Those tannins bite in all the right places. Very good indeed. Drinking Window 2019 - 2040Decanter | 96 DECThe 2009 Léoville Poyferré has an outstanding bouquet with blackberry, mint and cedar aromas, almost Pauillac in style, very dense and with plenty of horsepower. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, saturated tannins that frame layers of blackberry infused with graphite and white pepper. I love the symmetry and control of this Poyferré, in particular its persistent finish. This is a magnificent wine from Didier Cuvelier. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits’ Ten Year On tasting.Vinous Media | 96 VMAn 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.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WESolid 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. 17,665 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Green olives, spices and currants on the nose. Full body, with velvety tannins and a juicy finish. Lovely layers of ripe tannins and ripe fruit. Best after 2018.James Suckling | 93 JSI clearly underrated this wine from barrel. The finest wine made at this estate since 1982, this opaque black wine is a sleeper of the vintage, with oodles of blackberry fruit interwoven with hints of charcoal, forest floor, licorice and damp earth. Deep, rich, chewy, full-bodied and opulent, this is a fabulous Meyney that, because of its low acidity and very ripe tannin, can be drunk in 3-4 years or cellared for two decades. Bravo!Robert Parker | 92 RPThe 2009 Meyney marks the point where I believe the wines become more interesting. The nose features ample red berry fruit, red plum, raspberry preserve and sloes mixed with Christmas cake and earthy aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, and quite Haut-Marbuzet in style, leading to a lush but very nicely structured, lightly spiced finish that reveals cracked black pepper on the aftertaste. This is definitely worth seeking out. Tasted at a vertical at Château Meyney.Vinous Media | 92 VM

(Ruchottes-Chambertin- Domaine Georges Mugneret-Gibourg) Both the Ruchottes and the Clos Vougeot are two of my wines of the vintage in 2009. The spectacular Ruchottes soars from the glass in a brilliantly complex mélange of red and black cherries, blood orange, raw cocoa, a touch of grilled meat, woodsmoke, magically complex soil tones, violets and spicy new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and rock solid at the core, with laser-like focus, stunning purity, ripe tannins and profound length and grip on the seamless and utterly refined finish. I am probably underrating this wine this year! (Drink between 2020-2070)John Gilman | 96+ JGThe 2009 Ruchottes-Chambertin was 100% de-stemmed. It has a gorgeous bouquet with vivid scents of plush red cherry fruit, cassis, violets and a hint of vanilla remaining from some new oak to be subsumed. The palate is medium-bodied with an elegant, precise opening. It is embroidered with a perfect thread of acidity and gains momentum towards the finish that feels plush and sensual (not a million miles away from the 1999 stylistically). It needs three or four more years in bottle but there is great potential here. Tasted at the Ruchottes-Chambertin vertical in London.Vinous Media | 95 VM(Domaines Georges Mugneret-Gibourg Ruchottes-Chambertin Grand Cru Red) Not surprisingly, this is quite similar to the young vines cuvée though here the fruit is both fresher and a bit riper before merging into supple and intensely mineral-driven extract-rich flavors that possess excellent length on the palate staining finish. This serious and brooding effort is the epitome of power without weight and a wine that should improve for up to 15 years.Burghound | 94 BHThe 2009 Ruchottes-Chambertin is gorgeous today. It boasts considerable aromatic complexity and plenty of nuance in a sensual style that captures the essence of the vintage. The 2009 shows a little more depth and richness than the 2010 but still has plenty of site specific character. Finessed, silky tannins frame the exceptional finish. Today the Ruchottes give the immediate pleasure that is the hallmark of this vintage. I loved it. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RP

The 2009 Opus One is impeccable. It brings together the silkiness of the 2007 with the power and darkness of the 2008, a combination that is hugely appealing, to say the least. With a little air, the 2009 can be enjoyed young, but it is best cellared for at least a few years, which will allow some of the baby fat to drop off. The blend is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot, 3% Merlot and 1% Malbec.Vinous Media | 94 VM(Opus One, Napa Valley, Oakville, California, USA, Red) A more mineral, floral-tinged style in this vintage, with blueberry and blackberry fruits, beautifully aromatic if a little softer through the finish than some vintages. The Cabernet Franc was co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon. 1% Malbec, 6% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 20 days skin contact. Warm days and cool nights made this perfect until the rain during harvest (which lasted September 21 to October 20). Opus picks relatively early for Napa, and so was lucky to have had most of the grapes in before the second round of rain came. (Drink between 2020-2040)Decanter | 93 DECAromas of orange peel, currants, olives and subtle rosemary. Full body with a beautiful balance of fine tannins and a fresh finish. Super-refined and beautiful. Better in 2015 but just drinking beautifully now. This 81% cabernet sauvignon, 9% cabernet franc, 4% merlot, 4% petit verdot and 2% malbec.James Suckling | 93 JSThis bold, rich and assertive red is firm and concentrated, displaying a mix of dried currant, blackberry, wild berry and spice flavors, ending with loamy earth and melted black licorice notes. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot and Malbec. Best from 2014 through 2025. 22,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The 2009 Ornellaia caresses the palate with layers of seamless, radiant fruit. Sweet red berries, mocha, flowers, new leather and spices are some of the many notes that are layered in this sumptuous, totally beautiful wine. The 2009 stands out for its silky tannins and phenomenal overall balance. This is one of those wines that will probably enjoy a long drinking window. There is little question the ability to blend grape varieties was a huge help in this vintage. In my opinion, that is the main reason Ornellaia is a slightly more complete wine than Masseto in 2009. In one of my blind tastings, the 2009 made a very eloquent case for itself as the wine of the vintage. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. In 2009 winemaker Axel Heinz used the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc ever in Ornellaia and gave the wine less time in oak, both with the goal of preserving as much freshness as possible. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2029.The 2009 vintage was not easy at Tenuta dell’Ornellaia because of the scorching hot summer. Readers may want to take a look at my video interview with Axel Heinz for more on the 2009 vintage.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPIf you’ve ever wondered what makes this wine so special, the answer is simple: elegance. This shows polished fruit and spice aromas that are intense, balanced and beautifully integrated. The blend is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the balance made up of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The palate is dense, rich, smooth and supple. Drink this after 2018.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WESubtle and complex with sweet tobacco and chocolate. Tar too. It’s full-bodied, with racy tannins and a long finish. So fine. This is the most Cabernet Franc in the blend ever at the estate -- 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. Beautiful now but better in 2015.James Suckling | 96 JSDeep ruby-red. Multidimensional aromas of blackberry, iron, Oriental spices and cedar. Very intensely flavored and suave, with a wonderfully silky texture over a firm underlying structure. A hint of eucalyptus provides lift on the extremely long finish, which features building tannins and a violet nuance. This is a remarkably suave Ornellaia, but it seems a little less concentrated than usual and comes across as almost too polished. Maybe all it needs is a little time to put on more weight and develop greater complexity.Vinous Media | 94+ VMVery aromatic, featuring floral and leafy black currant scents that follow through to plum, iron and tar flavors. Bordeaux-like with a supple texture, yet also firmly structured, offering herb and spice notes on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2013 through 2020. 2,200 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

The 2009 Redigaffi bursts onto the palate with an exciting mélange of blackberries, grilled herbs, flowers, mint, rosemary and spices. It is a powerful, juicy Merlot loaded with fruit, but there is also more than enough structure to provide support. Dark notes of tar, incense and smoke add complexity on the finish. Generally I prefer Redigaffi between ages 5 and 15.Antonio Galloni | 95 AG(Tua Rita, Redigaffi, Merlot, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, Red) The winemaker’s notes on the 2009 vintage recall ’an extremely hot summer which had to be managed using the experience we had acquired over the years.’ You can feel that heat in the aromas and flavours: brown sugar and sun-dried fruits but also floral and sweet spice notes. Despite the hot and dry conditions, I’m surprised at how good this wine is. It has such beautiful harmony on the palate, with fine tannins, a lovely flow and a seamless texture. (Drink between 2022-2040)Decanter | 95 DECLots of personality here, with aromas of black cherries, olives, seaweed, milk chocolate and salted plums. Velvety and ripe with caressing tannins. Full-bodied, mellow and supple. 100% merlot. Why wait? Drink now.James Suckling | 95 JSFrom another hot vintage, the 2009 Redigaffi reveals a very concentrated and thick personality (which also reflects the stylistic preference of these years). The bouquet is redolent of thick blackberry preserves, charred spice and syrupy blackcurrant. There is a pretty mineral note as well with a point of graphite or pencil shaving that gives the bouquet some much needed vertical lift and linearity. Again, the wine flaunts its ripeness, but like other vintages we see in this retrospective, there are no overtly oxidized aromas. This pretty 2009 Merlot ends with elegant, almost powdery tannins.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPVery oaky, with clove, vanilla, cedar and sandalwood overlaying black cherry and raspberry flavors. There’s a bit too much oak now, and this adds to the tannins, but there’s intensity too. Needs time. Merlot. Best from 2014 through 2023. 710 cases made, 130 cases imported.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

In a word, the 2009 Barolo Riserva Villero is magic. I’m not sure I understand how Luca Currado does it. With his wizard’s wand, he achieves a level of purity and intensity that I have rarely ever seen in Barolo or any other Italian appellation for that matter. The wine is centered and balanced at its core, but its aromas and flavors are absolutely explosive at the same time. The bouquet delivers dark fruit, tobacco, white truffle, balsam herb and grilled rosemary. The tannins are structured with a vein of supple sweetness. This wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in large barrel and is left to develop on the fine lees without racking. It is largely made in reduction to establish that crunchy and firm quality you feel in the mouth. This special Riserva was not made in 2008. However, it was produced in 2007, 2006, 2004, 2001, 1997, 1996, 1990, 1989 and 1982. Luca is planning to make it in 2013, and that’s great news for all.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 100 RPIt’s almost a shock to taste the 2009 Barolo Riserva Villero after the 2013s, as it is quite soft and open. Part of that is the personality of the 2009 vintage, but the wine’s is also four years older. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and a host of balsamic-infused notes wrap around the generous, inviting finish. Although the 2009 will be at its best with a few more years in bottle, opening it before that it won’t be in vain, as the wine is quite approachable and expressive, even in the early going. The 2009 is sensual, beguiling and inviting today.Antonio Galloni | 95 AG

(Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Romanée St. Vivant Grand Cru Red) A notably floral character adds breadth to the highly spiced and exceptionally fresh nose of cool red currant and plum. The rich, refined and admirably pure middle weight flavors are supported and shaped by ultra-fine tannins that coat the mouth on the incredibly long finish. Despite the underlying tension, this is essentially a wine of finesse and harmony that should also age for a very long time if desired. Brilliant and remarkably complex. (Drink starting 2025)Burghound | 96 BHGood full red. Vibrant perfume of raspberry, spices and minerals. Boasts outstanding dark berry intensity, with powerful crushed-stone minerality and a saline quality giving great energy and tension to the middle palate. Finishes with remarkable rising length, utterly suave tannins and superb lift. Like the Suchots, this is already wonderfully aromatic but is built for a decade or two of improvement in bottle.Vinous Media | 95+ VM(Romanée-St.-Vivant- Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux) The 2010 Romanée-St.-Vivant from Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux, not surprisingly, ash the best depth of fruit to stand up to the wood tannins here, and this wine is not bad at all. The nose is a complex and classy blend of cherries, orange peel, coffee, Vosne spices, lovely soil tones and plenty of smoky, luxe-styled new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with a good core of fruit, fine focus and very good length and grip on the chewy and only modestly over-oaked finish. This will have no trouble eventually absorbing its wood tannin, as it is only showing a touch of backend dryness at this time, and it will be a pretty good bottle at its apogee. But, should one expect more from an expensive example of Romanée-St.-Vivant in a great year? This will certainly not offer up even a modicum of value. (Drink between 2016-2040)John Gilman | 91+ JG

Smoke, tar, earthiness and licorice add gorgeous dimensions of complexity in the 2010 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia. Here, too, the flavors are remarkably bright and focused. The dark, brooding notes of Serralunga are very much present, but the 2010 impresses for its pure balance, harmony and class. Dried rose petals, spices, licorice and game add complexity on a huge finish supported by big, incisive tannins. This is another utterly vivid, dazzling Barolo from Brovia. Here, too, readers will note a slight name change.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGThis structured, vibrant wine opens with classic Nebbiolo aromas of red cherry, leather, clove, spice and balsamic notes. The savory palate doles out red and black berry reined in by mint, licorice and black pepper alongside brisk acidity and tightly woven tannins. It will blossom into a beauty. Drink after 2022.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WERaspberry coulis and mint nose. Succulent cherry fruit, very concentrated with massive but not tough tannins. A mighty wine with good acidity, considerable finesse and excellent length. Drinking Window 2015 - 2030.Decanter | 95 DECThe 2010 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia hails from the eight-hectare Brea vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba. Nebbiolo vines are almost 60 years old, but the site is also planted to Barbera, Dolcetto and Moscato for Moscato d’Asti. I love the exotic personality of this wine. The bouquet shows dark fruit and thick layers with cinnamon, cumin and cardamom at the back. There are dried herbs and rosemary sprig as well. This wine is especially characterized by its tannins that are extra firm and etched. The wine will require extra aging time in order to find balance and harmony.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPLots of tar, rose petal and dark-fruit character. Full body, chewy tannins and a juicy aftertaste. Lots of character. Better in 2016.James Suckling | 92 JS

Tasted in 2021, this 2010 Meursault is still showing a bit of wood over the brightly youthful citrus fruit with nuances of hazelnut and creamery butter. It is an intensely structured wine with incredible freshness. This is a luxurious wine of immense potential, yet still not yet fully ready to drink. Try it in another five years and drink it over the following 20. Superb Meursault from an exceptional producer in a landmark year. (Drink between 2022-2045)Decanter | 96 DEC(from Vireuils-Dessous): Aromas of orange oil and wet stone. Juicy on entry, then rather strict in the middle, showing noteworthy power and tension, not to mention terrific precision of stone fruit and citrus flavors. Not yet expansive; in fact, this village wine is the closest 2010 to austere today. Owing to the low volume of grapes in 2010, Coche-Dury used 15% new oak here, vs. a normal 10%. (If you see the 2010 Bourgogne Blanc, but it: with its leesy, spicy pineapple and orange blossom flavors, its rather powerful mid-palate and its whiplash of a finish, it’s better than many Meursault botlings).Vinous Media | 92 VM(Domaine Coche-Dury Meursault Villages White) Here there is a completely different aromatic profile with its hazelnut, grilled almond, acacia blossom and yellow orchard fruit scents. There is excellent volume to the somewhat more generously proportioned flavors that are not quite as refined though I very much like the mineral character on the lemony, bone dry and borderline strict finish. This linear effort will definitely need time to unwind and flesh out on the finale. (Drink starting 2018).Burghound | 90 BHThe 2010 Meursault (Narvaux) is a gorgeous wine endowed with crystalline purity, fabulous depth and great overall balance. The long, pure finish makes it hard to move on to the next wine. As always, the Narvaux is one of several parcels that is bottled simply as Meursault, so readers will have to ask their supplier the exact provenance of their village-level Coche Meursault. Anticipated maturity: 2015+.(Not yet released)Jean-Francois Coche’s 2010s have turned out just as I hoped they would, which is to say the wines are breathtaking. On average, yields were down 40%, so these already highly coveted, rare wines are going to be even more impossible to find than usual. Coche is adamant that opening his top 2010s before age ten is a total waste, something he repeated a few times during my visit. Accordingly, Coche doesn’t plan on releasing the Corton-Charlemagne for another few years.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

The 2010 IX Estate is another perfect wine. Its opaque purple color is accompanied by copious aromas of blueberries, cassis, pen ink, asphalt, licorice and subtle oak. Full-bodied and rich but light on its feet, this spectacular effort was created from a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot. Enjoy this profound wine over the next 25+ years.Robert Parker | 100 RPSaturated medium ruby. More Hermitage than Côte-Rôtie on the extraordinary nose, conveying an impression of granitic minerality to its scents of crushed blackberry, blueberry, violet, licorice and charcuterie. Delivers an uncommon combination of density, energy and definition, not to mention a deeply spicy quality and more obvious iron-like minerality and gaminess than the 2011 version. Still a baby, this remarkable, tightly wound Syrah boasts a slowly mounting, palate-staining finish and perfectly buffered tannins. Exceptional--and built for a long life in bottle.Vinous Media | 97 VMAnother top syrah from here with black pepper and bacon character with light cedar and spice. Full body, with a core of ripe fruit and a long finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 95 JSPleasing for its richness, elegance and finesse, this graceful red presents a delicate mix of dark berry, licorice, light cedar and loamy earth, gliding along on the finish, where the wine is amazingly polished. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2026.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Pale to medium lemon-gold color, the 2010 d’Yquem has retreated into its shell at this youthful stage, offering spritely suggestions of lemon curd, lime cordial and green mango with wafts of honeysuckle, spice cake, sea spray and beeswax plus a hint of gingerbread. The palate really comes through with super intense, tightly wound citrus, savory and mineral layers carried by a laser-precise backbone of freshness, finishing with crazy persistence that lingers a full three minutes and then some. This is going to be a very exotic, opulent Yquem!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 98 RP(Château d’Yquem (Sauternes)) The 2010 Château d’Yquem is an utterly stunning young wine and a very worthy follow-up to the magical wine produced at this estate in 2009. The bouquet is deep, complex and flat out brilliant, as it soars from the glass in a celestial mélange of pineapple, tangerines, a touch of passion fruit, honeycomb, beautifully complex and chalky soil tones, spring flowers and a very gentle touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, suave and utterly seamless, with great mid-palate depth, bright acids and surreal length and grip on the dancing and very intensely flavored finish. The 2010 d’Yquem is not quite as ethereally complex at this stage as the hauntingly beautiful 2009, but in terms of sheer quality, it seems likely to be every bit as profound. (Drink between 2020-2100)John Gilman | 98+ JGA pure, racy, floral style, with bright white peach, heather and honeysuckle notes driving along. The core of fresh orchard fruit is unctuous, the finish long and lacy, with marvelous cut and finesse. This shows the balance and elegance of a cooler year with a longer harvest period.—Non-blind Yquem vertical (July 2014). Best from 2015 through 2045. 8,334 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WSThe purity of Botrytis in this wine is so impressive with dried fruits such apple and mango. And then spicy character. Full body and very sweet but it is incredibly fresh and lively. Such class and elegance. Perfectly manicured wine. Everything in the right place. This shows a delicacy and intensity that are spellbinding. Drink in 2018.James Suckling | 97 JSStunningly rich in character, a wine with great power to go with its acidity and sweetness. It is dense, powerful and concentrated powered by honey and by spice from the wood. The finish has dried apricots, very aromatic.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEThe 2010 Yquem has an attractive bouquet with marmalade, caramelized pear, orange pith and light puff pastry notes. It just needs a little more delineation. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, lightly spiced and impressive focus. Like the aromatics, I would have just liked a little more precision on the finish. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.Vinous Media | 94 VM

The 2010 Maya is a less evolved, more backward, brooding wine with a dense opaque blue/purple color, explosive richness, and abundant notes of incense, camphor, charcoal, blackberries, blueberries and hints of violets and forest floor. Full-bodied, pure, deep, structured and powerful, this massive Maya comes across as even bigger and richer than the 2009. Forget it for 3-5 years and drink it over the following 30+ years. Drink Date 2016 - 2046 Robert Parker The Wine Advocate | 98+ RPNaoko Dalla Valle’s 2010 Maya is every bit as breathtaking as it has always been. An exotic mélange of raspberry jam, espresso, mocha and rose petal scents opens up in the glass. Alluring, powerful and totally captivating, the 2010 hits all the right notes. One of the more complete wines in this tasting, the Maya is brilliant as soon as the bottles are opened and then just keeps getting better and better as the hours go by. The 2010 vintage is full of highlights, but then there is a summit of excellence where a few wines are perched. Maya is one of them. In a word: magnificent!Antonio Galloni | 98+ AGFirm, dense and tannic, offering a potent mix of dried berry, black licorice, dried herb and savory notes, gaining tannic traction and ending with a wonderful push of flavors that bode well for the future. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2014 through 2025. 420 cases made. Wine Spectator | 93 WS

(Charmes-Chambertin “Vieilles Vignes”- Domaine Denis Bachelet) Monsieur Bachelet has made some absolutely brilliant vintages of his old vine Charmes-Chambertin over the course of his fine career, but I have never had one better than this magical 2010. The simply stunning nose- still very primary, but, oh so promising- offers up a very deep and complex blend of cassis, black cherries, grilled meat, raw cocoa, black minerality, espresso, woodsmoke, fresh herb tones, violets and a lovely base of new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and very, very pure on the attack, with a sappy core, outstanding focus and balance, substantial, but, fine-grained tannins, tangy acids and a veritable mineral bath on the extremely long and utterly suave finish. This has the seamless beauty, coupled to stunning transparency and intensity of flavor that only the very greatest wines of 2010 can deliver. A brilliant, brilliant wine. (Drink between 2025-2100)John Gilman | 97+ JGThe 2010 Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is a wine of impeccable class and elegance. Layered, nuanced and subtle, the wine literally blossoms in the glass, showing off its incomparable pedigree. Sweet, floral notes appear later, adding complexity to layers of silky, highly expressive fruit buffered by suave tannins. The gracious, aristocratic finish leaves a lasting impression. This is a dazzling effort from Bachelet. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2032.Denis Bachelet’s 2010s are fabulous across the board. I find the wines more harmonious and complete than the 2009s. The cool, long growing season provided a lovely counterpoint to the rich, fruit-driven aromas and flavors that are typical in these wines, and that marks some vintages (such as 2009) to a significant degree. Like many of his colleagues in Gevrey, Bachelet was hit by the severe December 2009 frost. The flowering, which typically takes one week, took an entire month because of bad weather, leaving the plants with a high percentage of shot berries. Bachelet began harvesting on September 25. The wines spent 15 days on the skins and were racked prior to the malos. Bottling was scheduled for March 2012.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92-95 RPBright red-ruby. Pure, perfumed aromas of black raspberry, blackberry, violet, licorice and pepper, plus a hint of molasses. Silky, dense and very intense, with a distinctly tangy high-toned quality giving lift to the sappy berry, dark chocolate and violet flavors. Piquant, classy wine with a very long, firmly tannic finish that delivers mounting length. The highest-toned of these 2010s at 0.55 grams per liter and the sexiest today. But this really needs at least eight to ten years of cellaring. These vines were originally 100 year old but there has been substantial repiquage (the replacement of dying or virused vines with new ones) in recent years.Vinous Media | 95 VM(Domaine Denis Bachelet Charmes-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Red) Relatively prominent wood spice does not dominate the otherwise very ripe and densely fruited cassis and plum suffused nose that also displays plenty of Gevrey style pungent earth, underbrush and a hint of the sauvage. The intense earthiness continues onto the textured, seductive and mouth coating broad-scaled flavors that brim with dry extract, indeed so much so that the firm tannins are relegated to the background on the beautifully well-balanced and hugely long finish. This very serious effort is at once classic Bachelet in that the palate impression is suave and harmonious yet the wine is also the epitome of a textbook Charmes. (Drink starting 2022).Burghound | 93-95 BH

The 2010 Conteisa is a stunner with all the overwhelming elegance that is inherent to this vintage. It opens steadily to reveal red flower, cassis, baking spice, anisette and tobacco. The aromas are expressive and deep with enduring richness. The tannins are slightly sweet and already soft. This is a collectors’ choice. Drink: 2018-2040.I have some happy news to report from the exciting world of Angelo Gaja. The estate that was notoriously difficult (if not impossible) to visit for those outside the wine trade is now opening its doors to the public. There is a steep entrance fee, but the scheme makes perfect sense in my option. Any wine lover can make an appointment to tour the estate and sample wine for up to 300 euros a person. The money must be paid to charity as none of the proceeds go to Gaja. If you have a favorite non-profit organization, make a donation in that amount. Once you send receipt of payment to Gaja’s tasting room staff, your visit will be granted. It sounds like a fair exchange to me.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPMade with Nebbiolo from Gaja's holdings in the Cerequio vineyard in La Morra, with a touch of Barbera, this combines finesse, structure and depth. It's highly perfumed with rose, balsamic notes, berry and spice that follow through to red cherry, raspberry, white pepper, licorice and mint flavors. It's balanced with polished tannins and closes on a mineral note. Drink 2018–2030.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEAromas of sliced porcini, dried rose petals and dark fruits such as plums. Full body, chewy and rich with dusty tannins. Juicy finish. Needs time to soften still. Better in 2017.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2010 Conteisa is a wine of extreme finesse. Flowers, sweet red berries, hard candy, mint and licorice all emerge from the glass, supported by silky, polished tannins. Today the 2010 impresses for its fabulous, crystalline purity and striking overall balance. The style is aromatic, lifted and all about elegance. The 2010 has only recently been bottled. I won't be surprised if it is even better in another few years. Conteisa is mostly Nebbiolo with a dollop of Barbera, from the Cerequio vineyard in La Morra.Vinous Media | 95 VMFloral top notes lead to black cherry and strawberry fruit, with flourishes of tobacco, iron and spice. This red is balanced and light- to medium-bodied, showing a terrific texture. Ample tannins leave a dusty feel on the lingering finish. Best from 2018 through 2032. 1,250 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS