The Wine Cellar Insider (98)

This just keeps getting better and better. Splash decanted, this was a rockstar from the start. But 30 minutes later and it was really off to the races. The decadent texture is a show stopper. The fruit is polished velvet. There is a purity and symmetry to the wine that is impossible to miss. As it developed, notes of lilac, violets and chocolate emerged. And as hard as it is to believe, the wine gained in opulence. If you are a fan of Pomerol at its most decadent, and if you have the coin to spare, this is a future legend waiting in the wings.

Wine Advocate (100)

The deep garnet colored 2009 La Mission Haut-Brion absolutely sings of warm red and black currants, chocolate-covered cherries, liquid licorice, sassafras and espresso with hint of lilacs, pencil shavings and truffles. Full-bodied, rich, bold and oh-so-decadent in the mouth, the palate is completely packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by wonderfully velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing epically long. Wow!

Wine Advocate (100)

The deep garnet colored 2009 La Mission Haut-Brion absolutely sings of warm red and black currants, chocolate-covered cherries, liquid licorice, sassafras and espresso with hint of lilacs, pencil shavings and truffles. Full-bodied, rich, bold and oh-so-decadent in the mouth, the palate is completely packed with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by wonderfully velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing epically long. Wow!

Wine Advocate (100)

Perfect, the 2009 La Mondotte boasts an inky/black/purple color as well as sumptuous notes of incense, graphite, licorice, black cherries, blackberries, cedar and forest floor. It is extraordinarily thick and voluptuous with a cool climate minerality that gives the wine an uplift and freshness that is surprising in view of its massive fruit level and high extract. The tannins are abundant, but sweet and well-integrated, as are the acidity, alcohol and wood components. An infant at present, this 2009 requires 6-8 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades.

Wine Spectator (90)

Very polished, with an alluring incense and licorice edge to the core of supple black cherry, anise and plum sauce flavors. Suave black tea and tar hints chime on the finish, but this stays open-knit and rounded. Drink now through 2018. 4,165 cases made. -JM

Wine Enthusiast (97)

96-98 Barrel sample. A powerful, complex wine, its layers of sweetness mixed with a total dryness from botrytis. The wine is impressively rich, considerably inspired by dried fruits and spice. Certainly for aging over decades.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

96-98 Barrel sample. A powerful, complex wine, its layers of sweetness mixed with a total dryness from botrytis. The wine is impressively rich, considerably inspired by dried fruits and spice. Certainly for aging over decades.

Wine Enthusiast (97)

96-98 Barrel sample. A powerful, complex wine, its layers of sweetness mixed with a total dryness from botrytis. The wine is impressively rich, considerably inspired by dried fruits and spice. Certainly for aging over decades.

Wine Advocate (98)

Wow, did I underrate this wine from cask. I thought it was outstanding, but this wine is one of the superstars of the vintage. An extraordinarily provocative, exotic nose of a florist shop intermixed with raspberry and blueberry liqueur soars from the glass of this very aromatic/fragrant wine. Dense purple in color, with silky tannins, a full-bodied mouthfeel, great nobility and palate penetration, this is a sensational, compelling Pomerol to drink over the next 20-25 years.

James Suckling (100)

This is what the Medoc is all about. The freshness and delicacy of this wine in combination with its serious concentration and firm core are totally stunning. Time has already worked its magic and this is already delicious, but has decades in front of it. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

James Suckling (100)

This is what the Medoc is all about. The freshness and delicacy of this wine in combination with its serious concentration and firm core are totally stunning. Time has already worked its magic and this is already delicious, but has decades in front of it. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

James Suckling (100)

This is a crazy nose of tangerines and blueberries, with raspberries and mushroom and berries. Full-bodied, with ultra fine tannins. This wine is all about texture, with phenomenal tannins and subtle fruits that just make you think. Evocative. It is layered, yet changes all the time. I can't believe it really. Speechless. Amazes me. Try in 2020.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (95)

Finessed, displaying St Julien balance, even a little reserved at first, but studded with oyster shell salinity, firm cassis and blackcurrant fruits, cocoa bean and liquorice. Great quality, impressive depth through the mid palate, a wine for sharing that will make your friends extremely happy. Plenty of appellation typicity, with a juicy finish, this is a buy. 42hl/h yield, 60% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant.

Unveiling the truly characterful experience of fine Bordeaux wine, the Lagrange Pomerol 2009 offers an abundant layer of depth and complexity. A premium product from the Château Lagrange vineyards in the Right Bank of Bordeaux, this wine is testament to the terroir's magic. Cultivated from 100% Merlot grapes and aged in oak barrels, it exhibits a luxurious full-bodied quality.

In its youth, this particular vintage 2009 was lauded for its robust structure and intensity, today it graces the palate with supple panache revealing ripe fruits, dark chocolate, and gentle tobacco undertones. Its deep garnet hue entices the visual palette; its seductive aroma transcends to an impressive, long-lasting finish. Wine critic, Robert Parker praised the Lagrange Pomerol 2009 as a 'sexy, opulent, rich Pomerol'.

The meticulous vinification process employed at Château Lagrange has sculpted a wine that stands at the pinnacle of Pomerol offerings. An absolute delight for the discerning oenophile, the Lagrange Pomerol 2009 wine truly embodies the sublime harmony of nature and craftsmanship.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

94-96 Barrel sample. Lots of new wood here, maybe too dominant. But it is a stage, because the fruit weight is also there to give a wine of considerable complexity, dry and solid.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96)

The 2009 Larcis Ducasse is an exotic, flamboyant wine endowed with remarkable depth and pure pedigree. Sweet tobacco, mint, pine and red-fleshed fruits are front and center. Even with all of its voluptuousness and richness, the 2009 is firm and quite tannic. Readers should be prepared to cellar it for at least a handful of years.

Wine Independent (100)

A blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Merlot, the opaque garnet-black colored 2009 Latour prances from the glass with showy notes of black cherry preserves, blueberry pie, and black currant jelly, leading to an undercurrent of camphor, clove oil, and cinnamon toast. The medium to full-bodied palate is decadently stacked with black and blue fruit layers, framed by super-plush tannins and jaw-dropping tension, culminating in a fragrant finish that just goes on and on. It’s flat-out delicious right now but promises to reward the patient.

Wine Independent (100)

A blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Merlot, the opaque garnet-black colored 2009 Latour prances from the glass with showy notes of black cherry preserves, blueberry pie, and black currant jelly, leading to an undercurrent of camphor, clove oil, and cinnamon toast. The medium to full-bodied palate is decadently stacked with black and blue fruit layers, framed by super-plush tannins and jaw-dropping tension, culminating in a fragrant finish that just goes on and on. It’s flat-out delicious right now but promises to reward the patient.

Wine Independent (100)

A blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Merlot, the opaque garnet-black colored 2009 Latour prances from the glass with showy notes of black cherry preserves, blueberry pie, and black currant jelly, leading to an undercurrent of camphor, clove oil, and cinnamon toast. The medium to full-bodied palate is decadently stacked with black and blue fruit layers, framed by super-plush tannins and jaw-dropping tension, culminating in a fragrant finish that just goes on and on. It’s flat-out delicious right now but promises to reward the patient.

Wine Independent (100)

A blend of 91.3% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8.7% Merlot, the opaque garnet-black colored 2009 Latour prances from the glass with showy notes of black cherry preserves, blueberry pie, and black currant jelly, leading to an undercurrent of camphor, clove oil, and cinnamon toast. The medium to full-bodied palate is decadently stacked with black and blue fruit layers, framed by super-plush tannins and jaw-dropping tension, culminating in a fragrant finish that just goes on and on. It’s flat-out delicious right now but promises to reward the patient.