| Angelus |
St Emilion |
2009 |
RP 99 |
1
|
R 3,224.83
|
Wine: St Emilion
A candidate for one of the finest Angelus produced to date (and there have been many, including 1989, 1990, 2000 and 2005), this blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc was fashioned from tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare. It boasts a black/purple color along with a gorgeous perfume of blueberry liqueur, spring flowers and graphite. In the mouth, notes of incense and cassis also emerge from this velvety-textured, full-bodied, intensely concentrated 2009. With silky tannins, low acidity and spectacular purity, texture and depth, it is already approachable (although I’m sure proprietor Hubert de Bouard would think drinking it now is akin to infanticide), but should keep for 20-30+ years. ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Ausone |
St Emilion |
2009 |
RP 98+ |
1
|
R 13,464.71
|
Wine: St Emilion
A masterpiece in the making, proprietor Alain Vauthier’s 2009 Ausone boasts a dense purple color along with notes of powdered chalk, crushed rocks and wild blue, red and black fruits. Extravagantly rich with great minerality, precision and freshness as well as a voluptuous texture (unusual for a baby Ausone), this is an extraordinary wine. Sadly, there are fewer than 1,200 cases ... for the world. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2060+ ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Chasse Spleen |
Moulis |
2009 |
RP 90 |
6
|
R 350.00
|
Wine: Moulis
Beautiful blueberry, black raspberry and cassis fruit as well as incense and graphite jump from the glass of this inky ruby/purple-colored wine. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, dense and rich, this is one of the stars of Moulis in 2009. Given its low acidity but abundant tannin, I suspect it could close down in a few years and last two decades. Arriving May
Producer: Chasse Spleen
None
|
| Climens |
Barsac 375ml |
2008 |
RP 93 |
21
|
R 400.00
|
Wine: Barsac 375ml
The 2008 Climens has a “clinical” bouquet with tangerine, grapefruit, pear and apricot that is very pure, but at the moment very tight. The palate is understated on the entry but builds nicely, with viscous honeyed fruit with marmalade, quince and spice. It clams up on the finish like Climens often does in its youth, but there is patently great potential and may merit a higher score in adulthood. Drink now-2040. ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Climens |
Barsac 375ml |
2009 |
NM 96-98 |
5
|
R 584.06
|
Wine: Barsac 375ml
ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Clos du Marquis |
St Julien |
2009 |
RP 93 |
3
|
R 565.00
|
Wine: St Julien
Now positioned as a totally separate vineyard and a real clos (enclosed walled vineyard), this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from Jean-Hubert Delon is a beauty. Creme de cassis notes intermixed with some vanillin, crushed rock and spring flowers jump from the glass. Full-bodied and powerful (nearly 14% natural alcohol), this is a generously endowed, rich wine that was first made in 1902. The 2009 should drink well for 20-25 years. Readers need to think of it as a true classified growth, although technically it is not. LANDING MAY
Producer: Clos du Marquis
None
|
| Coutet |
Barsac 375ml |
2009 |
WS 93-95 |
3
|
R 393.25
|
Wine: Barsac 375ml
ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Dame de Montrose |
St Estephe |
2009 |
RP 91 |
1
|
R 515.00
|
Wine: St Estephe
Over the last twenty years, Montrose-s second wine, La Dame de Montrose has been an excellent buy. The 2009 La Dame de Montrose (almost all Merlot with a tiny bit of Cabernet Sauvignon) is a seductive, succulent effort revealing silky tannins, abundant blueberry and blackberry fruit notes intermixed with notions of damp earth, truffles and camphor, and an appealing, luscious personality. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years. LANDING MAY
Producer: Dame de Montrose
None
|
| de Fieuzal |
Pessac Leognan |
2009 |
RP 92+ |
6
|
R 360.00
|
Wine: Pessac Leognan
A terrific, classic Graves with notes of subtle smoke, black raspberries, black currants, graphite and unsmoked cigar tobacco, this full-bodied, deep, concentrated de Fieuzal is far more generous and deep than most vintages of the past. There is also a wonderful freshness and length to this somewhat oversized de Fieuzal while it still maintains its elegance and class. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. LANDING MAY
Producer: de Fieuzal
None
|
| De Myrat |
Sauternes 375ml |
2009 |
WS 94 |
3
|
R 163.78
|
Wine: Sauternes 375ml
This is explosively rich, with almond cream, heather and honeysuckle aromas giving way to mouthwatering lime chiffon, papaya and dried persimmon notes. Long and expansive, with intense citrus pâté de fruit on the finish. Still on the youthfully rambunctious side, so cellar. Best from 2014 through 2030.— ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Doisy Daene |
Sauternes 375ml |
2009 |
NM 96-98 |
27
|
R 250.00
|
Wine: Sauternes 375ml
ARRIVING MAY 2012
Producer: Doisy Daene
None
|
| Doisy Daene |
Sauternes Sec |
2009 |
WA 96-96 |
4
|
R 165.81
|
Wine: Sauternes Sec
Denis Dubourdieu has provided one of the genuine stars of the vintage with the Chateau Doisy-Daene, two, if you count his Extravagance. This has a very fragrant nose with apple blossom, lime leaf and a touch of honey. Very fresh and lifted...spring-like. The palate is very well balanced, not a powerful Sauternes but ethereally poised and focused, skipping blithely to an animated pear, honeysuckle and apricot finish. Very pretty, very complete and very outstanding. ARRIVING MAY 2012
Producer: Doisy Daene
None
|
| D'Yquem |
Sauternes |
2008 |
NM 96 |
4
|
R 2,807.80
|
Wine: Sauternes
The 2008 Yquem, now in bottle, has a nuanced bouquet, with scents of clear honey, lime flower, vanilla and orange blossom that is beautifully defined. The palate is very harmonious on the entry, with a fine thread of acidity, tense and full of energy like the 2010 tasted alongside, with notes of white peach, citrus lemon, clear honey and a hint of quince. Long and persistent on the finish, this is a very fine Yquem that might be over-looked between the 2007 and 2009, but is a superb Sauternes in its own right. Drink 2014-2050. All inclusive LANDING MAY 2012
|
| Guiraud |
Sauternes 375ml |
2009 |
WS 95-98 |
16
|
R 271.13
|
Wine: Sauternes 375ml
ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Laforge |
St Emilion |
2009 |
RP 96 |
50
|
R 470.00
|
Wine: St Emilion
From proprietor Jonathan Maltus, this blend of three terroirs, two on sand and one on gravel, is a blend of 92% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. About 2,000 cases are produced, and the prodigious 2009 is the finest vintage to date. Inky blue/purple, with notes of licorice, camphor, black truffle, blackberry and blueberry, this full-bodied wine has massive concentration yet at the same time displays elegance and harmony. The equilibrium and 60+-second length make for a huge, massive, but incredibly well-balanced wine, like a shadow of the proprietor himself. Drink it over the next 15 or more years. ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| La Pointe |
Pomerol |
2009 |
RP 90 |
19
|
R 385.00
|
Wine: Pomerol
This 2009 is the finest La Pointe ever! We can thank the new owners, who had the foresight to hire Hubert de Bouard as their consultant. This blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from the relatively sandy soils of this vineyard, situated well-off the tenderloin plateau of Pomerol, has a dense purple color and oodles of plum sauce interwoven with blueberry, raspberry and black cherry notes. Full-bodied, opulent, fleshy and very sexy, it should be drunk over the next decade. ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Le Carre |
St Emilion |
2009 |
RP 97 |
21
|
R 1,085.00
|
Wine: St Emilion
Achieving nearly 15% natural alcohol (one of the highest of the Jonathan Maltus St. Emilion estates) , this blend of approximately 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is from vineyards that sit on limestone soils near Clos Fourtet, an area that performed brilliantly in 2009. Inky purple, with notes of graphite, vanillin, blackberry and cassis as well as crushed rock and floral notes, the wine has breathtaking extravagance and a luxuriant fruit quality that simply has to be tasted to be believed. Phenomenally rich, full-bodied, and brilliantly poised and well-balanced, this is a tour de force in winemaking and a colossal Le Carre, the finest Jonathan Maltus has yet produced. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028. LANDING MAY
|
| Le Dôme |
St Emilion |
2009 |
RP 99 |
9
|
R 2,165.00
|
Wine: St Emilion
One of the most distinctive wines made in Bordeaux, Le Dome has one of the highest percentages of Cabernet Franc of any claret I can think of. Composed of 80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot, it exhibits a certain delicacy and elegance (due to the Cabernet Franc component) in addition to resounding power, concentration, depth and multidimensional personality. Black/purple to the rim, it offers strikingly intense notes of spring flowers, raspberries, mulberries and wood smoke, medium to full body, sweet tannin and a cunning intensity and texture that suggest finesse and delicacy. However, the wine’s richness, length and lingering depth build incrementally in this exceptional St.-Emilion. It will be drinkable in 4-5 years and should age for two decades or more. This is Jonathan Malthus’ finest wine to date. LANDING MAY
|
| Lynch Moussas |
Pauillac |
2009 |
RP 88-90 |
8
|
R 385.00
|
Wine: Pauillac
Notes of creme de cassis, loamy soil, graphite, and spice box jump from the glass of this dark purple-colored, medium to full-bodied Pauillac. Although somewhat monolithic, it appears to have plenty of depth, purity, and overall equilibrium. It should drink well for 15+ years. (Tasted two times.) ARRIVING MAY 2012
Producer: Lynch Moussas
None
|
| Marjosse |
Bordeaux Superieur Rouge |
2009 |
NM 88-90 |
36
|
R 120.00
|
Wine: Bordeaux Superieur Rouge
ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Marquis de Calon |
St Estephe |
2009 |
- |
1
|
R 245.00
|
Wine: St Estephe
The second wine of Calon Segur - ARRIVING MAY 2012
Producer: Marquis de Calon
None
|
| Mouton Rothschild |
Pauillac |
2009 |
RP 99 |
1
|
R 8,414.80
|
Wine: Pauillac
The 2009 Mouton Rothschild has a striking label from Anish Kapoor. The wine is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot that begs comparison as a young wine with what the 1982 tasted like in 1985 or, I suspect, what the 1959 may have tasted like in 1962. Representing 50% of their production, the wine has an inky purple color to the rim and not terribly high alcohol for a 2009 (13.2%), but that is reflected by the high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a remarkable nose of lead pencil shavings, violets, creme de cassis and subtle barrique smells. It is stunningly opulent, fat, and super-concentrated, but the luxurious fruit tends to conceal some rather formidable tannins in the finish. This is an amazing wine that will be slightly more drinkable at an earlier age than I thought from barrel, but capable of lasting 50 or more years. Kudos to the Baroness Philippine de Rothschild and the entire Mouton team, lead by Monsieur Dalhuin. ARRIVING MAY 2012
Producer: Mouton Rothschild
None
|
| Pezat |
Bordeaux Superieur |
2009 |
RP 89 |
105
|
R 105.00
|
Wine: Bordeaux Superieur
An impressive project of Jonathan Maltus (proprietor of Chateau Teyssier, Le Dome and other chateaux in St.-Emilion), this blend of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet France is a sleeper of the vintage. Priced realistically, the wine displays an opaque ruby/purple color and beautiful cassis fruit intermixed with kirsch, licorice and a hint of underbrush. It is dense, medium to full-bodied, very silky-textured, mouth-filling and enormously satisfying. This sleeper is best drunk over the next several years. ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Phélan Ségur |
St Estephe |
2009 |
RP 90-92 |
8
|
R 400.00
|
Wine: St Estephe
Like many of the top 2009s, Phelan-Segur is a huge, full-bodied effort with massive fruit as well as good freshness, precision, and elegance. This is all rather paradoxical given previous great vintages that either lean toward cooler vintage characteristics or hot ones. This 2009 possesses both styles. It exhibits lots of mulberry, boysenberry, and crushed, jammy black fruits, abundant tannin, medium to full body, an opulent mouthfeel, and enough structure to evolve for two decades or more. This is a sleeper of the vintage. (Tasted two times.)ARRIVING MAY 2012
Producer: Phélan Ségur
None
|
| Potensac |
Medoc |
2009 |
RP 89 |
28
|
R 255.00
|
Wine: Medoc
This fairly priced Medoc from Jean-Hubert Delon (the proprietor of Leoville-Las-Cases) has hit almost 14% natural alcohol and looks to be the best wine made at this estate since 1982, which drank well for 15 years and cost about $4.00 a bottle in that era. Crisp, mineral notes intermixed with mulberry, black cherry and black currant fruit jump from the glass of this classic Bordeaux, which is both powerful and elegant. There is considerable substance to the wine, with its attractive texture and overall sense of precision and elegance. This is a sleeper of the vintage not to be missed. Anticipated maturity: now-2022.ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Rieussec |
Sauternes 375ml |
2009 |
WS 92-95 |
14
|
R 439.04
|
Wine: Sauternes 375ml
ARRIVING MAY 2012
|
| Smith H Lafitte Blanc |
Pessac Leognan |
2009 |
RP 98 |
19
|
R 889.35
|
Wine: Pessac Leognan
Smith-Haut-Lafitte hit a home run with their red Pessac-Leognan and came very close to perfection with their dry white Graves. Possibly the best dry white the estate has produced since the proprietors, the Cathiards, acquired the property in 1990, this wine exhibits a sensational fragrance of buttered citrus, honeyed melons and a touch of grapefruit, lemon zest and orange rind. It also displays grapefruit on the attack and mid-palate as well as real opulence, terrific acidity and length. Drink it over the next 15-20 years. Astonishing! ARRIVING MAY 2012
Producer: Smith H Lafitte Blanc
None
|
| Teyssier |
St Emilion |
2009 |
RP 92 |
51
|
R 215.00
|
Wine: St Emilion
The flagship property of Jonathan Maltus (his residence as well), this is the best Teyssier I have ever tasted. A tribute to his efforts, this blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc over-achieves even in a great vintage like 2009. Opaque blue/purple, with notes of charcoal, blackberry, cassis and spring flowers as well as a hint of subtle background oak., the wine is opulent, sumptuously textured, dense, pure and multi-dimensional. It should drink well for at least a decade or more. LANDING MAY
|
| Tronquoy Lalande |
St Estephe |
2009 |
RP 91 |
3
|
R 360.00
|
Wine: St Estephe
The 2009 Tronquoy Lalande, a blend of 51% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Petit Verdot, is the finest wine they have yet produced. It reveals an opulent bouquet of mulberries, blueberries, raspberries and spring flowers, full body, silky tannin, low acidity and a lush, pure mouthfeel. This uncharacteristically round, generous, sumptuous wine should be drinkable early on. LANDING MAY
Producer: Tronquoy Lalande
None
|
