Bordeaux 2009: Saint-Estèphe
For long regarded as the commune for meaty, robust wines, Saint-Estèphe has been achieving more and more elegance over the last decade, the Merlots ripening well on the more clayey soils to add flesh to the sometimes over-firm Cabernets. Once again, 2009 has brought ripeness and richness to this commune, which offers open cassis fruit on the lesser wines and complex vineyard expression from the more classic terroirs. Overall very successful. Steven Spurrier
Chateau Calon-Segur, Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dense, very Cabernet (90%) nose of red/black berry fruits, great freshness, purity and length, a beautifully made, truly aristocratic wine. Drink 2016-30. (18.5 points)
Chateau Cos d'Estournel, Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2009
Superb black red, very full and spicy, very broadly structured, really quite massive (14.5abv) and will take years to pick up finesse, a 'baroque' almost Porty wine, explosively rich and definitely impressive if not a typical Saint-Estephe. Drink 2018-40. (18.5 points)
Chateau Montrose, Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2008
Black red, smoky cassis nose with fine Cabernet spice, quite restrained yet full of power, a really precise and true vineyard wine, superb middle sweetness, a grandly classic wine. Drink 2019-45. (19 points)
Chateau Capbern Gasqueton, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Black red, classic Saint-Estèphe nose that blends power and finesse with a satiny texture and great depth, a very good wine. Drink 2014-20. (17 points)
Chateau Cos Labory, Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dense purple red, finely concentrated blackcurrant nose, quite smoky, good fleshy yet firm Cabernet/Merlot blend and fine elegant length. Drink 2014-24. (17 points)
Chateau Lafon-Rochet, Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Estephe 2009
Black red, colour sticks to the glass, big smoky Cabernet cassis nose, excellent natural concentration, intense yet lifted fruit, lots of succulence and lots of grip, a really well-expressed, well-made wine with a very good future. Drink 2015-30. (17.5 points)
Chateau les Ormes-de-Pez, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Purple red, good ripe cassis fruit, good balanced richness and good length, a supple, harmonious wine. Drink 2014-20. (17 points)
Chateau de Pez, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dense purple red, good blackcurrant fruit with spicy vineyard earthiness, fine depth of ripe middle fruit and a sophisticated yet still robust Saint-Estèphe. Drink 2014-24. (17 points)
Les Pagodes de Cos, Saint-Estephe 2009
Black red that sticks to the glass, cassis nose, succulent, spicy, lifted fruit, fleshy and rich, velvety texture and tannins to back it up. Drink 2014-20. (17 points)
Chateau Phelan-Segur, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Black red, big smoky, slightly gamey bacony nose, lots of lifted blackcurrant fruit, good supple, vigorous fruit and good length. Drink 2014-20. (17 points)
Chateau Andron-Blanquet, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Deep colour and deep fruit, fine freshness, balance and length. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau Clauzet, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Good ripe, fresh, savoury fruit, open and attractive. Drink 2013-17. (15.5 points)
Chateau la Commanderie, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dark red, good sweet middle fruit, classic quite meaty Saint-Estèphe. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau Segur de Cabanac, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Fine smooth Saint-Estèphe, good polish, length and harmony. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau le Crock, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dark red, lots of fleshy ripe fruit, good intensity and definition, very good future. Drink 2014-22. (16-plus points)
Chateau Laffitte-Carcasset, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Fine floral nose, good elegance and depth, classic and classy. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau Meyney, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Black red, deep, quite leathery fruit, good smoky, fleshy flavours, ripe and broad with good tannins. Drink 2014-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau de Come, Saint-Estephe 2009
Fine crushed blackcurrant fruit, a very well-expressed, elegant and harmonious wine. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau Petit Bocq, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Good blackcurrant Cabernet nose, oak evident, ripe fruit, quite tight now but will open up well. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau Le Boscq, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dense red, good depth of fleshy, earthy fruit, a well-made robust yet elegant wine. Drink 2014-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau Haut-Marbuzet, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Good extraction of quite ripe, earthy Merlot fruit, fleshy spice and length, good oak, well-polished wine. Drink 2013-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau Tronquoy-Lalande, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Black red, smoky black fruits nose, elegant extraction of ripe yet restrained fruit, good length and balance. Drink 2014-20. (16-plus points)
Chateau Tour de Pez, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Deep bright red, good fresh fruit and sappy flavours, needs to soften out. Drink 2013-17. (15.5 points)
Chateau Tour des Termes, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dense red, good crushed cassis nose, fleshy and structured fruit, good modern Saint-Estèphe. Drink 2013-18. (16 points)
Chateau Serilhan, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dark red, concentrated cassis nose, well-expressed and already a sophisticated length and harmony. Drink 2013-18. (16-plus points)
Chateau Lilian Ladouys, Cru Bourgeois, Saint-Estephe 2009
Dark red, well-extracted ripe fruit, spice, purity and length, good wine. Drink 2013-20. (16 points)