Description: The wine is complex whilst boasting charming black fruit characteristics; make this an attractive and classy wine definitely worthy of its top classification within the St Emilion appellation. The blend is predominantly Merlot creating the trademark soft and silky texture, framed by notes of leather and oak this is a delicious wine hard to resist!
Robert Parker: Wine Advocate # 182. Apr 2009. Reviewer : Robert Parker. A dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by sweet aromas of black cherries, black currants, incense, smoke, and damp earth. This medium-bodied St.-Emilion reveals excellent depth, ripeness, freshness, and vibrancy as well as velvety tannins. Enjoy it during its first 10-12 years of life. Drink: 2009 - 2021.
Jancis Robinson: Date tasted : 14-May-2009 / Published : 14-May-2009. 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 5% Carmenère. Dark. Intriguing and exotic nose. Very racy and very dry finish. Muscular and lots of acidity. Needs time. Lots of fresh energy. Wait! Dry finish. When to drink : 2015 to 2024.
Wine Spectator: Updated: April 6, 2009. Crushed blackberries with hints of fresh flowers follow through to a full body, with a good concentration of fruit and silky tannins. Medium finish. Merlot, with 20 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 10 percent Petit Verdot and 5 percent Carmenère. —J.S.
Decanter: Decanter.com, 15.5 pts - "Attractive, medium-bodied wine. Crushed raspberry and spice aromas. Clean, fresh finish. Good value as always. Drink 2012-2018."
Chris Kissack, thewinedoctor.com, (April 2009), 15.5-16.5+/20pts -"A Vauthier property. In this vintage this has 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Carmenere. The yield was 43 hl/ha. It has overtly sweet, toasty oak on the nose. The palate shows good fruit though, with rich and dark plum character. Broad, textured, deeply structured, with plenty of fine acidity. Sweet, super-ripe, quite well extracted, but showing a worthy substance, this certainly has potential."
Neal Martin, erobertparker.com, 86-88pts - "En primeur barrel sample. A blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Carmenere, this is a little subdued on the nose – perhaps because of the fog outside! A touch of green leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannins, just a little rustic perhaps with a chewy but well-defined, natural finish. It just lacks the usual exuberance this year. Tasted April 2009."
Vinification: The grapes are hand-harvested or machine-picked. The vinification is carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. 30% new oak barrels are used for the ageing.
