2009 Clos De l'Oratoire Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classe

Other Reviews….

A flamboyant St.-Emilion, this largely-Merlot blend displays notes of Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, tobacco leaf, and loads of black currant and blackberry fruit. A showy, extravagantly concentrated, hedonistic style of St.-Emilion, with some wood smoke and roasted herbs adding nuance to the full-throttle aromatics and long, lush, silky flavors, this wine can be drunk now or cellared for up to 15+ years.
Score: 93
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate # 199 Feb 2012

The 2009 Clos de l’Oratoire, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol, exhibits an inky/ruby/purple color along with a big, sweet nose of incense, blackberries, blueberries, cedar, and spice box. Rich, opulent, and full-bodied, this offering is a complete turn-on that should provide enormous pleasure over the next 10-15 years. (Tasted four times.)
Stefan von Neipperg’s 25-acre St.-Emilion estate (planted in clay and limestone) had slight hail damage, which resulted in somewhat smaller yields (28 hectoliters per hectare).
Score: 91-93
Robert Parker – The Wine Advocate # 188 Apr 2010 Loads of aniseed and black licorice aromas. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a lovely balance of fruit, and everything else. Love the length. 90 percent Merlot and 10 percent Cabernet Franc.
Score: 92-95
James Suckling – Wine Spectator Click here to learn more about the appellations of Bordeaux. Click here for a map of the appellations of Bordeaux