Château Beauséjour - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/1/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse has a wonderful nose – real minerality coming through here with outstanding delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Crisp and precise, tightly coiled especially on the earthy finish, it will surely repay several year ageing. Again, this is one of those Saint Emilion wines that seemed to coalesce in the glass and will surely improve. Tasted January 2013.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe7/31/2012

Good deep red-ruby. High-pitched perfume of strawberry and allspice. Elegant and on the lean side but with good density and energy to its tangy red fruit and floral flavors. Very ripe but a bit youthfully medicinal, in a more traditional style. Finishes firm and focused, with classic dryness. Plenty of richness lurking, but this will need a decade in the cellar. 92(+?) points

Wine Advocate

100 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/29/2012

This big wine (nearly 15% natural alcohol) is a blend of 77% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. It boasts an opaque blue/purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of charcoal, incense, truffles, blackberry jam, black currants, raspberries and flowers. While enormous in the mouth, the limestone soils in which the grapes are grown give the wine good freshness as well as laser-like clarity and precision. Amazing to taste, this massive, super-concentrated powerhouse comes across as ethereal and almost feminine despite its extravagant fruit, density and richness. It is a modern day legend for sure! Anticipated maturity: 2025-2050+ As I wrote after I tasted this cuvee from barrel, it is clearly the greatest Beausejour-Duffau since the immortal 1990. Under new management, the brilliant duo of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt is in the process of developing what is one of the great hillside terroirs of Bordeaux and St.-Emilion.

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2012

Aromas of sliced fresh mushrooms, with dark berries and hints of lemons. Full-bodied, with tight and chewy tannins that are very polished and rich. A finish of dark berries and polished tannins. Serious austerity to this. Try in 2018.

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

the1/18/2012

Focused power. This muscular red shows drive, yet remains graceful, with fresh plum and currant flavors, backed by mineral, tar and floral notes. The dense texture stays fresh through the sweet, spicy finish. Best from 2014 through 2030. 1,540 cases made. –TM

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

87-90 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2010

Inky pur ple. Very ripe, aromatic nose offers bl ackcurrant, black pepper, bay leaf and sage. Then fresher and lighter on the palate than the nose suggests but a bit disjointed today, with tart acidity framing moderately intense red and black fruit flavors. The finish features a pretty note of spicy plum but could use more nuance and length.

Le Figaro

95-97 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010

Robe impressionnante. Nez discret. En bouche, attaque dense, compacte, milieu de bouche ferme, long et racé, beaux tannins, 77 % merlot, 19 % cabernet-franc, 4 % cabernet-sauvignon.

La Revue du Vin de France

15,5-16,5 / 20

the5/31/2010

Les héritiers de la famille Duffau-Lagarosse ont confié la direction de ce cru à Nicolas Thienpont et Stéphane Derenoncourt au printemps 2009. Le premier investissement au cuvier a porté sur l'aménagement des cuves permettant de piger les marcs, puis dans le vignoble en équilibrant la charge de vendange par pied. D'importants travaux dans le chai et la plantation de cabernet franc sont prévus. En un millésime, on perçoit nettement les changements dans le style du vin. Plus net, plus mûr, plus élégant.

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/17/2010

Sattes Purpur-Granat. Verrücktes Waldbeerbouquet, dezent laktisch-rahmige Fülle mit schönem Lakritzton dahinter. Sublimer Gaumen, veloursartiges Extrakt, ein gewaltiges Fruchtkonzentrat, das aufgrund der reifen Tannine bemit einem berauschend-süssen Finale endet. Ganz sicher der erste wieder ganz grosse Wein von diesem Weingut seit dem legendären 1990er! Kaufen! 2017-2036

Wine Enthusiast

92-94 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/30/2010

Smooth, ripe wine, velvet texture and sweet fruits. It has structure under this smooth surface, giving some bright acidity. But the general feel is of richness, super extraction.

Falstaff

92-94 / 100

byPeter Moserthe4/30/2010

Feine tabakige Würze, frische Herzkirschen, Waldbeerkonfit. Saftig, stoffig, gute Komplexität, rund, gut integrierte Tannine, mineralisch, bleibt gut haften, elegant und anhaltend.

Periodic Review of Wine

90-93 / 100

byAlan Duranthe4/28/2010

The 2008 and 2009 are back to back success stories, although 2008 should have the advantage. In 2009 the wine boasts an opaque purple hue followed by plum/mulberry liqueur fragances intermixed with pain grille and flower. A style of finesse and beauty with a medium to full-body, and a lingering of mushroom and crème de cassis. This is pure, concentrated, and terrifically substantive wine. It has the potential to be better than currently projected. Maturity period 2014-2028.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010

Unquestionably the greatest Beausejour-Duffau since the 1990, this property has made a strong comeback under the brilliant management of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt. One of St.-Emilion’s greatest terroirs, it has underperformed in most vintages, although it generally produces very interesting wines because of its location and old vines. The 2009 is a whopper. A blend of 77% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 14.8% natural alcohol, there is no hint of its aging in 100% new oak barrels given the extraordinary concentration and texture of the fruit. An inky/purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous bouquet of spring flowers, black truffles, wet rocks, blackberries, and black currants. The wine builds incrementally in the mouth with an ethereal lightness and precision that is unexpected in view of its massive concentration, power, and intensity. One of the vintage’s most compelling efforts, it should evolve for 30-40 years. Bravo! (Tasted three times.) Drink 2010-2050. (96-98+) points

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/9/2010

Offers floral and licorice notes, with gorgeous fruit. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a beautiful, very long finish. Very fine and racy. Really serious. Stéphane Derenoncourt is now consulting here and I expect great things.

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/8/2010

Bright and crimson. Not much nose and a little tired. Succulent fruit on the palate. Then pretty dry, angular. A long way from knit! More interest than some of the simply sweet. Chewy juicy cherry juice. Drink 2017-2030. (16,5+)