2009 Le Carre
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Tasting notes
Full medium ruby. High-pitched aromas of blackberry, graphite, mocha, crushed stone and sexy smoky oak, all lifted by a violet perfume. Densely packed and very fine-grained, with lovely limestone energy lifting the dark fruit, graphite and licorice flavors. Tactile, intense, mineral-driven wine with a suavely tannic finish featuring excellent lift and some exotic oak tones.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
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.
Blueberries and plums, with hints of sweet tobacco and orange peel follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and a lightly toasted oak undertone and ripe fruit. Excellent wine from the same owners as Le Dome. Try after 2016. James Suckling, jamessuckling.com