2009 Château Lafleur-Gazin

Medium red-ruby. Musky plum, coffee, mocha, chocolate and roasted herbs on the slightly liqueur-like nose, plus a whiff of leather. Supple and fat but a bit chunky and lacking in nerve and definition. Plenty of sweetness to the flavors of plum, currant, chocolate and herbs but the rather low-toned, slightly warm finish needs more lift. Tannins are a bit dusty and dry.

This masculine, muscular style of Pomerol displays a dark ruby/purple color and a distinct earthy profile, with notes of meat, herbs, plum sauce and black currants. It is medium-bodied and ripe, but probably the most rustic of all the wines from the house of Jean-Pierre Moueix with the exception of Bourgneuf.

Deep crimson. Very warm, rich and welcoming. Very plump and even quite spicy. Then it becomes much drier on the palate. Rather a restrained, even inky, Pomerol, as though it had been corseted. (JR)