2009 CH. CORBIN ST. EMILION GRAND CRU CLASSE'   -    $50
I met the charming Anabelle Cruse Bardinet, owner and winemaker, who has been making investments into the winery to elevate its quality and consistency.  Corbin is one of the oldest estates in the area.  "Grand Cru Classe" is a higher designation than "Grand Cru".  Individual plots are hand-harvested based on readiness/ripeness, and isolated in separate concrete tanks for later blending.  The blend is 80% Merlot and 20% Cab France (the two prominent varietals in the region).  The efforts & commitment have worked!

The 2009 offering is one of the finest wines ever produced at the estate. Robert Parker, 92 points, had this to say,  "Showing far superior from bottle than it did from cask, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is one of the more gloriously fruity, sumptuously textured wines of St.-Emilion. A pure, hedonistic fruit bomb with terrific texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel and impressive purity and depth, this is a wine worth lining up for to fill up your trunk, since it is usually one of the best values in grand cru classes from St.-Emilion.  Drink it over the next 15 or more years."  And 2 more consistent reviews:

Beautiful fruit of crushed raspberries and cherries, with hints of minerals. Full body, with firm tannins and a chewy finish. Give it two or three years to come together in the bottle. (2/ 2012)

 

This focused red is restrained in flavor, but shows excellent balance and concentration. Plum, mineral and toast notes mingle harmoniously over refined tannins, giving way to a floral, spicy finish. Drink now through 2022. (3/ 2012)

 

2009 CH. HERMITAGE MAZEYRES POMEROL  -    $40

Enclos Haut-Mazeyres

Pomerol is home to Chateau Petrus which costs $2000 (no, they wouldn't let me in there).  Very small appellation.  Opulent, delicious wines.   If you have not had a wine from Pomerol, you owe it to yourself. 

The 2009 (100% Merlot) is deep red, with dark fruit and nutty notes. The palate is round, polished with a hint of chocolate on the finish.   22% new French oak is used.

   

2007 CH. BELLE-GRAVES   -    $30
As this is a Kermit Lynch property, we have sold the wine before.  It is in the Lalande-de-Pomerol, not far from St. Emilion.  The proprietor and winemaker, Xavier Piton, spent hours with us talking wine, philosophy, history.   Meeting him alone makes you want to buy the wine, but the wines deliver, too.  Here is more info about the winery
The 2007 has evolved nicely.  Ripe cherry, dark berry and plum fruit, soft and approachable, supported with coins-in-hand minerality and woody tannins. Hints of bay, anise, cardamom and cola.  "What Merlot should be."

2006 CH. FONBEL   -   $30
We did not go to this property, but jumped at the chance to buy a couple cases of their 2006 at a great price.  Fonbel is made by Alain Vauthier, who also makes Chateau Ausone, an amazing (and very expensive) wine.  A "sleeper of the vintage", scents of lead pencil shavings intermixed with blueberries, black currants, and boysenberries, and plenty of minerality. 

2009 CH. LA CROIX MEUNIER  -  $25

Now, back to St. Emilion, and back to 2009 vintage.  We had already discovered this little gem, for a value package.  Had to include it here.  This 5'th-generation family property is located on old sands west of Saint-Emilion, near Château Figeac and Cheval Blanc.  Aromas of truffle and morello cherry; nice balanced mellowness, and soft, coated tannins.

2009 MAISON NEUVE MONTAGNE ST. EMILION -  $20


More value.  From a great petite Chateau in the Montagne St. Emilion (Montagne is one of the "satellite regions", 3 miles north of town, on banks of the Barbanne river).  Framboise-scented nose.  Nice backbone in this wine made from Merlot (60%), Cabernet (20%) and Cab France (10%).

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