du Tertre 2009

Lightly treacly nose. Interesting. Very different sort of nose. The fruit is kept in check - not too aggressively sweet. Tamped down to provide much more of a classic Margaux style but with lots of pleasure. Very cool indeed. Date tasted 31st March 2010. Drink 2016-2028.

The nose is misleadingly light and fresh as behind are punchy black fruits. The sweetness of the tannins enriches the mid palate, lots of power coming from the cassis and blueberry mix. Towards the back raspberry is in evidence refreshing the finish. Drink 2018-2040.

A tad oak-dominated at the moment, but if you can get beyond the barrel staves, there are the makings of a very smart 2009 here. The tannins are quite dense, the fruit is plump yet restrained and the acidity cleanses the palate and adds to its length. 10+ years.

Fine deep red, good briary berry fruit with concentration and elegance, good florality, length, structure and very good potential. Drink 2015-25.

The cool fresh forest berries character gives this medium-bodied Margaux a lot of charm. Long very clean and rather elegant finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

A very sexy, seductive style of wine has been produced by Du Tertre in 2009. A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by ripe notes of red and black fruits intermixed with subtle smoke, ink, and damp earth. The lusciousness continues on the palate with an opulent, layered, rich mouthfeel. Medium to full-bodied with not a hard edge to be found, but plenty of ripe tannins, the overall impression is one of a hedonistic and intellectually pleasing claret that should drink beautifully for 20+ years. This is a sleeper of the vintage among the classified-growths. (Tasted two times.) Drink 2010-2030.

Tasted at the chateau and UGC. Cropped at 33hl/ha, a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot (the highest ever) and 15% Cabernet Franc, 15% pressed wine. The harvest started 28th September until 13th October. The nose is very tight at the moment, quite masculine with the Cabernet Franc lending quite a leafy accent. Moderate definition. The palate is medium-bodied very taut but nicely balanced, the tannins a little firmer and less supple than others, but it is in synch with the fruit. More introspective than say, Marquis de Terme, with an agreeable tang of dark chocolate towards the dry, slightly obdurate finish. Moderate length. I am sure this will show better in another 1-2 months time. Tasted March 2010.