Saint Pierre 2009

This is beautiful, you feel the warm summer temperatures of 2009 in that the fruits are clearly ripe, with touches of fig alongside raspberry puree and sweet black cherry, but it is balanced out by deft strokes of mint and eucalyptus, freshly cut herbs, black pepper, tingle of minerality and tight tannins that are not quite renoucing their duty yet. Good stuff, a great moment to start drinking this wine. 55% new oak.

Tasted blind. Low-key nose. Lots of concentration on the palate though. A long-distance runner. Pretty impressive. Glossy and lots of fun, but still embryonic.Drink 2021-2044

Red fruits tend to dominate with fresh raspberry and red cherry very much in evidence. Behind are black fruits giving more sweetness in the middle but the tannins tend to come through and their firmness holds back full fruit expression. Drink 2020-2030.

Black red, elegantly concentrated blackcurrant fruit, quite leafy and lifted with a touch of licquorice spice, both floral and a little exotic, lovely rich, ripe fruit and good future. Drink 2015-25.

This has been a fabulous wine over recent vintages, but I do not think many consumers have caught on. Of course, there is far less of this classified-growth St.-Julien than of any of the Leovilles, Beychevelle, Talbot, Gruaud Larose, or Branaire Ducru. Unbelievably powerful, rich, and impressive, this may be the finest St.-Pierre ever made. An inky/purple color is followed by notes of creme de cassis, spring flowers, and forest floor, a layered, full-bodied, powerful mouthfeel, perfect balance, and extraordinary richness, purity, and unctuosity. This great St.-Julien should hit its peak in 7-10 years, and last for 30-50. Bravo! (Tasted two times.) Drink 2017-2067.Robert Parker added an asterisk to this wine score to signify that it is a wine he considers has the finest potential of all the offerings he has ever tasted from this estate in nearly 32 years of barrel tasting samples in Bordeaux.

Tasted at the UGC. Bright blackberry, boysenberry and minerals on the tightly wound nose. Good definition and lift, quite a classy Saint Julien nose. It has a beautifully balanced palate, ripe tannins, wonderful definition with a sensuality that I have never encountered before in St. Pierre. Plush and assured on the mineral-rich finish. Undoubtedly the finest St. Pierre that I have tasted. Tasted March 2010.

Very deep dark crimson - glossy colour. Aromatic and lifted. A little bit brutal in its make-up but very ambitious and introvert. Solid and dry on the finish. Very drying finish. Date tasted 1st April 2010. Drink 2020-2032.