Meyney 2009

Black red, deep, quite leathery fruit, good smoky, fleshy flavours, ripe and broad with good tannins. Drink 2014-20.

The 2009 Meyney is a step up from Haut-Marbuzet and Lafon-Rochet on the nose: blackberry, raspberry, crushed stone, forest floor and a hint of pain d’épices - wonderful definition and intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, very well judged acidity. Good grip and quite stocky/broad-shouldered in style with a persistent but at the moment, still a tightly wound finish. This is impressive and when its identity is revealed - cue gasps from the audience. Go buy. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. 2023 - 2050

The 2009 Meyney has a focused, quite intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and graphite notes, a slight confit-like scent emerging with time. I appreciate the vigour here. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe, juicy tannin and plenty of crisp black fruit. There is still a little brightness here and I might be inclined to afford this Saint-Estèphe another couple of years in bottle. But there is plenty of freshness and a lovely bell pepper note signaling its appellation of origin right on the finish. What a fine 2009 this is becoming. Tasted at the château. 2019 - 2032

Blackish crimson. Rather savoury and cool on the nose - rather different from most St-Estèphes. Thick and sweet and then horribly dry on the end. Very drying. Austere finish. May just get there in the end; I give it the benefit of the doubt. Date tasted 1st April 2010. Drink 2016-2023