Chateau de la Tour, Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru Vieilles Vignes 2009

vinous93

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

(13.4% alcohol; 32 h/h; 9/12 harvest): Good medium red with a faint suggestion of amber at the rim. Less detailed on the nose than the 2010, but still with a subtle soil character to the aromas of dried flowers, mocha, mint, licorice and spices. A more powerful, savory style than the '10 but less expressive and delineated at this point; can't quite match the younger vintage for treble notes but there's plenty of energy here, not to mention a fine-grained texture and serious stuffing. Finishes suave, classically dry and long, without quite the finesse of tannins shown by the 2010 but not a bit edgy.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

Good deep red with ruby highlights. Deep nose shows an almost roasted ripeness but also terrific lift to the aromas of black cherry, flowers, licorice, mint, wild herbs and orange peel. Like liquid velvet on entry, then highly concentrated but youthfully unforthcoming in the middle. This extremely long, palate-staining wine has the tannic force and balance to evolve in bottle for decades. Should be a cellar classic with time.

vinous95

Reviewed by: Stephen Tanzer

(harvested on September 23; from vines planted in 1900, according to Labet, who noted that 5% of this fruit was eliminated for underripeness) Good ruby-red. Superripe on the nose but with a mineral pungency to the slightly meaty black cherry, licorice, floral and menthol aromas. Tougher and more imploded than the regular Clos Vougeot but also floral and more sharply delineated. Wonderfully elegant, ripe wine with a long, floral back end featuring terrific mineral energy. The tannins are horizontal and fine. This is a very reasonable 13.2% alcohol.