Wine Advisor
La Croix De Gay 2009
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc from this well-situated vineyard on the plateau of Pomerol, which is owned by Chantal Lebreton, this wine has 13.5% alcohol, somewhat low in this vintage, but it displays plenty of kirsch, sweet cherries and red currants along with some sandy/loamy soil and roasted herb notes in a very sexy, up-front, lush, medium to full-bodied style. There’s not a hard edge to be found in this La Croix de Gay, and therefore my feeling is that it should be drunk in its first 10-12 years of life.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Pomerol Syndicate tasting. This has a fleshy nose of macerated red cherries with a touch of alcohol evident (although the sample had been opened a while.) The palate has a saturated mouthfeel, smooth texture, fleshy with well integrated new oak, modern in style and missing a touch of delineation, but there is panache. Tasted April 2010.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
One of the finest efforts I have ever tasted from La Croix de Gay, this dark ruby/purple-tinged 2009 offers up aromas of crushed raspberries, black cherries, vanillin, truffles, and caramel. Deep, richly fruity, and medium to full-bodied, with more substance and generosity than most vintages possess, the tannins are sweet and the finish is impressive as well as long. There is not a hard edge to be found in this 2009. It should drink well for 15-25 years. (Tasted two times.)
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at the Syndicat de Pomerol. What a wonderful 2009 from La Croix de Gay, as a new chapter opens in its history. It is blessed with a beautiful, very pure bouquet with floral red cherries strawberry and a touch of marmalade and apricot blossom. The palate is medium-bodied with tensile tannins, great precision with fine mineralite and length. Superb. Tasted November 2011.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The La Croix-de-Gay ‘09 has an exuberant Merlot-driven bouquet with great purity and finesse. There is a joy to these aromatics. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fleshy and caressing with just a touch of dryness toward the finish. But there is a minor quibble for what is a very fine Pomerol and one that at present vies head-to-head with the Fleur de Gay. Tasted January 2013.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc from this well-situated vineyard on the plateau of Pomerol, which is owned by Chantal Lebreton, this wine has 13.5% alcohol, somewhat low in this vintage, but it displays plenty of kirsch, sweet cherries and red currants along with some sandy/loamy soil and roasted herb notes in a very sexy, up-front, lush, medium to full-bodied style. There’s not a hard edge to be found in this La Croix de Gay, and therefore my feeling is that it should be drunk in its first 10-12 years of life.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2009 La Croix de Gay has a slightly bretty bouquet, though not so much that it obscures the fruit profile. It just seems a little feral. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, savory in style with dried blood and sage towards the pretty and quite precise finish. Drink now and over the next decade. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.
About the Producer
Chateau La Croix de Gay is a member of the Union Des Grands Crus De Bordeaux and one of the Pomerol appellations in Bordeaux, France. Château Gay Cross has been run by five generations of the Ravnaud family, whose history is closely linked to the Pomerol appellation. The current owner of the estate is Chantal Lebreton. Located in the best location on the Pomerol plateau, Château Gay Cross combines traditional methods with modern techniques. Nourished by the excellent terroir of Pomerol, the wines of Gay Cross are capable of giving off aromas of vanilla, almond and red fruit, winning awards in various competitions and satisfying the discerning wine lover. Gay Cross currently has 4 hectares of vineyard, 95% of which is devoted to Merlot grapes and 5% to Cabernet Franc, all of which have an average age of 30 years. When the grapes reach the ideal state of ripeness, the winery harvests them by hand. The harvested grapes are selected, broken into skins and then vinified in the traditional way. The wine is then matured in 50% new French oak barrels for 18 months before being bottled in the winery
