2009 Clos Les Lunelles

This is a gorgeous effort, made from a blend of 80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Cropped at 22 hectoliters per hectare from their clay over limestone soils, the wine displays oodles of new oak, crushed chalk, and blueberry and blackberry fruit with hints of raspberries and pen ink. It is full-bodied and layered, with a fleshy, even succulent mid-palate and a long, long finish. This is terrific Castillon to drink over the next 10-15+ years. Note the name change with the dropping of the “Les” in between “Clos” and “Lunelles.” This property was acquired by Gerard and Chantal Perse in 2001, and has been the reference point for how terrific Cotes de Castillon wines can be, although in 2009 it has to take a backseat to Silvio Denz’s Cap de Faugeres remarkable Mouleyre.

This is a gorgeous effort, made from a blend of 80% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Cropped at 22 hectoliters per hectare from their clay over limestone soils, the wine displays oodles of new oak, crushed chalk, and blueberry and blackberry fruit with hints of raspberries and pen ink. It is full-bodied and layered, with a fleshy, even succulent mid-palate and a long, long finish. This is terrific Castillon to drink over the next 10-15+ years. Feb 2012, www.robertparker.com