2009 La Fleur Morange Cuvée Mathilde

Very deep crimson. Exotic, unusual, hedonistic perfumes. Very supple with extremely fine tannins (case of the cashmeres?) into which an amazing amount of work has obviously gone. Long and hedonistic. Very charming already. Though there is just a suggestion of greenness on the finish… But super-smooth and well mannered. Meaty, complex and interesting. Nervy. (JR)

Intense aromas of blueberries and minerals, with hints of fresh herbs such as lavender. Full body, with very fine tannins and a berry, smoky and minerally aftertaste. Give this three or four years before opening. James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

The early-bottled (after about 10-12 months) 2009 Mathilde is meant to be something of a sexy fruit bomb style of St.-Emilion. It comes from 50-year-old vines and was bottled in July, 2011. It has been a beauty in other vintages so I’m not surprised it showed so well in 2009. With the alcohol at 14.5%, it possesses the tell-tale glycerin and rich sweetness that comes from the alcoholic warmth. It is 100% Merlot, which explains the gushing, exuberant black cherry and black currant fruit and hedonistic style of this wine. ||The brilliant Narbonne-based oenologist Claude Gros is the brain trust behind these two cuvees from this St.-Emilion grand cru. Wine Advocate.February, 2012