2009 Louis Jadot - Clos Vougeot Grand Cru

The 2009 Clos de Vougeot is fiercely tannic and unyielding, even in this warm vintage. It shows excellent focus and length. If the tannins soften, I have every reason to think the wine will come in at the high end of my range, although that may take some time. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. 

Displays enticing aromas of flowers, cherry, strawberry and spice, with a hint of leather and licorice in reserve and a long, long finish. A wall of tannins shuts this down - at least for now. The aromas are worth the price of admission. Best from 2016 through 2035. 300 cases imported. 

A bright and unusually expressive nose given the way this wine usually shows offers up notes of warm earth and ripe red currants that give way to detailed, intense and moderately austere medium-weight flavors that at present display good but not truly special depth on the reasonably persistent finish. This is not showing a great deal at present and while it's not one-dimensional, it's certainly not at the same level as the best of the grands crus. Still, and while it's admittedly only my taster's intuition speaking, I feel as though this will develop much more in time than it's presently showing and my score reflects that optimism.