2009 Bernard Baudry "Les Granges" Chinon

91 points Wine Spectator: "This dense red delivers succulent plum and cherry flesh joined by taut plum skin and briar flavors. This shows plenty of stuffing through the finish, with dark tobacco and tapenade notes, all offset by a brisk, chalk edge. One for the cellar. Drink now through 2016." (10/11) According to Parker's Wine Advocate: "From sand and gravel riverside sites with a slight rise that encourages drainage, the Baudry 2009 Chinon Les Granges – their largest cuvee, and bottled partly in May and the rest in September – smells of fresh blackberry, chard, and artichoke. Firm and well-concentrated yet bright and buoyant on the palate, its sense of salinity, tart berry skin, and bitter-edged leafy greens makes for quite invigorating palate stain. At 12.5% alcohol, the 2009 isn’t far off in weight or style from the ideal that the domaine seeks to achieve with this cuvee and should remain delightful for 12-18 months..." (08/10) According to the Wine Enthusiast: "The wine has good acidity, with fresh strawberry fruits and attractive, light tannins. For early drinking." (6/1/2011) K&L's notes - This is a wine that gets me all hot and bothered. An extremely well-put-together cuvee that shows the lively 2009 fruit structure with precision minerality that adds to its richness and balance. It's very sexy now and certain to continue to evolve and improve over the next few years - clean and pretty up and down." (Eric Story, K&L Loire buyer)