Sansonnet 2009

A deep, full-bodied, powerful wine with notes of forest floor, creme de cassis, blackberries, fig and flowers, some spicy, smoky subtle oak appears in the background along with licorice and underbrush. Dense, full-bodied, rich, layered and impressive, this sumptuously textured, thick, juicy wine is already showing well and should continue to drink well for up to 15 or more years.

The finest Sansonnet ever made, this wine, from a vineyard that sits in back of the valleys and hillsides of St.-Emilion not far from Barde-Haute and Trottevieille. It is looked after by Michel Rolland’s top assistant, Jean-Philippe Fort. They have never made a wine like this, a definite sleeper of the vintage. Yields were 9 hectoliters per hectare and the final blend 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that came in at 15% natural alcohol.

Showing great, the 2009 Château Sansonnet offers textbook Saint-Emilion notes of dark, chocolatey fruit paired with a terrific sense of minerality, white truffle, roasted herbs, and leather. It still has a wealth of baby fat, full-bodied richness, ripe tannins, and a great finish. This opulent, sexy, yet balanced and still classically styled Saint-Emilion is ideal for drinking over the coming 10-15 years.