Beaune 1er Cru Celebration, Louis Jadot 2009

The 2009 Beaune 1er Cru 150th Anniversary is every bit as magical as it has always been. There is a translucence to the fruit that is just remarkable. That is the good news. The not so good news is that the 2009 remains very tightly wound and in need of further cellaring. The aromatics are just starting to open up, but the tannins remain quite fierce. Readers who own the 2009 should be prepared to cellar it for at least a few years. There is an effortlessness to the 2009 that is hard to describe, but that gives the wine its sense of impeccable balance. Hints of sweet pipe tobacco, cedar, dried herbs and cherry add the closing shades of aromatic nuance to this gorgeous, compelling Beaune from Jadot. The 2009 is a blend of 17 different sites. 2024 - 2059

This anniversary wine commemorating Jadot's 150th year or operation is a much more interesting effort than the name would suggest. I say this because they have blended together some 19 different Beaune premiers crus. I would start by explaining that when I first opened the bottle it was very closed and reticent and this note is based on a decanted bottle that was kept at cellar temperature while seeing approximately 2 hours of air first so please calibrate your impressions accordingly. The natural ripeness of the 2009 vintage is less apparent with the air though at the same time it accentuates the underlying structure. While the nose is certainly ripe it is not over ripe and is actually quite pretty with attractive red berry fruit, earth and very subtle mineral hints. There is good volume and reasonable concentration to the fleshy and delicious medium-bodied flavors that possess fine intensity and detail, all wrapped in a moderately structured, dusty, mouth coating and firm finish that displays a touch of youthful austerity. This should reward 6 to 8 years of upside and need 2 to 3 before it could at least be drunk with pleasure as it's a bit tight today even with air.