Gazin 2009

A big, powerful, masculine Pomerol with a style not dissimilar from Le Gay, the dense purple-colored 2009 Gazin exhibits black currant, black cherry liqueur, coffee, roasted herb, an exotic Asian spice component, vanillin, creme caramel and toasty oak in its aromatics and flavors. From a vineyard near Petrus, Le Gay and La Fleur Petrus, it is full-bodied with licorice, earth, truffle and creme de cassis in the mouth. Give this powerful, backward 2009 an additional 6-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the following three decades.

The 2009 Gazin has a very concentrated, high-toned bouquet with Merlot firmly in the driving seat, a mixture of black and blue fruit. The palate is rounded on the entry with supple tannin, succulent and glossy in style with macerated black cherries and salted liquorice towards the finish. This needs another year or two in the glass. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. 2022 - 2040

Wow. Best ever from here? Powerful aromas of chili, crushed blackberries and rose water. Full body, with juicy, soft and velvety tannins. This goes on for minutes. Fruit forward. Try in 2018.

Luscious and intense with the merest hint of animal fur. Thick and then rather tough and acid. Rather austere on the end. Date tasted 29th March 2010. Drink 2017-2027.

This property is wonderfully situated, right next door to Petrus on the Pomerol plateau. 92% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc. Rich nose, plump but structured, vanilla and red fruit flavours.

This has it all in place-dark, smoldering tobacco and cocoa notes, rich plum sauce, braised fig and steeped black currant fruit, joined by lengthy, mouthcoating, tar-tinged grip. Still youthfully raw, though, so cellar for maximum effect. Best from 2014 through 2028.-J.M.

The mix of black plum and black cherry feels ripe, lovely and fleshy. The richness is refreshed by red fruits that come through on the mid palate but as the tannins are ripe they tend to accentuate the lushness. There is though a brighter more elegant character at the back. Drink 2018-2030.

Ripe but poised. Aromatic red fruit (crushed raspberry) aromas, smooth tannic frame, attractive mid-palate fruit and a balancing freshness that is marked. Assured value. Drink 2018-2035.

Very dark, spicy and mysterious, this is a concentrated and graceful Pomerol that shows what was possible in this vintage if everything was done right. The stunningly fine tannins drive the very long subtle finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)