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Saint Pierre 2009

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

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Tasting Notes

The all-time greatest wine I have ever tasted from Saint-Pierre, this estate, the smallest of the grand cru classes of St.-Julien, has an opaque purple color and a spectacular nose of subtle charcoal, creme de cassis, blackberry, and incense. Full-bodied, with striking intensity and flamboyantly rich, exuberant flavors bursting with extract, the St. Pierre has no hard edges, but rather massive, incredibly well-endowed blockbuster style, which should prove to be monumental. Give it 6-8 years to take on more definition and calm down, but this is a 30- to 40-year wine. Bravo!

98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, March 2012

Sultanas and subtle spices on the nose. Full-bodied, with chewy tannins and excellent fruit concentration. Long and succulent. Stylish stuff.

91/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, April 2010

Medium to deep garnet in color, the 2009 Saint-Pierre displays maturing notes of crème de cassis, blackberry pie and prunes with hints of cardamom, fennel and star anise. Full-bodied, concentrated and jam-packed with black fruit preserves and fantastic freshness to balance, it has a firm, grainy texture and very long, exotic spice finish. 2019 - 2049.

96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (241), March 2019

This is beautiful, you feel the warm summer temperatures of 2009 in that the fruits are clearly ripe, with touches of fig alongside raspberry puree and sweet black cherry, but it is balanced out by deft strokes of mint and eucalyptus, freshly cut herbs, black pepper, tingle of minerality and tight tannins that are not quite renoucing their duty yet. Good stuff, a great moment to start drinking this wine. 55% new oak.

95
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, February 2022

Tasted blind. Low-key nose. Lots of concentration on the palate though. A long-distance runner. Pretty impressive. Glossy and lots of fun, but still embryonic.
Drink 2021-2044

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2019

Black red, elegantly concentrated blackcurrant fruit, quite leafy and lifted with a touch of licquorice spice, both floral and a little exotic, lovely rich, ripe fruit and good future. Drink 2015-25.

17.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2010
Read more tasting notes...

This has been a fabulous wine over recent vintages, but I do not think many consumers have caught on. Of course, there is far less of this classified-growth St.-Julien than of any of the Leovilles, Beychevelle, Talbot, Gruaud Larose, or Branaire Ducru. Unbelievably powerful, rich, and impressive, this may be the finest St.-Pierre ever made. An inky/purple color is followed by notes of creme de cassis, spring flowers, and forest floor, a layered, full-bodied, powerful mouthfeel, perfect balance, and extraordinary richness, purity, and unctuosity. This great St.-Julien should hit its peak in 7-10 years, and last for 30-50. Bravo! (Tasted two times.) Drink 2017-2067.

Robert Parker added an asterisk to this wine score to signify that it is a wine he considers has the finest potential of all the offerings he has ever tasted from this estate in nearly 32 years of barrel tasting samples in Bordeaux.

94/98
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188), April 2010

Tasted at the UGC. Bright blackberry, boysenberry and minerals on the tightly wound nose. Good definition and lift, quite a classy Saint Julien nose. It has a beautifully balanced palate, ripe tannins, wonderful definition with a sensuality that I have never encountered before in St. Pierre. Plush and assured on the mineral-rich finish. Undoubtedly the finest St. Pierre that I have tasted. Tasted March 2010.

93/95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2010

Very deep dark crimson - glossy colour. Aromatic and lifted. A little bit brutal in its make-up but very ambitious and introvert. Solid and dry on the finish. Very drying finish. Date tasted 1st April 2010. Drink 2020-2032.

17+
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2010
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.