2009 Richebourg

The 2009 Richebourg is another towering wine. Far from an easygoing 2009, the Richebourg is a huge, brooding Burgundy that is going to require at least several years to calm down. Hints of menthol, anise and leather emerge from time to time, but the 2009 is really a wine built on structure. Until the tannins settle down the Richebourg is not going to be ready to provide pleasure. Still there is enough going on for me to be very optimistic.

(14.8% alcohol): Good full red. The nose offers outstanding minerally, crushed-stone verve that's miraculous for the vintage, along with aromas of black raspberry, cocoa powder and espresso. Wonderfully sweet and thick in the mouth, with terrific sappiness for the year and plenty of underlying stoniness. Very fresh, intense fruit, floral and spice flavors build inexorably on the back, with big but thoroughly ripe tannins coating the front teeth. As large-scaled as this is, it does not come across as heavy. I'd lay off this grand cru for at least 15 years.

Good deep red. Pungent aromas of dark berries, crushed rock and exotic spices. Dense, tactile and sappy, with the energy to leaven its almost liqueur-like texture. As chewy as a solid, yet the extremely long finish displays outstanding peppery lift and perfume. Liger-Belair suggests drinking this one in 2030!