Buying options
Tasting notes
Beautiful smoky dark fruits aromatics, crayon and liquorice, this is unfussy, enjoyable, balanced. A bit of a hidden gem that is pretty hard to track down at this point but so good if you do. Soft on the finish but charming and ready to go, with a wave of oyster shell salinity.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Decanter
More reviews and scores
I once described the 2009 Le Gay as monumental and I have no reason to alter that view under these blind conditions. It has a tightly wound bouquet with blackberry, truffle, forest floor and light tobacco scents that gather momentum in the glass. Captivating. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very well poised with an elegant but very persistent finish. This is extremely promising - a sophisticated and refined Pomerol that has exchanged its initial weight and girth for something more profound and long-lasting. Chapeau. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.
In the same league as the otherworldly 2010, the 2009 Le Gay (90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc) is a totally thrilling Pomerol that’s up with the crème de la crème in this wonderful vintage. Simply loaded with notions of blackcurrants, blackberries, espresso, cedarwood, dried flowers, and incense aromas and flavors, this beauty hits the palate with an opulent, full-bodied, powerful profile yet stays seamless and silky. Possessing perfect balance, beautiful mid-palate depth, sweet, sweet tannins, and no hard edges, it’s just about as profound as Pomerol gets. Drink this thrill-a-minute any time over the coming 2-3 decades.
About the producer
There’s been lots of change at Ch. le Gay since the Parent family arrived in 2002 – with vineyards replanted, the cellars renovated and the winemaking adjusted. No surprise, perhaps, that quality is now higher than ever.