Aiguilhe 2009

Cotes de Castillon

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
12	Bottle (12 x75cl)	Case 12	£290 per Case	Case	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
A bit more disappointing from bottle than I had expected it to taste from cask, the wine shows a slightly rustic side to its tannin, with a rugged constitution for a 2009. It is a big wine at 14.5% natural alcohol and displays good depth of color. The blend, 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, is certainly ripe, but the wine just seems disjointed. Score: 87 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2012
Tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare have produced a wine with terrific fruit intensity, a moderately tannic structure, and hints of chocolate, cedar, spice box, and earth. Although not as big as I expected given the vintage, it is well-made and impressively endowed. Enjoy it over the next 12 years. (Tasted four times.) Score: 90 - 92 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2022 30 April 2010
Intense aromas of sliced mushrooms, blackberries and spices follow through to a full body, with sweet, ripe fruit, velvety tannins and a fresh clean finish. Tangy and fresh. Best ever from here and one of the values of the vintage. Best in 2016. Score: 93 James Suckling Maturity: 2016+ 15 February 2012
Spearmint, vanilla bean and dried dark fruits on the nose follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a fruity finish. Still in reserve, but excellent. Score: 90 - 93 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 31 March 2010
Lightly soapy nose with more freshness than the 2010. Very sharp with, oddly, pronounced acidity! A very atypical 2009. Score: 15 - 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2022 12 May 2011
Very fresh and lively, rude berries and fresh and dry. Punchy but dry on the finish. Score: 15 - 16 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2024 28 March 2010
(an 80/20 blend of merlot and cabernet franc, cropped at just 26 hectoliters per hectare; 45% new oak) Inky purple. Very rich, spicy aromas of dark smoky plum and blackberry jam are just this side of overripe, but manage to stay maintain vibrancy. This successfully continues its balancing act on the palate, with very ripe, luscious black fruit and dark chocolate flavors that are kept lively by sound, harmonious acids. Finishes long and smooth, with a lingering note of spicy plum. Stephan von Neipperg's Chateau d'Aiguilhe benefits from very well situated hillside vineyards, which drain well and get plenty of sunlight. The harvest here was relatively early for the area (October 1 through 10), which at least partly explains the success of this wine. Score: 89 - 92 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2010
Super-ripe, cherry and red berry fruit with very pure cassis. Creamy textured with dark chocolate. Smooth and supple. Score: 89 - 92 Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2010

Tasting Notes

A bit more disappointing from bottle than I had expected it to taste from cask, the wine shows a slightly rustic side to its tannin, with a rugged constitution for a 2009. It is a big wine at 14.5% natural alcohol and displays good depth of color. The blend, 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, is certainly ripe, but the wine just seems disjointed.

Score: 87

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2012

Tiny yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare have produced a wine with terrific fruit intensity, a moderately tannic structure, and hints of chocolate, cedar, spice box, and earth. Although not as big as I expected given the vintage, it is well-made and impressively endowed. Enjoy it over the next 12 years. (Tasted four times.)

Score: 90 - 92

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2022 30 April 2010

Intense aromas of sliced mushrooms, blackberries and spices follow through to a full body, with sweet, ripe fruit, velvety tannins and a fresh clean finish. Tangy and fresh. Best ever from here and one of the values of the vintage. Best in 2016.

Score: 93

James Suckling Maturity: 2016+ 15 February 2012

Spearmint, vanilla bean and dried dark fruits on the nose follow through to a full body, with silky tannins and a fruity finish. Still in reserve, but excellent.

Score: 90 - 93

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 31 March 2010

Lightly soapy nose with more freshness than the 2010. Very sharp with, oddly, pronounced acidity! A very atypical 2009.

Score: 15 - 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2022 12 May 2011

Very fresh and lively, rude berries and fresh and dry. Punchy but dry on the finish.

Score: 15 - 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2024 28 March 2010

(an 80/20 blend of merlot and cabernet franc, cropped at just 26 hectoliters per hectare; 45% new oak) Inky purple. Very rich, spicy aromas of dark smoky plum and blackberry jam are just this side of overripe, but manage to stay maintain vibrancy. This successfully continues its balancing act on the palate, with very ripe, luscious black fruit and dark chocolate flavors that are kept lively by sound, harmonious acids. Finishes long and smooth, with a lingering note of spicy plum. Stephan von Neipperg's Chateau d'Aiguilhe benefits from very well situated hillside vineyards, which drain well and get plenty of sunlight. The harvest here was relatively early for the area (October 1 through 10), which at least partly explains the success of this wine.

Score: 89 - 92

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2010

Super-ripe, cherry and red berry fruit with very pure cassis. Creamy textured with dark chocolate. Smooth and supple.

Score: 89 - 92

Albany Vintners, - 01 April 2010

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