Le Gay Pomerol 2009

98+ points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "The deep garnet colored 2009 Le Gay simply sings of minted cassis, baked plums and blueberry pie with touches of cardamom, cloves, tree bark and pencil shavings plus a waft of lavender. The palate is medium to full-bodied and exquisitely textured with satiny tannins and bold freshness framing the vibrant, multilayered fruit, finishing long and perfumed. Drink: 2020-2050. (Mar 2019)"

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "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. (3/27/19)"

96+ points Robert Parker: "Tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare and a final blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc have produced an enormously concentrated, black/purple-colored wine exhibiting notes of roasted meats, smoked game, blackberries, coffee, incense and forest floor. This distinctive, large-scaled, viscous, thick Pomerol may be as concentrated as some of this estate’s all-time classics (1947 and 1950). I am puzzled by why I could not see this a few years ago. In any event, this is one of the most profound Le Gay’s ever produced. Forget it for at least a decade and drink it over the following half century. Wow! Did I underestimate this wine from barrel! I remember when tasting it at that time, Michel Rolland, who consults at this property, told me he thought it was the best they have made to date. After having it three times from barrel, I could not see that. However, cask aging has certainly been beneficial to this masculine, backward wine. From bottle, the 2009 Le Gay is remarkable. Drink 2022-2072. (Dec 2011)"

96 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2009 Le Gay has a quintessential bouquet for this Pomerol cru with intense black cherry, black truffle singed earth and Xmas cake aromas. Lovely. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well judged acidity, focused and structured with a sense of confidence and density towards the finish. This is a great Le Gay and it should age gloriously. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' Ten Year On tasting. Drink: 2022-2055. (Mar 2019)"

96 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Just starting to develop its dark red fruits, truffle, roasted berry profile, the wine is powerful, concentrated, tannic and deep. The fruit is perfectly ripe, there is sweetness, spice, earthiness and vibrancy. But it is going to need at least 5 more years before you should pop a cork. It is a beauty and worth the wait! (Sep 2019)"

95 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc). 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. Alcohol 14%. Drink: 2024-2042. (9/17/24)"

95 points James Suckling: "A typical Pomerol with the combination of ripe black fruits and elegance that's traditionally associated with the appellation. Plenty of mushroom and some truffle character too. I love the long almost crisp finish that pulls you back to the glass for more. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019) (2/7/19)"

95 points Falstaff: "Delicate dried fruit notes, candied orange zest, sweet spices, multifaceted bouquet, delicate hints of figs. Complex, full-bodied, sweet cherries, with vivid tannins in the background that give the wine great length, lingers for a very long time, a long-distance runner, mineral and balanced. (10/22/10)"