Chateau du Courneau 2009

Rich, it is definitely Not a food only claret. So a bit of bottle variance maybe - Therefore, did you experience that St Em / Pom "merlotty" velvety feel - straight from the start ? The wine is not dry, was your's drying and going in a corked direction - that is a possibility of course

Otherwise - splosh about to get the black fruits up and more aroma if drinking the same night. I agree with Paul, this wine will keep longer that I first thought, not so soft as my 1st experience was, and therefore on day 2, the wine is open and ready to go. Try overnight and also try both.

I know this merlot dominated one will appeal to you with roast poultry. But try again as a post dinner appero, and with some hard, "off the ole" block cheddar

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Duncan

Le Beyan - Nine Months later.

Marks & Spencer offered this wine again with a 30% discount when buying 6 bottles - this for a very short period, about 7 days I think.

I had another box delivered on the 23rd September.
The wine is fuller and rounder, but still has plenty of grip and the tannins are balanced with this fuller flavour. There may be different bottling dates and racking off dates for this claret, and different barrels. This particular batch is aproachable almost immediately, and a little more spicy than the batch bought in December 2012 .

Lovely stuff. Well done Marks, and a real bargain. Of course, the 2009 growing season and vintage characteristics help - massively at petite chateau level.

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Duncan

Dunc / chaps,

Opened another bottle on Sunday and it didn`t disappoint, nice balance and easy to drink.



I must try the Courneau again we bought early last year, as my first impression was not good.

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.

Glad to hear the positive write up Richard
I've got a case of 6 of these yet to be opened.
Do you think these need drinking up anytime soon?
I try and get round to giving it a go once I've got through some other stock that I think need drinking up sooner

Sheeza,

Hi, dont think its a long term cellar wine but should be ok for another 2-4 years I reckon.
I have four left now so will probably leave mine until Autumn and try another one then.

Regards
Richard

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He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.