Haut Medoc Claret - Right you are then:

2009 HM from Marks is hardly going to be poor. All over the left bank the wines are very agreeable when young. This claret is Cab dominated, I've not bothered to look up the bordelais proportions. I'll leave that to Ba - cheers mon ami
This property was awarded the Cru Artisan along with 39 other HM's who worked their magic in good vintages, and this grading, following on from the Crus Bourgeois sort out, that attempts to distinguish the over performers from the rest.

Yep, ripe cab cassis notes on this already, nice structure, good oak, a touch of interesting greeness at the mo, a fine garnet appearance, clearing and bright in the glass. A decent quality long cork, young cab nose, typical cigar box waiting in the wings, plenty of ripe fruit ensures that this little sweety will not dry out whilst you wait for more evo and harmony to develop.

Buy in the box for the 25% disco, drink one to check out, and then leave in your cellar for a bit. The mature Cru Bourgeois '09 clarets will be delicious early, as well as elegant ! This one is not that far behind.

Proper nice claret - can only get better. If you are a claret a week guy, For £8.99, get these in with many other good-uns about. The '09 cab in HM has loads of lift on the palate, a certain brightness in this.

I like this H-M

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Duncan

50/50 CS/Merlot. No CF or PV

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Thanks Mr B, cheers for the info. The ripe CS rules on the palate. Well judged oak.

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Duncan

Dunc,

Now on sale so bought a case.

http://www.marksandspencer.com/Chateau- ... B004YZMF0K

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

Also bought a case of the other LB red you reviewed.

Chateau Du Courneau

works out at £6.80 per bottle for both cases delivered.
Seems like a cracking deal ??

Dunc, am I drinking these young or holding for 3-5 years or longer ?.

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Yep, a cracking deal for clarets folks. Both are about ready now, the forward 09s - (like a mix of 2003 & 2005) you never quite know how long these petite chateau clarets take to be 'a point .

The softer and darker Courneau with the cotes de Bourg / Blaye 'style' fruit qualities is brill with roast poultry now, or keep for a year or two.

The more structured Le Beyan will reward keeping as you say, if you want more cassis and cigar box - not too long though, '09s will not go on as the '05s / 2000s will / have done, IMHO ...... However....

I'm having trouble not taking them every week at this price ! Start with the Courneau and then continue as you please

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Duncan

Well spotted Richard and thanks for the heads up.

I grabbed 6 of these plus 6 of the Courneau also. Seems great value.

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tribs

Had mine delivered this morning so will check one out Thursday / Friday and report back.

£6.80 for a LB red from a decent vintage plus Dunc`s rec made it an easy purchase.

Let me know when you open one, or we could do a tasting on the same night and compare notes ??

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Dunc,

Hi, many thanks for posting this TN.

Had a bottle over the weekend, really impressed with the structure !!
Great nose pure LB IMO, plenty of black berry and a touch of oak to help this develop into a real beauty in time.

Great value LB are hard to find but I can rec this one !! under £7.00 a true bargain.

Will hold the other 5 and try them every other year to check progress.

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Hi Richard

That's good to hear. I've been busy this week. Also had a trip down to Suffolk. Conditions were pretty bad. Freezing fog and ice.

I managed to open one of the Courneau. Your TN could well apply to that. Looks like we got a couple of bargains.

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tribs

Tribs,

Hi, I also had a bottle of the Courneau last week which I thought was ok but it lacked any personality though for me and found it rather dull.

Will try another one in 6 months or so to check.
The Beyan though is a little cracker with the best still to come.

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If the Beyan is quite a bit better then I am in for a treat when I try it.

I opened my Courneau last Sunday. I was suprised by it's bite, but it went wonderfully with Roast Dinner. It was best when I finished the bottle last night though. Lovely aroma of black fruit. There's a hint of New World to it, but I had put that down to the ripe '09 vintage.

I will open a Beyan this week. Looking forward to it.

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tribs

Thanks Rich, I'm really pleased that you find this one such a great performer for the price.
Textbook Haut Medoc - 1st rate vintage.

You will appreciate the Courneau - in the end
Quote from Paul: but it went wonderfully with Roast Dinner. It was best when I finished the bottle last night though. Lovely aroma of black fruit. There's a hint of New World to it, but I had put that down to the ripe '09 vintage

You want really dull merlot Rich ? I'll point you to a load of St Emilion satelites on '06 and '07 at nearly three times this buying price, ! ! !

Another bl**dy dull Haut Medoc - and the epitome of what a 2007 Petite chateau can taste like for that vintage - Not a decent Haut-Medoc.

Chateau Senejac 2007 £14.99 Buy 2 save £4 = £12.99
Fragrant vanilla on the nose. Dry, cedary, Haut Medoc with bells on. Good for a « what does Haut Medoc taste like » tasting Not a fair comment for folks discovering claret pleasure. No bells on the 2007 ! IMHO Senejac is all name - cos its been around in the UK for a very long time.

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Duncan

Cheers Paul, I think there is a bit of varaince with Couneau, as I found the 1st bottle a little soft ( and soft claret can lack personality) as we know. It is marvelous with a roast bird, and needs well judged opening time. And yes, the next two Courneau had more cut to the palate (bite as you say) I've been drinking claret for nearly 40 years, and agree that there is a touch of NW about Courneau which at first, does not just exhibit very ripe '09 merlot fruit. If the producer is cheating (on 1st opening, a yeast additive enhancer for that velvety feel maybe?) - well now, it does dissipate, certainly, I'll accept that for the buying price alright. Very good dimension with a roast - yep.

Glad you like this one as well Paul. Both clarets are star QPR for me

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Duncan

Need to try the merlot with food I reckon or open and leave over night ??

Or both options ??

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