A juicy wine with plum and chocolate character. Full body, with soft and velvety tannins and fruity finish. Subtle and delicious already. Better in 2016.

This is all rounded, enticing flesh, with succulent boysenberry, cherry preserves, blackberry and fig notes melded together and supported by subtle spice and anise shadings through the finish. Ready to go, but with the stuffing to linger for a while in the cellar. Drink now through 2021. — JM

Saturated inky ruby. Typically opulent, exotic nose of superripe red cherry, smoky plum and Oriental spices. Suave and fine-grained, with a light touch to its sweet flavors of blackcurrant, grape jelly and licorice. Finishes with easygoing tannins and subtle lingering perfume. In my experience this wine offers great drinking over the medium term, and this vintage will be no different. Ian D'Agata

There is always a lot of material in Bourgneuf, but the rustic tannins and somewhat aggressive style always leave me looking for more charm and equilibrium. In the 2009, the tannins are high and the color a dense plum/purple. The wine is meaty, herbal and fleshy, with a certain astringency and bitterness in the finish. If that ages out, the wine will certainly deserve a score in the upper 80s.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #199, Feb 2012)