The 2009 Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras 1er Cru puts in a very impressive performance alongside the 2010. With plush red fruit, red cherries intermingling with wild strawberries, this is one of Roumier's most generous Les Cras whilst it retains disarming transparency and precision. The palate is beautifully balanced with crushed stone infusing the red fruit, hints of blood orange and spices. The pixelated finish leaves you just wanting more. This might get even better with continued bottle age. Tasted blind at the Roumier Les Cras vertical at Medlar, London.

The 2009 Chambolle-Musigny Les Cras is surprisingly huge and powerful, even within the context of the vintage. This is a decidedly sumptuous Chambolle that pushes the edge of ripeness. My impression is that the wine needs a few years to shed its baby fat.

Moderately saturated medium red. Very ripe aromas of red fruits, chocolate and underbrush. Broad, saline, dry and powerful, with its primary fruit flavors currently dominated by sheer ripeness. Gives a low-acid impression but finishes very ripe and classically dry. In an awkward stage today. Roumier notes that he "trusts" this wine and expressed the opinion that some of the 2009s resemble the '59s.

This is also ripe but definitely fresher and without the reductive funk to the pure red pinot liqueur-like nose trimmed in both spice and mineral nuances, both of which can be found on the detailed, intense and stylish flavors that brim with plenty of dry extract, all wrapped in an explosive, focused and lingering finish. A classic Les Cras that is really quite classy. Outstanding. Drink: 2017+
-Tasted: Jan 01, 2011. Issue 41

Dark ruby. Intense, heady, sweet and rich. Tastes quite low in acidity but delivers supreme pleasure. Light dustiness. Not the purity of the 2010 but it is certainly Chambolle and it is certainly 2009. Smudgy, velvety texture. Long. (JR)