2009
Serge Mathieu 2009 Brut Millesime
A Pinot Noir-led Champagne with yellow apple, Williams pear and citrus over fine stony notes. The palate has real breadth and structure, but freshness and a precise mineral line keep it elegant. Dry, persistent and lightly grippy on the finish, it is a serious table Champagne for roast poultry, richer seafood or firm, nutty cheese.
Von Buhl 2009 Forster Jesuitengarten Riesling Spatlese
White flowers and chalk lead the aroma, followed by ripe peach, pear and a light touch of honeysuckle. The palate is gently sweet yet carried by clear mineral freshness, keeping the fruit precise rather than heavy. Peach and pear broaden through the middle, while the chalky line brings definition. The finish remains floral and lightly honeyed, with a clean, balanced sense of sweetness.
Opus One 2009 Napa Valley
Deep garnet and finely layered, with redcurrant, baked plum, dried blackberry and stewed cherry joined by dark chocolate, espresso and sweet spice. The palate is silky but substantial, carrying ripe fruit through polished tannins and a savoury mineral line. Balanced and persistent rather than heavy, it opens well with air and is an excellent partner for roast beef or lamb.
Taylor Fladgate 2009 Vintage Port 375 mL
Inky black with a purple rim, opening on concentrated woodland fruit, raspberry and plum. Citrus blossom, mint and lavender lift the dense core, while a mineral edge adds definition. The palate is powerful and richly fruited, supported by thick, sinewy tannins that draw the wine into a long, tightly structured finish. Decant carefully before serving with blue cheese.
Bruno Paillard 2009 Assemblage Champagne
Candied citrus, kiwi and fresh lemon lead a bright, focused bouquet, with white fruit, ginger and a gentle brioche note adding depth. Low dosage keeps the palate taut and precise, while fine bubbles and a chalky mineral line carry the flavours cleanly. Serve well chilled with oysters, sashimi or gougères.
Viña Montes 2009 Montes Alpha M Colchagua Valley 750 mL
Dark wild-berry confit, ripe cherry and herbal savouriness lead the documented profile, joined by eucalyptus and cocoa. The palate is juicy and complex, with vivid, integrated tannins carrying the wine through a fruit-led finish. The recorded blend is predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, supported by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Deep colour and pronounced acidity are also recorded.
Pio Cesare 2009 Barbaresco Il Bricco 750 mL
Ripe and dried black cherry meet rose petal, licorice and sweet spice in the documented profile. Truffle, black pepper, cedar, smoked meat and earth add depth. The palate is dry and full, with fresh acidity, high tannins and a long finish. Almond and oak detail round out a mature Barbaresco that remains structured and savoury.
Orma 2009 Toscana IGT 750 mL
Dried fruit, black olive, rich undergrowth and autumnal fruit shape the documented profile. The palate is big and silky, with ample fruit balanced by lively acidity and herbal, earthy secondary notes. Cherry, blackberry, plum, leather and tobacco add further detail, supported by dusty, velvety tannins. The recorded blend is Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
Château d’Agassac 2009 Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois 750 mL
A deep purple-red appearance leads to ripe black fruit, morello cherry, nutmeg and cinnamon. With air, macerated red cherry is joined by sandalwood, smoked beech and incense. The palate is dense and powerful, with concentrated tannins that remain silky rather than hard. Burnt pepper and damp garrigue appear on the long finish, followed by another echo of red cherry.
Castiglion del Bosco Campo del Drago 2009 Brunello di Montalcino 750 mL
Ripe red fruit leads a mature, savoury profile, with earth, cedar and polished oak adding depth. Dried herbs, warm spice and a quiet mineral note emerge with air. The palate is medium-bodied and balanced, its fruit meeting firm but fine tannins and steady acidity. Vanilla recedes into the background as the wine opens, allowing cherry, woodland detail and a lightly bitter note to shape the long, composed finish.
Mark Haisma La Croix des Champs 2009 Gevrey-Chambertin 750 mL
Ripe cherry and strawberry lead a generous, mature profile, with liquorice, beetroot and gentle vanilla adding depth. Savoury notes of meat, forest floor and cedar sit behind the fruit rather than dominating it. The palate is round and elegant, shaped by light tannins and a fine peppery edge. A touch of earthy root vegetable appears toward the close, followed by a composed, lightly astringent finish.
Château Brane-Cantenac 2009 Margaux 750 mL
Warm black plum, Morello cherry and mulberry lead an expressive, mature profile. Blackberry and dark cherry remain clear through the palate, joined by earth, cedar and a restrained touch of vanilla. The texture is polished and balanced, with fresh acidity and resolved tannins carrying the fruit rather than masking it. Gentle spice builds toward a composed, savoury finish with lingering dark berries and fine mineral detail.
Château Figeac 2009 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 750 mL
Layered and composed, with black cherry, cassis and dark plum opening into violet, graphite, tobacco and a subtle earthy note. The palate is full yet measured, carried by fresh acidity and fine, velvety tannins rather than sheer weight. Coffee, toast and spice emerge with air, while the finish stays mineral, persistent and quietly savoury. A mature Saint-Émilion with depth, perfume and poise.
Manos Negras 2009 Pinot Noir 750 mL
Rose petal, bright cherry and raspberry give an aromatic opening, with cranberry bringing a tart, lively edge. The palate is supple and balanced, framed by gentle earth, mineral detail and fine spice. Toasted oak sits quietly behind the fruit, adding a savoury layer without dominating. Smooth through the centre and poised on the finish, it leaves red berries, dried flowers and a light touch of cinnamon.
Vouette & Sorbée 2009 Extrait Brut Nature Champagne 750 mL
Candied orange peel and red fruit open with brioche and crushed herbs. The palate is energetic and firmly structured, with a rich texture shaped by bright acidity and clear mineral tension. Savoury and autolytic detail bring depth without softening the wine's drive. The finish is persistent and dry, returning to citrus, red fruit, herbs and stony freshness.
Domaine A.F. Gros 2009 Vosne-Romanée Clos de la Fontaine Monopole 750 mL
Ripe strawberry and cherry lead a graceful, gently savoury profile. The palate is supple and rounded, with soft acidity and enough structure to keep the fruit composed. There is an appealing maturity to the texture, yet the wine remains clear and elegant rather than heavy. Subtle earth and fine spice emerge with air, carrying the red fruit through a smooth, measured finish.
The Dalmore Vintage 2009 15 Year Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Manuka honey and dark plum lead a generous aroma, sharpened by cracked black pepper and clove. The palate is layered and polished, bringing Morello cherry, dates and candied Seville orange together with fresh fig and light cacao. Rich fruit remains balanced by measured wood spice and a firm malt core. The finish is long and warming, with plum, moist ginger cake and roasted chestnut lingering together.
Louis Jadot 2009 Musigny Grand Cru
Rose petal, sweet red berries, plum and subtle spice rise over a restrained wet-stone note. The palate feels weightless yet intense, with concentrated fruit held by fine tannins and lively freshness. Richness builds without heaviness, while precise mineral detail and a supple texture carry the wine into a long, graceful finish.
Midleton Very Rare 2009
Rich yet polished, with toasted nuts, fudge and apple crumble on the nose, lifted by an intriguing flash of chilli and ripe banana. The palate is velvety and measured, bringing vanilla-coated apple, butterscotch and cracked cinnamon over a smooth grain-led core. Spice remains restrained, allowing the creamy orchard-fruit character to stay clear. The finish is elegant and persistent, tapering through soft sweetness and mellow oak.