Château de Camensac 2009

One of the finest, if not the very best Camensac I have ever tasted, this wine possesses loads of black currants, black cherries, cedar wood and spice box as well as a bit of earth and underbrush. It is medium to full-bodied, very generously endowed and quite long. Anticipated maturity: now-2025.

Nicely polished, featuring dark plum and currant flavors laced with cocoa powder and roasted vanilla bean notes, which extend through the finish. Drink now through 2013. 20,830 cases made.

A touch of medicinal – cough linctus – aroma. Lifted and fresh on the nose. Soft on the palate. Approachable but short on energy overall. (JH)

One of the more obscure classified growths, the 2009 is an open, easy-to-drink wine with an oak, dark cherry, earth and herb perfume. Medium-bodied, with some rusticity to the tannins, this should be better with a few more years of age.

Dark ruby in colour with purple reflections, and a subtle ochre rim. On the nose, aromas of plum fruit with subtle undertones of tobacco, with some damp undergrowth, and leafy nuances. The medium-bodied palate is mineral and freshly structured with pronounced tannins and red cherry fruit notes, offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure.

More modern nose—leather, dark berries, new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with young tannins, high acidity, and dark fruit; it still feels somewhat youthful and reserved and should be given more time to shed those young tannins and acidity.

Dark garnet. A relatively slender bouquet with floral notes, wild raspberries and a spicy Cabernet touch, black cherry tones. On the palate, medium-bodied, fine muscles, laying lovely portions of flesh on the tongue. At Camensac, they are back on the right track.

Dark garnet, fairly dense in the middle, ruby rim. A relatively slender bouquet with floral notes, wild raspberries and a spicy Cabernet touch, black cherry nuances. On the palate, medium-weight, fine muscle, lovely flesh on the tongue. Shows that the team finally wants to put good Camensac back in the bottle. They’re on the right track.

Slim, light bouquet with raspberries and green herbs. Lean, firm, dry palate with plenty of tannin, medium fruit, good aromatics. Long, bitter finish. Can still improve. 16/20 2016 - 2028

The first year with sufficient quality grapes, plus an improved global outlook, at least with the Chinese market, to allow the new owners to show what they had achieved over the previous four or five years. It is one of the more balanced and reserved 2009s of the 1855 grouping, but you see a tighter, more confident structure to the wine than in earlier vintages, and greater clarity to the fennel, pencil, liquorice notes, and beautiful crushed roses on the aromatics. Fruits remain brambled blackberry and loganberry rather than tight cassis or bilberry. It's enjoyable, ready to drink but will age. Eric Boissenot consultant. Harvest September 23 to October 7. 60% new oak.

A very classic spicy flavor wrapped in a solid tannic frame, with a slight lack of finesse at the highest level, but a very promising finish for extended aging.

The second wine of château Camensac, a fifth growth classified in 1855, whose vineyard lies close to that of Saint-Julien, shows a simple, fruity nose and a soft attack on the palate, not very concentrated, with firm tannins on the finish.

Supple and round, very fluid, yet fairly harmonious.

Dark, intense, purple color. Fruity, fresh nose, much more precise than it used to be. Lovely palate, full of softness and fruit, where the wine unfolds aromatically and is above all very well built, with a joyful hedonistic feel. The wine is long on the palate and good. It’s the most accomplished I’ve tasted here.

Bright, soft and fruity, with plum and currant character, full to medium body and a chewy finish. Muscular. Better in 2016.

92-94 Barrel sample. Big, ripe, juicy wine, the tannins very solid and dark. It has layers of new wood, power and considerable density.