The early-bottled (after about 10-12 months) 2009 Mathilde is meant to be something of a sexy fruit bomb style of St.-Emilion. It comes from 50-year-old vines and was bottled in July, 2011. It has been a beauty in other vintages so I’m not surprised it showed so well in 2009. With the alcohol at 14.5%, it possesses the tell-tale glycerin and rich sweetness that comes from the alcoholic warmth. It is 100% Merlot, which explains the gushing, exuberant black cherry and black currant fruit and hedonistic style of this wine.

Intense aromas of blueberries and minerals, with hints of fresh herbs such as lavender. Full body, with very fine tannins and a berry, smoky and minerally aftertaste. Give this three or four years before opening.

Lively, with plum, fig and linzer torte aromas and flavors augmented with toasted spice and a flash of anise on the finish. A lightly firm toast edge sits apart from the fruit though and may not fully integrate in time. Drink now through 2013. 584 cases made. -JM