The 2009 Cantemerle has been uncorked and other ramblings...

[JimHow]

I so want to love this wine.

Oh how I do!

[JimHow]

Got my 2009s from PJs today, various quantities of Giscours, Cantemerle, de Fieuzal, Larrivet Haut Brion, and Calon Segur.
Excellent service, as always.
In fact, they gave me free shipping because they had accidentally loaded it up for shipping even though I had indicated I would pick them up at the store.
Still my favorite store in the country, with its Spanish Harlem flavor, haven't been there in a while, if anyone wants to make a trip up there with me next time in NY let me know.

[JimHow]

This wine is very appealingly elegant at the outset. Only 13% alcohol. Mmmm!

[stefan]

Fortunately, where I shop my '09s will arrive in 2015 or later.

[JimHow]

Been a ball knocker of a week, a lot of crazy felonies.

Was in court with a client of mine yesterday, he allegedly shot about a hundred rounds into his house with an AK-47 while his wife and kids ran out, was involved in a six hour standoff with state police, the whole nine yards. He had 31 firearms in his home, including a $16,000 machine gun....

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston ... ff/1340250

[JimHow]

I think this 2009 Cantemerle is a Stefan-and-Lucie-Johnson-kind-of-wine.

[JimHow]

It is La Lagune-like.

[JimHow]

Be sure to buy my friend Elizabeth Strout's newest novel, "The Burgess Boys," which just came out this week.
It is her first novel since she won the Pulitzer Prize in fiction in 2009 for "Olive Kitteridge."
The book is based on my infamous "pig's head" case here in Lewiston back in 2006.
Bob Burgess (the bumbling but likable hero-in-the-end brother) is inspired by me, she even put me in her acknowledgement section at the end!
It's getting generally fairly positive reviews, although I'm expecting the big Sunday New York Times book review this weekend.
Available at Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/The-Burgess-Boys- ... rgess+boys

[stefan]

Yes, Lucie and I do like Cantemerle even if we have not bought it recently. Sounds like I should buy the '09.

[JimHow]

Yes, I think you should. Wines like this give me at least a little hope for Bordeaux....

[JimHow]

Lovely deep ruby...

Is it possible that the southern Medoc was the best region in 2009?

[OrlandoRobert]

I like reading this thread . . .

All is well. Again.

[robert goulet]

Deeeeep hue, give me notes!!!!

[Nicklasss]

I have always been a Cantemerle fan, but don't own any 2009. Maybe time to fix that?

Nic

[JimHow]

You know, I can't add to what HWSRN wrote, his note nailed it:

"Readers looking for the more ethereal, elegant side of Bordeaux need search no further than Cantemerle, one of the estates in the very southern end of the Medoc. Dense ruby/purple (nearly opaque), this wine offers up notes of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, raspberries and black cherries. The wine is ethereal, medium-bodied, and by no means a blockbuster, but long and intellectual. However, the tannins are present, and the wine is certainly capable of putting on weight with time in the bottle. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25+ years."

He rates it 91+, I might give it a point higher because it is a style I really like. As long as wines like Sociando Mallet and Cantemerle keep making wines like this in this price range (a big "if"), we'll be in good shape.

I see MacArthur's has this for $39, I'll buy some more at that price, even though I paid $32 at PJs. Can't wait to try the 2010 Cantemerle!

[Bacchus]

Jim, your relationship with HWSRN is a fascinating one. You go on at length about his role in the wine world, yet when it comes to tasting notes of individual wines, you so often agree with him. Not always to be sure (eg. 09 Giscours), but more often than not. Anyone here teach in a psych dept?

[DavidG]

Has anyone ever seen Jim and RP in the same room together?

[JimHow]

Hey, I just call it the way I see it, with no agenda.
If I think Suckling is right, I say so.
If I think Parker is right, I say so.
If I think either or both are wrong, I say so.
Also, I may agree with Parker on a wine, but that may not be a good thing.
I may agree that a wine is Parkerized. He may think that's good, I may think that's bad.
As Jeff Leve said, parker likes a wide range of wines, although i think he is more "excited" about his Parkerized efforts.
I've stated what I've thought about the likes of Haut Bergey, de fieuzal, Larrivet Haut Brion, etc., etc.: Uninteresting, soulless, internationalized, Parkerized.
This Cantemerle was not Parkerized.
And it's interesting in his note, Parker almost sort of admits that when he says: "Readers looking for the more ethereal, elegant side of Bordeaux...." It's almost like he's saying: "Readers looking for an alternative to the rest of the Parkerized swill being generated out of Bordeaux these days...."
I really wanted to love this Cantemerle and I did.
I really wanted to love those Parkerized Haut-Bergey et al efforts, but i didn't.
I just tell it the way it is, without agenda.
I'm just a country lawyer from Maine.

[Bacchus]

Jim, you interested in opening one of those 09 Calon Segurs for science? I would sure love to hear your opinion on them. We also need to establish a baseline for CS for this decade so we will be able to determine whether the recent sale of the winery will propel them into the Parkerized camp!

[JimHow]

I think I'm going to hold on to those Calon Segurs, Bacchus, I only have 3 bottles.

[Bacchus]

Well, if you only ordered 3, that's perfectly understandable. Thought you might have had a few more.

[AlexR]

Jim,

I read a review in Time magazine in the bathtub (Sat. afternoon ritual= about your friend Elizabeth Strout's book.

Praiseworthy.

Alex

[Bacchus]

Too much information!

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

Well Jim, it's official. From your $50 million skybox at the Fens you will at least be able to see JBJ play in person, and right away.

BTW, I have noticed that since you bought that box, the Sox have stunk. Is it the "Curse of the Jimbino?"

[JimHow]

We gave up our seats this year, Hound. We were offered loge box on the third base side with the plebeians but opted not to. I'm excited about Jackie! Shades of Freddy Lynn! I'm ready for some baseball! It's been a long hard winter!

[OrlandoRobert]

We gave up our seats this year, Hound. We were offered loge box on the third base side with the plebeians but opted not to. I'm excited about Jackie! Shades of Freddy Lynn! I'm ready for some baseball! It's been a long hard winter!

Never fear, Jimbo, you have a standing offer to my skybox any time you wanna come to Orlando for a Magic Game, a night of debauchery with me and BobbyG, and we break your Chinon Cherry. I've even had BobbyG in the box, so evidently anyone can come no questions asked!

[robert goulet]

Even the sun shines on a dogs ass every once and while...see u this weekend sweetie....

[Nicklasss]

Bought 4 bottles yesterday, of the 2009 Chateau Cantemerle. Will open one soon and report.

Nic

[OrlandoRobert]

LOL, I just got my 2010s in. Now you are making me wonder whether I should try one, but candidly, I'm more inclined to try the 2010 La Gravette de Certain that also came in. High praise from Uncle Bob and Suckles, and both seem to think it shows well know. Luv me sum Pomerol, and this is in my price range, so if I like it, I go back to the well. Just got a 4-pack so far.