| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Far more accessible is the 2009 Faugeres. Again, cropped at a low 18 hectoliters per hectare, but a different blend of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine boasts 14.5% natural alcohol, and both Stefan von Neipperg and Michel Rolland confer on the consulting. Full-bodied and dark ruby/purple, with a nose of graphite, pen ink, blueberries and black raspberries, the wine is deep, dense and pure, with a broad, savory texture and a long finish with no astringency. Drink this beauty over the next 15-20 years.
Tasted at a negociant. Prune and stewed apricot on the nose which is showing obvious signs of over-maturity. The palate is full-bodied and very saccharine, plush tannins but lacking freshness with an excessively cloying Languedoc finish. Not for me. Tasted March 2010.
Aromas of smoke, meat, minerals, dried flowers and sandalwood with fruit. Full body, with round, velvety tannins and lots of juicy ripe fruit. Chewy and delicious. Needs at least four to five years to soften.
Dark crimson - very dark! The aromas struggle to leave this elixir. A hint of oxidation (presumably just a less than fresh sample so nothing to worry about). Very rich and sumptuous and taken-to-the-limit. But not excessively sweet, nor (just) too alcoholic. I think this is a wine over which an immense amount of care has been taken. Very dramatic. Not for traditionalists but certainly attention-grabbing. Date tasted 29th March 2010. Drink 2017-2025.
Dense in its layers of blackberry, linzer torte and plum sauce, but caressing in feel, with silky structure and a long finish that has a well-buried, chalky minerality. Almost approachable now, but the precision and balance are there for the cellar. Best from 2013 through 2025.-J.M.
Ripe to overripe on the nose, the fruit just a touch jammy. Palate sweet and round, the tannins firm. I preferred the more powerful but better balanced Péby Faugères (16.5 points). Rich and concentrated, the oak evident. More finesse and freshness than in the past. Drink 2014-2024.
Two powerful efforts from proprietor Silvio Denz, the 2009 Faugeres may turn out to be one of the two or three finest examples of this cuvee. Fresh, with bright acids, a dense opaque purple color, and notes of graphite, blueberries, black currants, smoke, and charcoal, this full-bodied, intense, textured, rich 2009 is a blend of 85% Merlot and the rest primarily Cabernet Franc with a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. Amazingly, it achieved 14.5% natural alcohol, and should drink well for 15+ years. Faugeres' brain trust of consultants includes Michel Rolland and Stefan von Neipperg. (Tasted three times.) Drink 2010-2025.
Blackberry, toasty oak, coffee bean and dark chocolate. Full-bodied and very chewy, with masses of tannins that are a little aggressive. But should come around nicely. Very chewy. Ultraconcentrated.
