Ripe black currant fruit with some cedar wood, licorice and wood spice are all present in this generously endowed, concentrated, low-acid Lanessan. The tannins are silky, and the overall impression is one of elegance, plumpness and beautiful intensity. This is a sleeper of the vintage and one that should only improve over the next several years and merit an outstanding rating. It should keep for up to two decades.
Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Lanessan ‘09 has a simple but clean fruit bouquet with blackberry, cedar and a touch of tar, hints of espresso developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. Fresh and lively in the mouth, not complicated but showing good length on the finish - perhaps I was expecting just a little more given its promising showing from barrel. Still, I think this will improve in bottle. Tasted January 2013.
