Medium colour. Intense bright cherry/ cassis aromas and flavours, with plenty of juicy ripe fruit, loose-knit chalky texture. Finishes long and sweet. Brilliant value wine! 90-92/100 Andrew Caillard MW Langton's
A fruity and clean wine, with chocolate and berry character. Delicate finish. 87-90/100 Wine Spectator
Fine deep red, good, slightly herbaceous cassis fruit, good elegant flavours and good Médoc grip, classic quite forward Médoc with good pure fruit. Drink 2013-18. 15.5 points, Steven Spurrier Decanter
Chateau Beaumont is the first wine offered at the start of our 2009 Bordeaux campaign. I believe it represents exceptional value in what now appears to be a landmark vintage. Quantities are limited and we expect prices to rise rapidly as the campaign progresses. This is a unique opportunity to purchase Bordeaux from an oustanding vintage at a price well below early market expectations. Stewart Langton
The Haut-Médoc appellation starts in the south, encompassing the cru classés of Cantemerle and La Lagune, and travels north to beyond Saint-Estèphe, so as in Saint-Emilion the styles are very varied. Cabernet Sauvignon still dominates, though Merlot is increasing and Cabernet Franc in places being phased out in favour of the more robust Petit Verdot. It is probably the most reliable appellation in Bordeaux in the sense that the soils are favourable, yet the wines still have to try their best to gain attention against their classed growth neighbours. 2009 was a boon to the Haut-Médoc: it allowed the châteaux to express themselves well and for the better ones, very well indeed. Steven Spurrier Decanter
Finding value in 2009 will be the challenge. Forget the first growths or the super seconds. The prices for these wines, I fear, are going to return to the 2005 levels, which were absurd. But this is the new reality. Like Lamborginis, Porsches, haute couture houses such as Chanel, or top-level watch companies like Berguet, International Watch Company, or Roger Dubuis, today's top 24 Bordeaux châteaux are exquisite brands of status and prestige. That, unfortunately, is not going to change, even with a global economy struggling to rebound. There is just not much of these wines made. The 15,000-20,000 case production may sound like a lot of wine for one market or two, but spread it around the world to every civilized city, luxury restaurant, and hotel, and the supply quickly evaporates. However, there are hundreds of Bordeaux châteaux today releasing beautiful wines, and this was not the case 20 or 30 years ago. These are the value wines, and although many include some of the lesser known classified growths, the others emerge from backwater appellations lacking the prestige to fetch high prices. This is where wine drinkers should be focusing their energy. Robert Parker Jr.
The Médoc, Bordeaux’s largest and best-known wine region, is located on the triangular piece of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde River estuary in western France. This Left Bank parcel stretches some 50 miles north to south, with varying soils planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines. The area comprises two regions: Médoc to the north and Haut-Médoc (the “upper Medoc”) further south.
The Haut-Médoc encompasses the famed communes of Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Margaux, but also includes vineyards surrounding these appellations. The wines from these surrounding vineyards are labelled Haut-Médoc AOC. They share many of the traditions and qualities of their prestigious neighbours, but are generally produced in a lighter style with fragrant aromas.
