"Very gold in color, this is a wine that seems initially closed, slowly showing its full panoply of richness, density, and sweet final acidity.”

A more powerful style, with toasted coconut, almond and orange peel notes up front, followed by a dense core of creamed peach, glazed apricot and ginger, with a date-tinged finish. This should unwind soon enough while staying on the darker, tropical side of the spectrum. Best from 2015 through 2030. 4,631 cases made.

The 2009 Lafaurie-Peyraguey shows better here than at the blind tasting earlier this year. For a start, the bouquet is more open and immediate, offering scents of saffron-laced honey mixed with linseed and candle wax. Powerful, but not over-powering. The palate is very well balanced with impressive vigor, and sweet but not cloying, though still a little "fatter" than I might have preferred. There is clearly long-term potential here, although it will be difficult to resist in its youth. Tasted from an ex-château bottle sent to my home.