2009 Siran, Ferriere, Ormes de Pez

Chateau Siran barrel sample label

20/05/10

This morning saw the release of three more of our must-buys on a tight budget. Siran has been in the Miailhe family for over 150 years and has a distinctive grape mix, with high proportions of both Merlot and Petit Verdot and less than half Cabernet Sauvignon. This gives the wine real stuffing, moderated these days by a relatively short spell of just over a year in oak (40% new) in order to allow the purity and finesse of the wine through. Arguably 2004 was a turning point for the property, when Denis Dubourdieu was appointed as the consultant and quality has improved from an already high level since then:

'Blueberry and licorice aromas follow through to a full body, with supersilky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. All there. 90-93 points.' - James Suckling, winespectator.com

At only eight hectares, Ferriere is positively titchy by Bordeaux standards. Claire Villars is in charge, who runs La Gurgue and Haut-Bages Liberal, both of which we like very much too. To all intents and purposes Ferriere can be considered a 'new' property, having been rescued from the clutches of Lascombes and only produced its first vintage from new cellars in 1992. The estate has excellent terroir, being situated on several plots of deep gravel and the wines have always tended towards the muscular end of Margaux in a similar way to La Gurgue and are immensely satisfying.

'Blueberry and mineral aromas. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a beautiful sandalwood, floral, berry aftertaste. Very polished young red. 90-93 points.' - James Suckling, winespectator.com

And, of course, a wine for which we've already fielded many requests, Les Ormes de Pez, from the Cazes family of Lynch-Bages:

'Superb concentration, with spice, currant and berry character. Full and velvety. So long. At same quality level as the legendary 1955, or 1959. 92-95 points.' - winespectator.com

Despite our best efforts, we failed to secure any more than last year's allocation of yesterday's release from the Lafite stable, and Duhart-Milon has been enthusiastically snapped up by its previous buyers.

View all 2009 Bordeaux en primeur