Château Vieux Labarthe Château Vieux Labarthe

A private dinner (Restaurant De Lage Vuursche, Lage Vuursche, NL) : Rich and sticky Merlot fruit on the nose, harmonious, hints of oak, spice and earth; attractive and smooth palate, medium weight (on the light side for a 2009), well-integrated, displays a certain finesse; good length.

Color: Rich garnet. Nose: Rich and luxurious at first, with ripe dark fruit aromas of blackberry and cassis, and a healthy dose of oak---not woody, but sweet vanilla and spice. But then with a bit of air, it thins out, becoming more about earth and graphite and smoke. There's also some chocolate and cedar, and a hint of herb. Pretty well put together. Mouthfeel: Sleek but hard, like new leather. Needs some time to break in and find its suppleness. …

Quite fresh nose with some dark fruits, a little earthy dirt, some led pencil, cedar and a hint of minerality. The palate is rather thin for an 09, some tasty fruit and a little dust. Quite balanced with a moderate tannic structure and acidity. The finish is medium. A good wine but I would have liked more substance.

Ok for $15 price tag...nothing spectacular...drinking ok now and for next few years.