I was really impressed by this pair of Christmas Clarets, currently available for £16.99 from The Co-op. It’s two vintages of Chateau Senejac. I tried the 2009 last year and rated it highly. This time round, I have a slight preference for 2008, which is a bit more structured and classical. If you like the riper fruit profile, then you may prefer 2009, but they are both really good wines for the money.
Chateau Senejac 2009 Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France
13.5% alcohol. Ripe, sweet blackcurrant fruit with a green, slightly leafy edge. There are some herby notes and some bright cherry and berry fruit. Supple, ripe and attractive. Showing a mix of sweetness and greenness that a bottle consumed last year didn’t. 88/100
Chateau Senejac 2008 Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France
13% alcohol. Fresh, gravelly, sweet leafy blackcurrant and blackberry fruit. Nice savoury grip as well as ripe fruit. Proper Claret showing good concentration, and drinking very well now. 90/100
Nice wines, much improved now that winemaking is managed by the Tesseron family of Château Pontet-Canet.
The wonderful 2010 is also being offered by Costco at £12 ish as part of their 2010 Bordeaux Roadshows. 😉
Thanks for the note on the 08, I have a bottle as a gift for my 50th two years ago, so i open it over the fesitive period.Thought it might be too young.
It is good to see the Co-op getting some praise for its premium offerings. The Co-op near me is very strong between £12 and £20 compared to it’s competitors who look weak at these price points. There must be a lot of pressure on the Co-op buying team to concentrate on cheaper, less interesting wines. So well done.
Steer clear of the 2009 everyone! 88 is a VERY low score from JG!!