Chateau Boutisse, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru (Bordeaux, France) 2009

 Château Boutisse shows why St. Emilion has such a terrific reputation.  Ripe fruit flavors are apparent, but not overdone.  Most importantly, intriguing herbal notes balance the wine and add complexity.  Overall, it’s graceful and long.  The lushness of the 2009 vintage and resulting smooth ripe tannins makes it easy to enjoy now, especially with a steak. My experience with the wines from the Milhade stable, such as Château Boutisse, is that they develop beautifully with age.  So don’t drink it all now.