The 2009 Saint-Valery  is a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru.  It has 14% alcohol, but all of Bordeaux is starting to made higher alcohol wines.  ( Not a good thing) The 375ml cost about $15, and the wine scored 16 points on the Dionysian scale of a possible 20.

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French bread, olive oil on pasta shells mixed with spinach was all enhanced by the Merlot-based wine.

Mostly Merlot, the wine, at seven years old was ready from the half-bottle, but a full 750 would need four or five more years at least. Hints of Cabernet Franc did show through.

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All Saint-Emilions Grand Cru wines are special and mature faster than the Left Bank reds do.

I’ve learned over 40 years that quality Bordeaux all need 10 years of age to add the complexity you want in good wine. In vino veritas.