En Primeur The balance here is identical to Raymond Lafon: 13°8 alcohol, 140 g/l residual and 3.9 g/l total acidity, but what a difference in style. There is a menthol kind of freshness pervading the wine, giving it an almost New World, or even Alsatian touch. This higher tone of fresh fruit will presumably get penetrated by the more roasted Sémillon lots during the élevage. For the second time (07 and 09 – no ’08 was made), the sweetness is less absolute, La Tour Blanche having held the record for residual in ’03 and ’05, and has settled down into a finer balance as a result. Bill Blatch

Decanter – 19 Pts: My favourite in this group because it adds to the glorious constitution of the vintage a very special element of finesse and subtlety, sublime aftertaste.

Jancis Robinson – Oct 2011 18.5 Pts: Very heavy and rich and amazingly concentrated. Lots of noble rot. Really deep and nervy and burnt pear juice. Super dense with admirable dryness on the finish after all that sweetness. Great wine! En Primeur 18 Pts: Tang and interest on the nose. Big, weighty. But with good acidity and definition and it’s awfully difficult to spit! Long and rich, a bit hot on the end? Still a bit chewy. Drink 2018-2040

Wine Spectator – Feb 2012 92 Pts: Ripe and broad, with lush buttered pecan and almond notes followed by rich apricot, orange and date flavours that glide through the finish, where a glazed pear note sits in reserve. This should cruise nicely through mid-term cellaring. Best from 2013 through 2024. En Primeur 91-94 Pts: Dense and very rich on the palate. Medium sweet, with lemon pie and meringue notes and a textured finish.

Wine Advocate – 94-96 Pts: The 2009 La Tour Blanche is very primal on the nose with grapefruit, nectarine and apricot aromas. The palate is very well balanced, just a little oaky at the moment but with a very fine thread of acidity. Touches of fresh apricot, a hint of nougat, lime zest and white peach. Well balanced, linear at the front palate but voluminous and expanding across the mouth in every direction on the viscous, mineral-rich finish. There is so much potential here. Superb.

NB Wine lying in Bordeaux - please allow at least 4 weeks for delivery.