LUXE Serendipity magazine

By Donna Richardson

There’s a certain poetry in a wine that not only delights the palate but also tells a story. Le Raconteur Vin de France Rouge 2009 lives up to its name – Raconteur, the storyteller – offering both complexity and narrative in every glass. As journalists, we found ourselves not just tasting, but listening to the story this wine had to share.

A Glimpse in the Glass

Pouring the 2009 reveals a deep ruby-garnet hue with subtle brick highlights at the rim, hinting at its graceful aging. The legs descend slowly, signalling a wine of substance and character, inviting reflection as well as enjoyment.’

Aromatic Narratives

The nose tells a layered tale: ripe dark cherries and blackberries, evolving into plum and dried red fruits, mingle with subtle notes of leather, forest floor, and cedar. Time has lent it tertiary depth -soft earthiness, hints of tobacco, and gentle spice weave through the bouquet. The oak has integrated seamlessly, adding warmth without overshadowing the wine’s narrative.

Palate: Reading Between the Lines

On the palate, Le Raconteur 2009 is medium-to-full-bodied with a plush core of fruit now evolving toward mature, dried notes. Velvety tannins provide structure, while lively acidity balances richness, giving each sip clarity and focus. The finish is long, carrying hints of spice, subtle oak, and earthy undertones -an ending worthy of a good story.

As Journalists, We Listened

Savouring this wine, we couldn’t help but think of the parallels between storytelling and winemaking. Each aroma, each layer of flavour, is like a chapter unfolding. As journalists, we appreciated not just its taste, but the narrative it conveys: the warmth of the 2009 vintage, the patience of the winemaker, and the subtle dialogue between fruit, earth, and oak.

Drinking Window and Pairing

Now at a delightful drinking stage, the 2009 benefits from a 30–60 minute decant to fully reveal its complexities. It pairs beautifully with robust dishes, roast beef – as we did with or Sunday Roast – or equally with lamb, game or mature cheeses like Comté or aged Gouda. With careful cellaring, it may continue to evolve, softening tannins and deepening its tertiary notes, but its story is already compelling today.

Final Thoughts

Le Raconteur Vin de France Rouge 2009 is more than a wine; it is a storyteller. Its complexity, depth, and evolution remind us of why we are drawn to both wine and narrative -the pleasure of discovery, the unfolding of a tale, and the satisfaction of listening. This is a wine that anyone who enjoys a good story can truly appreciate, sip by sip.

Full tasting note

Appearance

In the glass the 2009 shows a deep ruby‑garnet hue with subtle brick‑tinges at the rim, indicating some age softening of the colour. The legs are generous, hinting at a wine of decent extraction and moderate to high alcohol.

Nose

On the nose you’ll likely encounter a complex bouquet:

• Primary fruit: ripe dark cherries, blackberries turning to more mature plum and dried red fruit.
• Secondary notes: gently under-ripe blackcurrant, a touch of dried fig or prune, subtle leather, maybe some forest floor or undergrowth.
• Tertiary development: given the vintage and age (~15+ years), expect some subtle earthy notes, gentle spice (cedar, tobacco, maybe a hint of cocoa or dark chocolate), and mellow oak (vanilla and toast) blended quietly in the background.

Palate

The wine likely delivers a medium‑to‑full body (given the vintage 2009 — generally warm across France) with:

• A plush core of dark fruit, now evolving into more mellow, slightly dried black fruit and maybe a bit of dried cranberry or currant.
• Tannins: originally likely firm, now more velvety though still providing grip and structure. You may feel a fine, grainy tannin texture that gives the wine presence rather than roughness.
• Acidity: still holding up reasonably well, giving freshness and preventing the wine from being flabby or overly marmalade‑like.
• Oak/integration: the oak should have softened; instead of dominant toast you’ll sense integrated spice and wood‑vanilla in the finish.
• Finish: fairly long, with the fruit, spice and gentle earthy/loamy note lingering. Perhaps a slight savoury edge (leather, tobacco) that heightens the complexity.
  
  Overall Observations & Drinkability
  
• The 2009 vintage across France was warm, so the wine may lean towards ripeness, generosity and concentration rather than austerity.
• At ~15 years old, this bottle is likely either at a good drinking plateau — or just slightly past peak depending on how it was stored and how well the producer built it for aging.
• If well stored, you should be able to enjoy it now, perhaps decanting for 30‑60 minutes to allow the aromas to open up.
• With another 3‑5 years of good cellaring you might see further mellowing of tannins and even deeper tertiary notes, though expect the fruit to gradually fade.
• For pairing: this wine would work well with a robust red meat dish (roast beef, venison), rich game bird, perhaps a mature cheese (Comté, aged Gouda). It might be a bit heavy for light dishes.