Acte 9, 2017

Name: Acte 9
Brand: Acte
Price: 238.33 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2017

justerini & brooks tasting note

The young Bouchet vines (a massale selection from Chateau Lafleur) were hit hardest by the frost. As a result, the 2017 Acte is 100% Merlot. Taking out such a vital part of this wine's DNA is bound to have an effect. It loses that wonderful aromatic profile that the Bouchet provides, but it gains an even more seductive texture. This is less of a Lafleur sibling and more akin to the great Merlot dominated wines from the limestone plateau of St Emilion. Mineral infused Merlot fruit, quite forward and very alluring. The profile is so refined and polished, waves of effortless well delineated cherry and damson coat the palate. This is super stylish and delicious.

critic reviews

94/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

The 2017 Guinaudeau Acte 9 is 100% Merlot and has a medium to deep garnet color. It needed a little time and patient coaxing to reveal notes of fresh blackberries and black raspberries, with hints of wild sage, lilacs, and mossy bark plus a waft of graphite. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is super intense without being heavy, delivery great purity of fruit with loads of floral and earthy nuances, framed by ripe, rounded tannins and amazing tension, finishing long.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2040

date of review 12/2022

94/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

News for fans: This will be the last Acte wine from Lafleur. But no need for sadness. This vineyard has at last come of age and has earned the right to its own name from 2018! Yay!! The new wine will be called Les Perrieres de Lafleur. Now the sad news: None of the Cabernet Franc survived the frost in 2017, so the wine is made from 100% Merlot this year. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Guinaudeau G Acte 9 is intensely scented of warm plums, baked black cherries and mulberries with hints of licorice, cloves, sandalwood and dark chocolate plus a waft of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic precision and purity with a laser-fine line of racy acid and ripe, firm, finely grained tannins to support, finishing long and fruity. This vintage should age beautifully over the next 25 years+.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2045

date of review 03/2020

90/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2017 L’Acte 9 de G is the final vintage of this wine under this name. Frost forced it to be 100% Merlot from pure limestone soils. It has a perfumed bouquet with black cherries, iodine and light lavender aromas. Very fine definition here and quite intense. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly sinewy opening A stone marine influence, seaweed and brine define the persistent finish. This will require three or four years in bottle just to soften its edges.

DRINKING WINDOW 2024 - 2040

date of review 02/2020