The 09’s – Best vintage ever?
If you have anything to do with the wine industry or are a dedicated wine connoisseur you would have been drowned in talk of the 2009 En Primeur Bordeaux’s over the last couple of months. Critics and wine merchants around the world have superseded the hype of the 2005’s claiming the 09’s will be superior to even the legendary vintages of 82 and 61.
So why are the 09’s of such royal quality? Basically it comes down to a mixture of good weather for healthy grape growing and improved techniques in the vineyard and winery.
The famed Christian Moueix of Chateau Petrus and various other right bank Chateau exclaimed – “I have never seen anything like it in my career”. Which makes you wonder just how much an 09 Petrus is going to go for when it’s released to the market in 2012 – an 82 is selling currently at US$ 9,722 !
The best thing about a vintage like this is that the high quality is not just amongst those ‘save 10 years to buy one bottle’ types but the quality spreads across all price points. I have heard through the grape-vine (no pun intended!) that ones to watch out for under US$ 40 are; Patache d’Aux – Haut Medoc, Ormes de Paz – St Estephe, Cantemerle – Haut Medoc, Belgrave – Haut Medoc and Lafon from Listrac Medoc.
Mmm I think my mouth is starting to water. Unfortunately I am one of the many wine lovers who do not have the luxury of proper funding to partake in the En Primeur prices, but I reckon once those bottles hit the market, keep an eye on them and snap them up at the right moment – www.wine-searcher.com is a fantastic way to keep check of the market rate.