2009 Bordeaux Wine Vintage Report and Buying Guide with Tasting Notes, Reviews and Ratings and producer comments for the top 2009 Bordeaux Wines and all the best wines of the Right Bank Satellite appellations. The wines were tasted in barrel in Bordeaux, June 2010. These are the best 2009 Value Bordeaux wines from the vintage.
2009 20 Mille is produced from a 1.4-hectare section of the Croix Mouton vineyard. The chateau takes its name from the fact it’s planted 20,000 vines per ha. Produced from 100% merlot, this round textured wine shows aromas of accented, dark jammy fruit, licorice, and chocolate. 50% of the wine is aged in the cigar shaped barrels. With vines planted this closely, work in the vineyards can be exacting. According to the owner, Jean-Philippe Janoueix, the purpose of this density of planting is to show that quality Bordeaux can be produced from terroir outside the finest regions.
2009 Ad Augusta, from 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc, is a fun, fleshy, early drinking style of wine. 84-87 Pts
2009 d’Aiguilhe – This 50-hectare vineyard is planted on thin clay on top of limestone. Net yields in 2009 were 8 hls/ha. The wine is aged in 50% new oak. This wine, 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc, is deeply colored, and shows aromas of spice, oak, dark jammy berries, anise, strawberries, and chocolate. Full bodied and round, this fresh, supple wine finishes with dark cherry, spice, and licorice. 90-92 Pts
2009 Clos Chaumont, produced from 90% merlot and an even split of cabernet franc and cabernet sauvignon, is filled with charm: soft textures punctuated by dark berries with licorice hints. It will drink best young. 85-87 Pts
2009 Clos les Lunelles, produced from vines whose average age is 40 years, offers a blend of 80% merlot, 10% cabernet sauvignon, and 10% cabernet franc. Yields were a miniscule 22/hls/ha. The wine is filled with blackberries, coffee, and anise. Round in texture, this mouth filling wine ends with lush dark berry, chocolate, and plum flavors. 91-93 Pts
2009 Croix Mouton is 87% merlot, 12% cabernet franc, and 1% petit verdot. The wine will age for nine months in 33% new and 67% one-wine old barrels, 45% of which are cigar shaped barrels. This medium bodied wine offers licorice and jammy black raspberry notes, ending in black raspberry and kirsch flavors. 84-87 Pts.
2009 Le Conseiller, produced from 100% merlot, opens with dark berries and fennel. This ripe, soft textured wine will offer pleasure early. A top value wine for the vintage, it will sell for about $15 in the states. 88-90 Pts
2009 Cote Montpezat offers soft, round dark berries in a pleasing style. A great value play wine. 86-88 Pts
2009 Domaine de Courteillac. This domain was purchased in 1998 by Dominique Meneret from Stéphane Asseo, when Asseo left to create L’Aventure in Paso Robles, in which Dominique remains a partner. The vineyard is planted in clay and limestone. From a blend 70% merlot, 20% cabernet sauvignon, and 10% cabernet franc, this soft textured wine offers dark, anise coated berries. It finishes with black raspberries. 86-88 Pts
2009 La Croix Lartigue is a ripe, mildly textured wine without faults. 84-87 Pts
2009 Domaine de l’A. Renowned consultants Stephane Derenoncourt and Christine Derenoncourt own this domain. The wine is a blend of 70% merlot, 25% cabernet franc, and 5% cabernet sauvignon from biodynamically farmed vineyards planted in clay and limestone soils. Filled with jammy dark berries, plums, and black pepper, this soft, open, plush wine ends with ample dark fruit in a fleshy and flashy style. 89-91 Pts
2009 Jean Faux comes from a blend of 80% merlot and 20% cabernet franc. The wine opens with dark berries and mocha, then finishes with simple round textures and berry flavors. 83-85 Pts
2009 La France is medium bodied, offering light berry flavors in a clean, user friendly style. 83-85 Pts
2009 de Francs Les Cerisiers is 90% merlot with 10% cabernet franc. Hubert de Bouard consults for the property. The wine is filled with spicy dark berries and oak. With round, supple textures, the wine ends with licorice and dark berry flavors. 88-90 Pts
2009 Gigault Cuvee Viva, from 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc, is a supple styled, ripe wine that will give good value for the buck and drink well on release. 86-88 Pts
2009 Les Grands Marechaux is 84% merlot, 9% cabernet franc, and 7% cabernet sauvignon. Net yields in 2009 were only 26 hls/ha. Medium bodied, with black raspberry and cherry scents, this easy drinking wine will be a crowd pleaser the day it’s released. Another top value play. 85-87 Pts
2009 Gree Laroque comes from 95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. It will be aged in 55% new oak. This supple, round, ripe berry and licorice flavored wine will deliver ample pleasure almost as soon as it’s released. 85-88 Pts
2009 Haut Bernat, with black raspberries and soft textures, is an easy to like, early drinking wine. 84-86 Pts
2009 Hostens Picant is a medium bodied, soft textured wine with berries and hints of cocoa in the finish. 84-86 Pts
2009 Lucullus Cuvee d’Exception is the top wine from Hostens Picant. Minerals, dark fruit, blackberries, and pepper combined with soft, round textures are the signature of this wine. 87-90 Pts
2009 Lyonnat, 95% merlot and 5% cabernet franc, is a dark, cherry flavored wine that will drink well on release. 83-85 Pts
2009 Mont Labat, 80% merlot, 15% cabernet franc, and 5% cabernet sauvignon, is a medium bodied wine with simple berry flavors. 82-84 Pts
2009 Le Pin Beausoleil is a Le Pin we all can finally afford. Even though it’s the other Le Pin, this black cherry and dark berry scented wine offers supple textures and a soft, black cherry filled finish. 87-89 Pts
2009 La Prade is 100% merlot. This small property used optical laser sorting for the first time. With soft, elegantly round textures coupled with minerals, blackberries, and licorice, the wine ends with a nice display of juicy plums. The best La Prade I’ve ever tasted. 88-90 Pts
2009 Puygueraud, like La Prade, both of which are made by Nicolas Theinpont, utilized an optical sorting machine for this vintage. From a blend of 80% merlot, 15% cabernet franc, and 5% malbec, this medium bodied wine shows tannins that feel rustic. It ends with a berry filled yet slightly drying finish. 84-86 Pts
2009 Trois Origines opens with minerals, dark pit fruit, and fennel. Soft and fleshy, the wine finishes with dark berry flavors. 87-89 Pts
2009 Vrai Canon Bouche is 98% merlot and 2% malbec. Yields in 2009 were just 20 hls/ha. The wine will be aged in 70% new oak. With soft textures, ripe berries and a kiss of oak, the wine will be popular because it will drink well the moment it’s released. 86-88 Pts
2009 Vieux Chateau Palon opens with earth, berry, licorice, and spice aromas. This easy drinking wine has a berry filled finish. 84-87 Pts
