Bordeaux 2009, and Bordeaux 2006 revisited

[Matthias R WHT]

Hardly have I gotten over the fuss of the Bordeaux 2008 primeurs -
high quality for interesting prices - and the next carnival procession
arrives with infernal noise: we can look forward to another grand
vintage. The reason: weather has been perfect this year. Dry and
sunny, warm but not too hot, and at the right times some rain, just
when it was needed for the vines. Sounds familiar? Yes, it does.
Bordeaux 2005 was announced in the same way. One difference: Bordeaux
2009 is supposedly even bigger than Bordeaux 2005...

This might sound a little sceptical, and perhaps it is. Okay, weather
data are factual, but so short after the harvest it just comes across
a little frenzied to state that Bordeaux 2009 will outperform the
legendary 2005 vintage. But don't get me wrong: I am not against a
good vintage. And I will soon dive into the subject, perhaps when the
vinification has completed or so.

Also, already quite a few articles about Bordeaux 2009 were published
last week. From what I have seen the most interesting, in-depth read
is on the Liv-ex Fine Wine Market Blog Bordeaux 2009 - an insider's
view by local grower and winemaker Gavin Quinney.


As said, this topic will be continued.

Then let's go back three vintages. This year the Bordeaux 2006 vintage
has been retasted by various tasters. Early 2009 Robert Parker
presented his final 2006 scores, La Revue du Vin de France revisited
the vintage in their September issue and Decanter just did the same in
the brand new copy of November. For now, let's see if there are any
interesting shifts in the RVF ratings. I will look at the new Decanter
scores in a later posting.


Up:
Kirwan 2006 from 14-15/20 to 17
Pontet-Canet 2006 from 16,5-17,5 to 19
(isn't everyone enthusiastic about this château these days)
Lynch-Moussas 2006 from 11 to 14,5
La Clémence 2006 from 14,5-15,5 to 17,5
Le Gay 2006 from 14,5-15,5 to 17
Latour à Pomerol 2006 from 14-15 to 16,5
Trottevieille 2006 from 14-15 to 16,5
Domaine de Chevalier rouge 2006 from 15,5-16,5 to 18
Domaine de Chevalier blanc 2006 from 14-15 to 18
De Fieuzal 2006 from 13-14 to 15,5
Bouscaut 2006 from 12-13 to 15
Malartic-Lagravière blanc 2006 from 14-15 to 18
Latour Martillac blanc 2006 from 14-15 to 17


Down:
Du Tertre 2006 from 15-16 to 13,5
(I do not agree but I am not unprejudiced as I worked at Du Tertre in
2006, I like the wine and I see Decanter likes it too...)
Cadet-Bon 2006 from 15-16 to 13
Guadet 2006 from 14,5-15 to 13


Anyway, most château got some extra credits, and some of these could
be interesting buys. We see the biggest shifts in Pomerol, and
especially in Pessac-Léognan for the white wines. I am not sure if
these variations have to do with the wines, or with the tasters
involved.

The new Bordeaux 2006 RVF list is led by Léoville-las-Cases, Lafite-
Rothschild, Pontet-Canet, Pétrus, Haut-Brion and Laville Haut-Brion
(white) (19), Margaux, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Léoville-Barton, Latour,
Mouton-Rothschild, Figeac, Pavie, l'Eglise-Clinet, Trotanoy, Haut-
Bailly, Haut-Brion blanc and Climens (18,5) and Léoville-Poyferré, Cos
d'Estournel, La Conseillante, La Violette, Angélus, Pavie Macquin,
Domaine de Chevalier rouge & blanc, La Mission Haut-Brion, Pape-
Clément rouge & blanc and Malartic-Lagravière blanc (18).

Nerdy stuff, these lists, but fun every once in a while.



- David David Bolomey. Bordoverview. October 19, 2009.