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B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
Remember 2009? Looking back, it was a year filled some remarkable events – Bitcoin was launched as the first cryptocurrency, “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger safely landed a disabled airliner on a NYC river and the iPhone 3 along with Windows 7 were released – but perhaps more memorable for wine lovers and collectors, the Wine Spectator declared the 2009 Bordeaux vintage “the best in years” rivalling the legendary 1961, while critic Robert Parker Jr. declared it “unquestionably the greatest Bordeaux vintage I have ever tasted,” awarding no less than 18 wines with 100 pt. scores. Now entering their second decade of maturity, these top rated 2009 Bordeaux blends offer the “satisfying longevity” that is the litmus test of greatness according to Neal Martin of Vinous, drinking beautifully today and promising decades more of evolution and now available with the bonus of over 10 years of pristine cellaring at exceptional value pricing while they last.
Described as “a textbook growing season” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss, 2009 began warm and dry with early flowering and a healthy, uniform crop set, followed by a perfect balance of sun and rain for optimal ripening and finishing with dry, sunny Fall weather that was perfect for harvesting. Recalling their “seductive intensity of fruit and the luscious textures” upon release, Neal Martin points out the remarkable evolution of the 2009’s over the last decade, declaring “I love the 2009 Bordeaux vintage” calling it “a smorgasbord of gorgeous wines” that “fulfill the promise heaped upon them at birth.” Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson recently described 2009 as “a brilliant vintage which will be going strong in 20, 30, 40 years,” confirming the renowned Bordeaux expert’s instinct “to trust terroir will come through in the end.” Describing 2009 as “one of the greats” ten years on, Jeb Dunnuck declared “I’m happy to report that the wines deliver the goods,” already offering “serious pleasure,” with the top rated blends from even the smaller appellations promising long lives ahead, “proving you don’t have to break the bank to have a classic, age-worthy Bordeaux.”
Remaining “one of the most exciting vintages of the 21st century” according to James Suckling, these top scoring selections from the legendary 2009 vintage “deliver enjoyment in spades” according to Neal Martin, many ranging from smaller appellation to First Growths priced well below their release price and promising “a long way to go,” according to Jane Anson. From a triumphant, terroir-reflective vintage of classic Bordeaux complexity that will continue to evolve over time, collectors and Bordeaux lovers know to act quickly to take advantage of these great deals and secure their stash of these top scoring 2009 Bordeaux before they're gone. |
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The 2009 Calon-Ségur is deep garnet in color and opens with a beautiful fragrance of redcurrant preserves, cassis, black cherry compote and red roses plus nuances of cigar box and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied and wonderfully elegant in the mouth, it has a compelling line of very ripe, fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the fragrant layers, finishing long and perfumed.
96 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Mar 2019)
A wine that expresses the sun-drenched and opulent character of the vintage, and yet Merlot does not play a leading role. The multi-layered bouquet has real depth with precise and pure aromas of blackberry and spices including cinnamon as well as a touch of tobacco and lead pencil shavings before gaining floral notes on airing. The mouthfeel is juicy and harmonious but it also reveals substantial structure and well-proportioned acidity that provide energy and thrust to attain a finish that is surprisingly light-footed and even delicate. A superb wine possessing all the requisite richness of a fine Calon Ségur as well as the power of the 2009 vintage.
96 points, Yohan Castaing, Decanter (Nov 2021)
A big step up over the 2008 and, I suspect, the finest wine from this estate in the 2000s, the 2009 Château Calon Ségur reveals a healthy ruby hue to go with textbook notes of red and black currants, tobacco leaf, damp earth, gamey meats, and Asian-like spices. This is classic, traditionally made Bordeaux, with full-bodied richness, a layered, structure mouthfeel, wonderful sweetness of fruit, and a great finish. A wine that starts out tight and reserved yet builds with air, don't be afraid to give bottles plenty of air if drinking any time soon. It's certainly in its drink window, yet also has another 30-40 years of longevity ahead of it.
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2020)
With a lot of fennel and earth character this is a classic St.-Estèphe, but on the palate it has a suppleness that's modern in the best sense. Needs time to soften. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)
95 points, James Suckling (Mar 2019)