2009 is a Cabernet-friendly vintage with the best examples delivering exquisite fruit and finesse with the structure to age well for a generation. Unfortunately, due to a frenzied en-primeur campaign in early 2010, most of the high-scoring, Cabernet-heavy wines have been priced out of the market for the average consumer and budget conscious collectors. IconWines.ca favourites like Pontet-Canet and Montrose received the coveted 100pts score from Parker and skyrocketed in price keeping with the trend of all the classified growth wines. Folks will have to pay a fortune to get their hands on a Bordeaux Cabernet from 2009. However, there are always deals to be found in each vintage.
In a general sense, Merlot-heavy blends offer the best value for 2009. Though thought of as a "Cabernet vintage", the weather in 2009 was also favourable to the Merlot vines with many of the smaller Château producing their best wines to date. Look to lesser-known AOCs like the ever improving Côtes de Castillon and the satellite communes of the Right Bank (Montagne St Émilion and Lalande de Pomerol) for Merlot based blends offering excellent fruit, depth and mid-range ageability. Below are our recommendations for 2009:
Château Cap de Faugères, Côtes de Castillon - $28
Château Clos des Lunelles, Côtes de Castillon - $58
Château Croix Mouton, Bordeaux Supérieur - $28
Château Côte Montpezat, Côtes de Castillon - $25
Chateau Doisy Daëne, Barsac - $50 (375ml)
Château Faizeau Vieilles Vignes, Montagne St Émilion - $28
Château La Fleur de Boüard, Lalande de Pomerol - $55
Château Fombrauge, St Émilion - $55
Château Fontenil, Fronsac - $49
Château La Garde, Pessac Léognan - $39
Château du Glana, St Julien - $39
Château Joanin Bécot, Côtes de Castillon - $39
Château Lilian Ladouys, St Estèphe - $38
Château Plince, Pomerol - $39
Château Poujeaux, Moulis - $60
Chateau Rayne Vigneau, Sauternes - $38
Sarget de Gruaud Larose, St Julien - $29
- Liam Carrier ©copyright 2012 IconWines.ca
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