▻ 2009 Bordeaux Review
In conversation with Jane Anson and Justin Gibbs
Episode Summary:-
The Wine Conversation takes a deep dive into the 2009 Bordeaux vintage. Sarah Kemp talks to Bordeaux expert Jane Anson and Justin Gibbs of Liv-Ex about this remarkable vintage to assess whether it has lived up to its reputation 12 years on. Jane discusses the conditions which made this legendary vintage, and notes which wines are worth keeping, which are worth drinking, and which are past their best. Justin Gibbs explains how 2009 prices were born out of the 2008 vintage, and why 2009 was the most profitable vintage ever for the châteaux and merchants. They discuss the Parker effect and whether the fact he scored 16 wines a perfect 100 points still carries weight today.
““2009, the first great modern vintage””
Running Order:-
-
0.00 – 6.59
“In 80 percent of the cases for the good wines you’ve got a brilliant vintage which will be going strong in 20, 30 or 40 years”
Jane Anson describes the vintage conditions which she and Sarah agree is “the first great modern vintage”. Jane remembers the feeling of smugness from the wine producers when the grapes were coming in, as they knew they had something special, coupled with the appetite of the Asian market after the abolition of duty in Hong Kong in 2008. -
7.00 – 21.09
“It’s a vintage which has taught me a lot, it has taught me to trust terroir will come through in the end”
Jane talks about which wines are worth keeping, which are worth drinking and which are past their best. She explains she was not sure that all the wines would age when she tasted them at En Primeur, as the exuberant fruit was hiding some of the character of each appellation. She says it is not a homogenous vintage but she believes that 80% are brilliant wines which will go the distance. Jane looks at how the wines are evolving on the Left Bank, Pessac-Léognan, and the Right Bank and names the wines she believes have been successful, and those that haven’t. She concludes by naming some of her favourite wines of the vintage to lay down and drink now. -
21.10 – 25.04
“2016 is still not at 50 percent of 2009”
Justin Gibbs from Liv-Ex explains how the 2009 prices were born out of the 2008 campaign, when the châteaux released at low prices in the eye of the storm of the financial crisis, and how Robert Parker then scored the wines at the same level as the 2005 vintage, which led to prices shooting up and making 2008 the best performing vintage as an investment in the last 20 years. Parker then went on to describe the 2009 as the greatest vintage he had ever tasted, and the châteaux raised prices, making 2009 the most profitable vintage ever for the châteaux and merchants. -
25.05 – 35.51
“In great vintages lesser wines do well”
Justin Gibbs discusses which wines were a successful investment in 2009 and which were not. He explains that if you discard the first growths the 2009 wines haven’t done badly as an investment, but reveals that the best performing vintages from an investment point of view are lesser vintages like 2008 and 2013. Justin also talks about how much 2009 is still in the market, and the impact of Parker scores today.
RELATED POSTS
Keep up with our adventures in wine
Lorenzo Pasquini talk to Elin McCoy about his life at Château d’Yquem. From childhood dreams of becoming a professional fencer to landing the ultimate wine job, discover his amazing story.