09 Bordeaux

So, how good are they?

Answer is, mostly extremelly good, at least in Medoc, Graves and Sauternes/Barsac. Some fantastic ones on the east bank as well, but some more heavy and extracted. I have not tasted all, but about 70 different wines in one really bussy week. Favorites is Ch. Margaux, Mouton, Latour, Las Cases, Léoville Barton and Montrose, at the top. Also La Mission and Haut-Brion are fantastic, even if huge in structure. Lascombe, Lagrange, La Lagune, Rauzan Ségla all was better than expected, I feared that the last would be huge and Cos like, and luckily it wasn't. The other three outperformed what I expected them to.

Brainaire Ducru made a really good wine, without the slightly green and rustic notes I tend to find at this estate, Beychevelle fresh as always, and what surprised me maybe the most was the really fantastic elegance of Saint-Juliens, but also in Latour. Comtesse de Lalande was very elegant as well.

Figeac stands out as one of my favorites on the east bank, of the few tasted, together with Tertre Roteboeuf. In Sauternes Barsac, Doisy-Däene has a beautifull, almost riesling like acidity, its so fresh and vibrant, La Tour Blanche, Lafaurie-Peyraguey also great together with Fargues. The wines of this vintage will outlive most of us, with the structure, acidity and fruit concentration, these are some of the best barrel samples I have ever tasted, Margaux, and Mouton probably are the best ones tasted. I just hope I can afford some!