2009 Burgundy Tasting at Wine Watch

"[The senior partner] sipped [the French wine grower's Burgundy], rolled it round his tongued and swallowed it while the French principal sat complacently waiting for the expected praise. "Urine," he said. ...whereupon the Frenchman leapt to his feet, threw down his napkin and stormed out of the room. "Where has he gone," asked the senior partner? "Well, Sir, ... you did describe his Burgundy as er...urine."  "Fussy old gentleman isn't he? Pass the potatoes," said the senior partner.

--Douglas Sutherland in "Raise your glasses," a true story

The 2009 vintage in Burgundy was destined to be legendary from the moment the grapes were picked.  So with the wines now turning 10 years of age and our policy of studying wines that are 10 and 20 years of age every year I was glad to see we had so many 2009 red Burgundies still in stock.

We have already conducted a few 2009 vintage tastings this year, but we have more on the schedule including a 2009 vintage Barolo tasting on Friday May 17th.  The 2009 vintage was an outstanding vintage for red Burgundy and one thing that stood out to me about 2009 upon release was the immediate gratification factor.  I have never experienced a vintage that was so good to drink upon release, usually great vintages of Burgundy take years to show their stuff- especially the top level wines.  I remember the initial wine tastings when this vintage was released and everything that I have opened from the 2009 vintage from village to Grand cru was not only pleasant but downright excellent, even immediately after opening.  This is a phenomenon that I have never experienced in my 30+ years of tasting wines from Burgundy.  I look forward to experiencing these top level 2009 red Burgundies now that they are 10 years old.

Our good friend Alex Gambal makes extensive notes on the vintage every year and I like this brief summary of this "once in a lifetime" vintage from Burgundy.  Here is a brief excerpt that sums up the 2009 vintage:

"Grapes sugars on steroids; did I write that? I am afraid so but it was and is still true. What happened in 2009 was very unusual because the skins i.e. tannins were ripe and continued to ripened actually in advance of the seeds. In 2005 you had very ripe seeds; really a 1/3, 1/3, 1/3 balance between the fruit, tannin and acid. In 2009 we have a much higher proportion of ripe tannins and a lower acid level with about normal to higher but not over the top sugar levels. At the end of the day this gives you a sweet velvety wine with no rough edges. Bear in mind however the tannin levels are VERY high but you simply do not notice them. After tasting through 10-15 different wines you begin to realize that there is a boatload of tannin in the wine but they are not aggressive or harsh; the sensations is of melted chocolate in the mouth."  Alex Gambal

2009 Burgundy Tasting at Wine Watch
Saturday, May 11, 2019
7:30 PM

2009 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin
Price: $105.00    Your Price: $92.40             Quantity in Stock: 6

2009 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny
Price: $150.00    Your Price: $132.00          Quantity in Stock: 4

2009 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers
Price: $200.00    Your Price: $176.00          Quantity in Stock: 10

2009 Serafin Père et Fils Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Corbeaux

2009 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Murgers
Price: $169.00    Your Price: $148.72          Quantity in Stock: 3

2009 Taupenot Merme Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $195.00    Your Price: $171.60          Quantity in Stock: 2

2009 Camille Giroud Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $179.00    Your Price: $157.52          Quantity in Stock: 11

2009 Louis Jadot Charmes Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $198.00    Your Price: $174.24          Quantity in Stock: 1

2009 Maison Champy Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $179.00    Your Price: $157.52          Quantity in Stock: 11

2009 Domaine Francois Lamarche Clos Vougeot Grand Cru
Price: $195.00    Your Price: $171.60          Quantity in Stock: 4

2009 Domaine Francois Lamarche Echezeaux Grand Cru
Price: $179.00    Your Price: $157.52          Quantity in Stock: 5

2009 Maison Bertrand Ambroise Echezeaux Grand Cru
Price: $200.00    Your Price: $176.00          Quantity in Stock: 3

Menu

Coq au Vin with dumplings
Pinot Noir Braised Beef Short rib with Mushroom puree and Carrot mash
Epoisses Cherry Tart

The fee for this wine tasting which includes dinner is $195 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463 or e-mail andy@winewatch.com

The rest of the 2009 vintage red Burgundy in the house:

2009 Louis Jadot Beaune 1er Cru
Price: $72.00    Your Price: $63.36               Quantity in Stock: 1

2009 Louis Jadot Beaune Clos des Couchereaux 1er Cru
Price: $71.00    Your Price: $62.48               Quantity in Stock: 1

2009 Camille Giroud Chambertin Grand Cru  
Price: $295.00    Your Price: $259.60          Quantity in Stock: 6

2009 Claude Dugat Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru  
Price: $395.00    Your Price: $347.60          Quantity in Stock: 4

2009 Claude Dugat Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Lavaux St. Jacques  
Price: $259.00    Your Price: $227.92          Quantity in Stock: 7

2009 Domaine Bruno Clair Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers
Price: $155.00    Your Price: $136.40          Quantity in Stock: 1

2009 Domaine Francois Lamarche Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes  
Price: $109.00    Your Price: $95.92             Quantity in Stock: 1

2009 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Chambolle-Musigny Vieilles Vignes (375ml) 375ml
Price: $59.00    Your Price: $51.92               Quantity in Stock: 2

2009 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Chenevery  
Price: $125.00    Your Price: $110.00          Quantity in Stock: 6

2009 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Morey St. Denis 1er Cru Les Faconnières  
Price: $125.00    Your Price: $110.00          Quantity in Stock: 8

2009 Domaine Lignier-Michelot Morey St. Denis Vieilles Vignes 375ml
Price: $59.00    Your Price: $51.92               Quantity in Stock: 19

2009 Domaine Méo-Camuzet Nuits St. Georges 1er Cru Aux Boudots  
Price: $169.00    Your Price: $148.72          Quantity in Stock: 2

2009 Olivier Guyot CLos Saint Denis Grand Cru MAGNUM
Price: $495.00    Your Price: $435.60          Quantity in Stock: 1

2009 Serafin Père et Fils Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru  
Price: $295.00    Your Price: $259.60          Quantity in Stock: 3

2009 Domaine Taupenot Merme Mazoyeres Chambertin Grand Cru
Price: $195.00    Your Price: $171.60