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2009 Petit Chateaux - In-Stock Now!



The 2009 vintage in Bordeaux has received much acclaim, and deservedly so. While the "classified growths" get most of the attention, our tasting team spent eight days in Bordeaux in April 2010 to put together a meticulously selected, unrivaled collection of 2009 petit chateaux. The 2009s are undoubtedly the most seductive, irresistably drinkable petit chateaux we can recall, and despite all the hoopla about the high prices of the great growths, the 2009 petits are incredibly well priced. These 2009s are in CW now with more on the way.

2010 Barons de Lafite Rothschild - Réserve Spéciale Rouge Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Regular price $14.99
SALE!  $11.88
2009 Château Arnauton - Fronsac
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WS 88-91
WA 90-92
From a very well located Right Bank region near Pomerol and St. Emilion, the 2009 Arnauton is understated and subtle, and drinking beautifully right now.
Bottle:  $18.99
Case Price (12): $209.00
2009 Château Beaulieu - Comtes de Tastes Bordeaux Supérieur
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WS 88-91
Quite stylish, harmonious, and complex, with a generous finishing sheen of new oak that makes it taste considerably more expensive than its modest price would suggest. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $17.99
Case Price (12): $198.00
2009 Château Belian-Giraud - Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
If any wine epitomizes what is so uniquely grand about the 2009 Bordeaux vintage it's this one. Even though Belian-Giraud is just a petit ch'teau, I find in it the same uncanny harmony, lushness, and purity of the fruit the marks the grand crus in 2009. This was presented to us by super-negociant Bill Blatch, author of the influential Annual Bordeaux Vintage Report and a true scholar of the region, and we fell in love with it. Bill, who has tasted them all, feels exactly the same way about this wine that we do. It's terrific. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $11.99
Case Price (12): $132.00
2009 Château Clarke - Listrac
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WS 90-93
Listrac's deep gravel soils rival the best of the Haut-Médoc, and this prominent Listrac château makes its wine to a classified growth standard, with the flavors of new oak well-integrated into this dark purple, powerful wine. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $29.99
Case Price (12): $330.00
2009 Château Clos Bourbon - Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
This is among the first of what I call the "second wave" of 2009 Bordeaux to arrive. Unlike the initial releases, which rely more on grapy fruit for their pleasure, these later releases, which are typically from better vineyards, have been given additional aging in oak barrels to maximize their finesse, complexity, and structure. Clos Bourbon is from one of our favorite winemakers, Catherine d'Halluin, who has deftly aged the wine in 10% new oak barrels to add notable polish and sophistication to this well-crafted 2009. It is drinking well now, but has at least 5 to 7 years of aging potential. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $14.99
Case Price (12): $165.00
2009 Château Côte Montpezat - Compostelle Côtes de Castillon
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WS 91-94
This was one of our favorite petit chateaux in 2005, and the 2009 lives up to lofty expectations. It is incredibly dark in color, with dark fruit and new oak prominent on the nose. On the palate, rich, ripe fruit is balanced with hints of vanilla and a light touch of cedar. The finish is long, with soft, finely-grained tannins. If you are looking for modern-style Bordeaux, this is the ticket! Tasted multiple times during our trip.
Bottle:  $21.99
Case Price (12): $242.00
2009 Château de Marsan - Bordeaux Supérieur
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Ch'teau de Marsan earns a favored place on my list by virtue of its impeccable sense of style. Though not one of the larger-scaled 2009 petit ch'teaux, the wine's juicy Merlot fruit is round, layered, and generous. Hints of cedar wood, garden herbs, and new earth notes add notable flavor interest and complexity to the characteristically supple 2009 fruit. The tannins are minimal, making this a lovely, drink-now 2009 petit. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $12.99
Case Price (12): $143.00
2009 Château de Pitray - Côtes de Castillon
Varietal: Proprietary Blend | Location: France |
 
WA 87-89*
I purchased my first case of 1982 Château de Pitray at Calvert Woodley in 1983, and enjoyed every bottle over the next 5 years. As memorable as the '82 was, the 2009 is immensely more impressive and delicious. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $16.99
Case Price (12): $176.00
2009 Château des Léotins - Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
For sheer bang for the buck, this brand-new arrival is going to be tough to beat. Showing oodles of soft Merlot fruit, it's also a versatile, food-friendly wine that's great to have on hand when friends arrive for a casual luncheon or dinner. That, plus it's a great everyday drinker. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $9.99
Case Price (12): $110.00
2009 Château du Colombier - Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $10.99
Case Price (12): $121.00
2009 Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux - Moulis-en-Médoc
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
The home of Château Chasse Spleen and numerous other excellent Châteaux sharing the name "Poujeaux," the commune of Moulis has some of the finest, deep gravel ridges in Bordeaux, outside of the famed Margaux commune. In contrast to its very supple 2008, Dutruch Grand Poujeaux has produced a startlingly powerful 2009, with deep, smoky flavors of baked cherry confit, cassis, Provençal herbs. A concentrated, impressive wine that will clearly reward 5 to 7 years of cellaring. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $27.99
Case Price (12): $308.00
2009 Château Grimont - Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Last but certainly not least, Ch'teau Grimont is another uncanny 2009 petit. Made from a blend of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2009 was aged in used oak barrels, which has allowed the well-concentrated fruit to express itself unmasked by harsh new wood notes. Impressively packed with the dense, indelibly pure fruit of 2009, this is almost totally irresistible now. However, it also has sufficient structure to evolve nicely over the next 2 to 3 years. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $11.99
Case Price (12): $132.00
2009 Château Haut de Groux - Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $9.99
Case Price (12): $110.00
2009 Château Haut La Pierriere - Côtes de Castillon
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $17.99
Case Price (12): $198.00
2009 Château Haut Mayne - Cuvée Mayne du Cros Graves
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Supple and smooth, this is a distinctly pretty Graves rouge, with ripe Cabernet and Merlot fruit gracefully layered over soft tannins. The voluptuous style of the 2009 vintage really plays to its strengths, and combines nicely with the château's excellent Graves terroir. The owner is Michel Boyer, whose daughter Catherine d'Halluin also makes outstanding wine at Château Clos Bourbon in the Premières Côtes de Bordeaux.
Bottle:  $16.99
Case Price (12): $187.00
2009 Château Haut Nivelle - Bordeaux Supérieur
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $12.99
Case Price (12): $143.00
2009 Château Haut-Vigneau - Pessac-Léognan
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Owner Eric Perrin, of Château Carbonnieux, working with star consultant Denis Dubourdieu of the University of Bordeaux, has produced an unusually ripe and powerful red Graves in 2009, with excellent structure. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot and the wine displays pleasing aromas of super-ripe black fruit and blackcurrant flavor, nicely set off by subtle roasted notes of new oak.
Bottle:  $23.99
Case Price (12): $264.00
2009 Château Jean de Gue - Lalande-de-Pomerol
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $29.99
Case Price (12): $330.00
2009 Château La Rode - Claud La Chapelle Côtes de Castillon
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $14.99
Case Price (12): $165.00
2009 Château Lafont Fourcat - Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Two factoids tell you all you need to know about this wine: 2009, and Jean-Luc Thunevin. 2009 is without doubt the greatest Bordeaux vintage for the so-called petit ch'teaux of Bordeaux since 1982, and perhaps in the region's history. Jean-Luc Thunevin is the self-described "Bad Boy" of Bordeaux, an inspired winemaking and marketing genius who has branched out all over France in search of the finest terroirs , always searching for impeccable quality regardless of the official pedigree or rank of the vineyard or appellation. Ch'teau Lafont Fourcat is among the best quality-price ratio wines of Bordeaux thanks to the talent and meticulous work of its owner, Paul Marie Morillon, who is a much in demand vineyard consultant for several famous properties in Bordeaux, including Ch'teau Valandraud, Jean-Luc's own luxury cuv?e Saint Emilion. This small property of just under 20 acres, planted on clay-limestone terraces close to Saint Emilion, is tended more like a garden than a vineyard, with every detail from grape bunch to finished wine impeccably managed by its owner. Made from Merlot (75%), Cabernet Sauvignon (20%), and Malbec (5%), the 2009 absolutely embodies the powerful yet rich silkiness of ripe fruit that is the signature of this extraordinary vintage. In the way that only great vintages of Bordeaux petit ch'teau can do, it delivers that wonderful $30 bottle feel for half the price!
Bottle:  $14.99
Case Price (12): $165.00
2009 Château Le Conseiller - Bordeaux Supérieur
Varietal: Merlot | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WA 88-90
Very Pomerol-like, voluptuous, rich, and generously fruity, with decided aging potential. -- Ben Giliberti
Bottle:  $24.99
Case Price (12): $275.00
2009 Château Le Doyenné - Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WA 88-89
Bottle:  $19.99
Case Price (12): $220.00
2009 Château Les Tours Seguy - Côtes de Bourg
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Regular price $14.99
SALE!  $11.88
2009 Château Martinon - Bordeaux Supérieur Rouge
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $14.99
Case Price (12): $165.00
2009 Château Montjouan - Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $14.99
Case Price (12): $165.00
2009 Château Reynon - Premières Côtes de Bordeaux
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WA 88-89*
Bottle:  $21.99
Case Price (12): $242.00
2009 Château Thieuley - Bordeaux Rouge
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Bottle:  $14.99
Case Price (12): $165.00
2009 Château Thieuley - Réserve Francis Courselle Bordeaux Supérieur
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
Regular price $21.99
SALE!  $18.99
2009 Château Tour St. Bonnet - Médoc
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WA 88-90
Quite apart from the name and label, its deep, wonderfully fleshy Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated flavors, and robust yet supple tannic structure really did call to mind the quintessential Englishman's claret, first growth Château Latour in Pauillac; this is almost shocking given the current price of 2009 Château Latour (don't ask). Of course, no one would confuse the two, but one must also say that both wines are definitively Médoc. That gets to the point that the venerable English writers were getting at. There really is something truly special about a well-made Médoc, regardless of official pedigree. The 2009 Château Tour St. Bonnet, to borrow the eloquent words of Edmund Penning-Rowsell, truly has the distinctively Médoc "inner core which keeps the flavor true to the end." While drinking deliciously well now (decant 30 min. in advance), this robustly constructed claret has an exceptional aging potential of 7 to 10 years.
Bottle:  $17.99
Case Price (12): $198.00
2009 Château Villars - Fronsac
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WA 90-92+*
Bottle:  $24.99
Case Price (12): $275.00
2009 Domaine du Bouscat - Caduce Bordeaux Supérieur
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WA 88-90
Bottle:  $14.99
Case Price (12): $165.00
2009 Pezat - Bordeaux Supérieur
Varietal: Bordeaux Blend | Location: France - Bordeaux
 
WA 88-90
Bottle:  $17.99
Case Price (12): $198.00