We have
all seen the amazing scores and hype on the 2009 Bordeaux Vintage. This vintage will without question change the
way Bordeaux
does business. Please pay careful
attention to the following as all the rules have changed!
China now represents 60% of all Classified Sales! The magic date for the release of First
growth prices is May 20, at the Hong Kong Vin
Expo. Many Bordelaise expect the ENTIRE
CLASSIFIED CROP of 2009 to be sold out within 48 Hours! This WILL NOT allow traditional European and
American buyers to offer the traditional pre sells. Individual brokers and stores will have to
jump in and buy in advance and hope to sell the wines down the road. MILLS WILL NOT participate in that
exercise. We will not spend several
million Dollars in the hopes that we can sell the wines at some point. Today's American Economy just doesn't make
that attractive. We suspect that most
traditional Future Sellers will have the same attitude!
All that
being said: The vintage is excellent and
some of the smaller Chateaux represent unbelievable values. Our wine buyer was American Vice President
of an important Bordeaux House for 15 years. He went to a very well known
Negociant, who has been in business for 150 years (Maison Riviere), and made a
deal with them to offer some amazing 2009s at some amazing prices. Where possible we will give Parker reviews
and on some others Peter will make his own commentary.
TERMS: All orders are
subject to confirmation by Riviere and Mills.
We cannot take orders without credit card numbers. Orders WILL BE charged in full upon
confirmation by Riviere. If YOU DO NOT
see a charge on your card, your order IS NOT AS YET confirmed! Some wines will be at Mills as early as
Spring 2011 and as late as Fall 2012
You will be contacted as soon as they arrive. We will offer free storage for 30 Days upon
arrival and after that $10 per case per month charged to your credit card! We are selling full cases only of all wines
under $500.
Price Offer Absolutely Ends May 30, 2010*
*Reviews from Parker and Others Follow at End of Offer!
** Indicates a Sleeper of the Vintage
*** Indicates Parker Outstanding of the Vintage
|
Estate
|
Appellation
|
W-Adv
|
Case Price
|
Order
|
|
Haut-Condissas
|
Medoc
|
91-93
|
$564
|
|
|
Rollan de By **
|
Medoc
|
90-92
|
$264
|
|
|
La Tour Serran
|
Medoc
|
88-91
|
$312
|
|
|
D'Aurilhac **
|
Medoc
|
87-89
|
$210
|
|
|
La Clare
|
Medoc
|
|
$185
|
|
|
Belle-Vue
|
Haut Medoc
|
90-92
|
$240
|
|
|
Braude
|
Haut Medoc
|
87-89 WS
|
$180
|
|
|
Cambon La Pelouse
|
Haut Medoc
|
88-91 WS
|
$228
|
|
|
Pontoise Cabarrus
|
Haut Medoc
|
|
$180
|
|
|
Citran
|
Haut Medoc
|
|
$250
|
|
|
La Rose Trintaudon
|
Haut Medoc
|
|
$228
|
|
|
Franc Les Cerisiers
|
Cotes de Francs
|
|
$162
|
|
|
Roland La Garde
|
Cotes de Blaye
|
87-88
|
$120
|
|
|
Haut Nadeau
|
Bordeaux Superieur
|
|
$96
|
|
|
Valrose
|
Bordeaux Superieur
|
|
$130
|
|
|
Villars **
|
Fronsac
|
90-92+
|
$210
|
|
|
Fonreaud
|
Listrac
|
|
$198
|
|
|
L'Estang **
|
Cotes de Castillon
|
87-90
|
$120
|
|
|
Pitray **
|
Cotes de Castillon
|
87-89
|
$168
|
|
|
Messile-Aubert **
|
Montagne St Emilion
|
90-93 WS
|
$250
|
|
|
Beaulieu
|
Montagne St Emilion
|
|
$138
|
|
|
Haut Piquat
|
Lussac St Emilion
|
|
$132
|
|
|
La Couspaude
|
Saint Emilion
|
90-92
|
$660
|
|
|
Clos Des Menuts
|
St Emilion Grand Cru
|
|
$198
|
|
|
Excellence de Menuts
|
St Emilion Grand Cru
|
87-90
|
$288
|
|
|
Jean De Gue ** ***
|
Lalande de Pomerol
|
90-92
|
$324
|
|
|
Bellegrave
|
Pomerol
|
|
$468
|
|
|
Callac
|
Graves
|
|
$120
|
|
|
Callac "Prestige"
|
Graves
|
|
$150
|
|
|
Clauzet
|
Saint Estephe
|
|
$250
|
|
|
Pedesclaux
|
Pauillac
|
90-93 WS
|
$384
|
|
|
Tour de Mons
|
Margaux
|
|
$264
|
|
|
Mongravey
|
Margaux
|
|
$300
|
|
|
Romer du Hayot
|
Sauternes
|
|
$288
|
|
|
Filhot
|
Sauternes
|
|
$348
|
|
|
Lamothe-Guignard
|
Sauternes
|
90-92
|
$330
|
|
|
Lafaurie Peyraguey
|
Sauternes
|
92-94
|
$636
|
|
|
Rabaud-Promis
|
Sauternes
|
94-96
|
$576
|
|
|
Latour Blanche
|
Sauternes
|
94-96
|
$816
|
|
2009 Bordeaux
Notes
By Peter Finkelstein
For many years Bordeaux was the "Heavy
Hitter" at Mills. Since the 2005 Vintage
we have not bought heavy as our previous buyer changed his allegiance from Bordeaux to Burgundy. The 2009 Vintage gives all Bordeaux
lovers a unique opportunity here in the USA. I don't believe we will actually see a lot of
Classifieds and when we do the sticker shock will be severe. This gives us the opportunity to buy some
excellent Petit Chateaux and lesser know classifieds that really "rock" price
wise.
We have decided to
print the Parker and Wine Spectator Reviews for some of these below, but I
thought I might make some comments on a few of them first!
First Comment is on Chateau
L'Estang. Here is the sneak offer for
those of you who have read this far. If
you buy at least a case of anything from this offer, MILLS offers you a case of
Chateau L'Estang 2003 for $144 for immediate pick up. We have 30 cases of the 2003 which is list
priced at $24 so this offer is on a first come first served basis only. For an inexpensive wine L'Estang gets
excellent reviews and is a real winner.1
Chateau Rollan de By
has always been a real favorite of mine.
Located next to Latour de By in the Northernmost area of the Medoc this is a Chateau that would make the top lists if
we were to rewrite the classifications.
At only about $22 this is a total steal!
Messile-Aubert, with
its 90-93 rating is a complete unknown!
This is a property with a special relationship with Christophe Barcat of
Maison Riviere. Very few people are ever
given the chance to buy this Montagne St Emilion and it is a real winner.
While in St Emilion I
have to mention both Clos des Menuts properties. This is a wine that has been sold extensively
in the USA by major New York importers and
wholesalers. The key difference here is
our price. Riviere is the primary
representative of this estate and so our price, as opposed to others, is a true
first tranche price on this famous St Emilion!
Jean de Gue in Lalande
de Pomerol. Over the last few years this
has become a parker favorite. He gave
this baby Pomerol a 90-92. There are
only 4 Courtiers who get First Tranche on Jean de Gue and Riviere is one of the
four hence we have price and availability that others can't match. At only $27 per bottle this might be the
steal of the vintage.
Pedesclaux is part of
my history! I sold the 1975 Vintage to
Ed Sands at Calvert Woodley in DC for a very special price back in 1979! This is a real classified! It is a Fifth growth and is the 'undisputed
underrated classified champion" in my opinion.
Located between the River and Chateau Latour this tiny estate simply
produces great wine. Classified
Pauillac at $32 per bottle is simplu
unheard of.
Both Margaux; Tour de
Mons and Mongravey are quite well known.
The prices of these are why I shout them out. At under $25 per bottle for well known
exceptional Margaux this is a deal.
I don't know why we
were able to feature so many Sauternes, I guess we just got lucky. Please note the price of Filhot. I don't know why the price is so much better
than La Tour Blanche and Lafaurie but take advantage of the Filhot and Romer
pricing!
Chateau La Tour
Blanche
Wine Advocate Issue #188
Apr 2010 Neal Martin (94-96) Drink - The 2009 La Tour Blanche is very primal on the
nose with grapefruit, nectarine and apricot aromas. The palate is very well
balanced, just a little oaky at the moment but with a very fine thread of
acidity. Touches of fresh apricot, a hint of nougat, lime zest and white peach.
Well balanced, linear at the front palate but voluminous and expanding across the
mouth in every direction on the viscous, mineral-rich finish. There is so much
potential here. Superb.
Chateau Raboud-Promis
Wine Advocate Issue #188
Apr 2010 Neal Martin (94-96) Drink -
This
is initially very muted on the nose, but it unfurls seductively with subtle,
perfumed aromas of lime leaf, white peach, fresh apricot and touches of white
flowers: very pretty and well defined. The palate is beautifully balanced, so
pure and succinct with wonderful precision towards the vibrant, white peach and
apricot finish. This is a wonderful Sauternes and one of their best wines in
recent years.
Chateau Lafaurie
Peyraguey
Wine Advocate Issue #188
Apr 2010 Neal Martin (92-94) Drink -
There
is some SO2 masking the nose here, which is difficult to assess. However, the
palate is well balanced with fine minerality, bright citrus fruit, orange zest,
a touch of white peach and apricot, good tension towards the finish with a dash
of lemongrass on the aftertaste. There is very good weight and botrytis on this
Lafaurie Peyraguey that linger seductively.
Haut-Condissas
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (91-93*)Drink: 2010 - 2025
Another
offering from proprietor Jean Guyon, the 2009 Haut-Condissas possesses terrific
concentration, perfect balance, and lots of black currant and blueberry fruit
intermixed with forest floor, incense, and cedarwood. Viscous, rich,
full-bodied flavors with abundant glycerin as well as fine elegance and purity
reflect a top-notch effort. This impressive sleeper of the vintage can be
enjoyed over the next 10-15 years. (Tasted once.)
Chateau De Myrat
Wine Advocate Issue #188
Apr 2010 Neal Martin (91-93) Drink -
Very
tight and taciturn on the nose at the moment, but the palate is very well
balanced with vibrant acidity, real clarity of fruit here with a superb, tense,
citrus finish that just slices through that pure, heavenly botrytized fruit.
This is very elegant, almost understated, but the purity is utterly charming.
Villars
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (90-92+*)Drink: 2010 - 2030
A
solid effort, and possibly the best wine ever made at Villars, the 2009
exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as notes of forest floor, crushed rocks,
blueberries, and raspberries, a superb texture, admirable purity, and a long,
full-bodied finish. It should drink well for 15-20 years. (Tasted two times.)
Belle Vue
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (90-92*)Drink: 2010 - 2020 $16-$21Not to be confused with St.-Emilion's Bellevue, this has been one of the most
consistent Medoc cru bourgeois over a number of years, and the 2009 may reach
new quality heights. A big-time sleeper of the vintage, this blend of 50%
Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 20% Petit Verdot boasts a dense purple
color as well as notes of creme de cassis and spring flowers, terrific fruit,
sweet but noticeable tannin, and medium to full body. It can be drunk young or
cellared for 8-10 years. (Tasted once.)
Jean Du Gue
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (90-92) Drink: 2010 - 2018
A
major sleeper of the vintage, this outstanding wine from the satellite
appellation adjacent to Pomerol exhibits attractive loamy soil notes intermixed
with extravagant black cherry, plum, and cassis fruit. A fleshy, full-bodied,
hedonistic, ripe, generously endowed Lalande de Pomerol, it should drink well
for 7-8 years. (Tasted three times.)
Rollan De By
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (90-92) Drink: 2010 - 2020
Proprietor
Jean Guyon and consultant Dr. Alain Raynaud continue to produce a wine that
over-performs its humble pedigree. The dense blue/purple-tinged 2009 boasts
abundant amounts of blueberry and black currant fruit intermixed with graphite
and forest floor notes. Full-bodied, rich, and pure, it is ideal for drinking
during its first decade or life. (Tasted once.)
Lamothe-Guignard
Wine Advocate Issue #188
Apr 2010 Neal Martin (90-92) Drink
The
nose of the 2009 Lamothe-Guignard is very tight at the moment, unfurling slowly
with honey, acacia, almond and fresh apricot. The palate has a viscous entry,
with what appears to be more residual sugar than other 2009s. It is unctuous
towards the honey and peach-driven finish. Very generous at this nascent stage,
but the length suggests a potentially great wine after bottling.
La Couspaude
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (90-92) Drink: 2010 - 2025
La
Couspaude is often a modern styled, glaringly oaky wine, but the outstanding
2009 has pulled back from the oak, and the result is a far less aggressively
woody effort than usual. Its dense purple color is accompanied by a big, sweet
bouquet of kirsch liqueur, raspberries, loamy soil, and subtle oak. Full-bodied
with copious glycerin, sweet tannin, and a long, silky finish, it should drink
well for 15 years. (Tasted four times.)
La Tour Seran
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (89-91*)Drink: 2010 - 2020
This
fat, opulent 2009 La Tour Seran is the best wine I have ever tasted from this
property. Its dense purple color is accompanied by lots of blackberry fruit,
cassis, and floral notes. Layered and unctuously textured, it is a total thrill
to drink. Enjoy it over the next decade. (Tasted once.)
Messile-Aubert
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (88-90) Drink: 2010 - 2017
Another
sleeper of the vintage from this under-the-radar estate, the 2009
Messile-Aubert exhibits a deep ruby/purple color as well as notes of black
cherries, crushed rocks, and a liqueur of kirsch-like component. With medium to
full body and plenty of length and succulence, this fruity wine can be enjoyed
over the next 5-7 years. (Tasted two times.)
L'Estang
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (87-90) Drink: 2010 - 2016
Another
sleeper of the vintage, the opaque ruby/purple-tinged 2009 l'Estang exhibits
lots of sweet black currant and black cherry fruit intermixed with a hint of
vanillin. Medium to full-bodied, with surprisingly pure, concentrated, lengthy
flavors, it should drink well for 5-6 years. (Tasted once.)
Chateau Pitray
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (87-89*)
My
introduction to this wine was the excellent 1982, and the 2009 is probably the
finest Pitray yet made. Its deep ruby/purple color is accompanied by copious
aromas of crushed rocks, red and black currants, and a hint of kirsch.
Medium-bodied and loaded with fruit with impressive glycerin and lushness, it
offers a lot of flavor for its humble appellation and price point. (Tasted
once.)
D'Aurilhac
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (87-89) Drink: 2010 - 2017
Long-time
readers know d'Aurilhac is one of my favorite under-the-radar Bordeaux in top vintages. This impressively
made Medoc offers a lot of quality for its
price. The 2009 reveals copious black cherry, black currant, earth, and spice
notes intertwined with a hint of background oak. A luscious texture, a
succulent style, and a juicy, long finish suggest it will drink well for 5-7
years. (Tasted once.)
Roland La Garde
Wine Advocate # 188
Apr 2010 Robert Parker (87-88) Drink: 2010 - 2015
An
opaque purple color is followed by copious mulberry and black cherry fruit,
good freshness and elegance, and a heady finish. It should drink nicely for 4-5
years. (Tasted once.)
Pedesclaux
90-92
points Wine Enthusiast: "Packed with Cabernet blackcurrant flavors, very
ripe and laden with blackcurrants. Great final freshness." (04/10)
According to Parker: "the first Pedesclaux in over thirty years that I can
recommend. Although it's not a star of the vintage, it is moving in the right
direction. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot and
a dollop of Cabernet Franc, it exhibits a dark ruby/purple color, a sweet nose
of black currants, spice box, licorice, and herbs, medium body, and a lush
texture. It should drink well young and last for 15 or more years."
(04/10)
CHÂTEAU DE BRAUDE
Haut-Médoc 2009 Score: 87-90
Some
berry and vanilla character, with currant and blueberry. Medium-bodied, with
slightly chewy tannins and a medium finish. Little hollow. -J.S.
CHÂTEAU CAMBON LA PELOUSE
Haut-Médoc 2009 Score: 88-91
Pretty
aromas of currant and berries, with a mineral undertone. Medium-bodied, with
firm tannins and a fruity finish. Nice wood under it all. Well-crafted young
red. Could be best ever from here. -J.S.\
CHÂTEAU BEAULIEU
Bordeaux Supérieur Comtes de Tastes
2009 Score: 88-91
A
minerally and fruity wine, but subdued and balanced. Medium-bodied, with fine
tannins and a long finish. -J.S.
CLOS DES MENUTS
St.-Emilion L'Excellence 2009 Score: 87-90
Licorice
and currant on the nose. Medium-bodied, with good fruit and a simple finish. -J.S.
CHÂTEAU MONGRAVEY
Margaux
2009 Score: 90-93
Ripe,
sweet berry and currant aromas follow through to a full body, with fine tannins
and a mineral, fruit and dried flower aftertaste. Best ever? -J.S.
Gary
