We're Off to Bordeaux! Ralph Sands Bids Farewell to 2009, Hello 2011!
Monday, April 9, 2012 at 11:07AM | Uncorked Blog Administrator 
By: Ralph Sands | K&L Senior Wine Specialist
Dear Bordeaux Wine Fans,
A Fond Farewell to the vintage of 2009!
As we make our way to Bordeaux to evaluate the 2011 vintage I always like to touch base with my clients before leaving for a quick catch up on what is hot.
When I get on the plane at this time of year, I mentally put to bed the vintage 2 years back which would be 2009, but not this time; the entire vintage is STILL red hot, and it deserves 100% of the hype. I think of 2009 as the “Wheel of Fortune” vintage. But it will be time to wave goodbye to 2009 very soon as inventories are finally running out.
The long story short…… Perfect weather, makes perfect wines. I have never tasted a vintage that was this good from top to bottom, and that is the key to a great vintage. The fruit is perfectly ripe, silky, fresh and pure with all elements of fruit, acidity and tannin in perfect balance. Great wines always taste great from the beginning of their lives, so these wines will give good pleasure young if in fact you like to drink young Bordeaux. I personally will not drink them young as they will be fantastic with the proper age of 7-10-15 20+ years, depending on the wine because of the fine balance that they possess.
While it is true that some estates in Bordeaux have absolutely lost their minds with their “new pricing” they have also lost a huge amount of loyal customers like me forever. This is unfortunate as we have worked hard to promote and sing the praises of these wines for decades, only to be drowned out from songs sung in Cantonese and Mandarin.
Don’t worry, it’s ok, let’s all move on to other wines. The reality is that there are thousands of great wines that offer great value in Bordeaux today and 2009 is just loaded with them. I’m personally selling many of those famous estates out of my collection as there is no passion to collect those wines any longer; what am I buying you ask? MORE 2009 BORDEAUX!!!! My cross section of estates purchased continues to widen and in the end I will own more estates and number of bottles from 2009 than any other vintage.
I love all the wines mentioned in my earlier blog post "Talking Bordeaux" and video (posted again for your viewing pleasure above) and would add to that list the wines listed below…..
As always, thank you very much for your business.
Cheers, Toujours Bordeaux and Go Giants!!!
Ralph Sands
Bordeaux Expert
Senior Wine Specialist
K&L Wine Merchants
Redwood City and San Francisco Ca.
1-800 247-5987 Ext# 2723
Direct Line 650-556-2723
Email- Ralph@klwines.com
Company Website- klwines.com
2009 Bordeaux in 2009 Bordeaux En Primeur , Bordeaux
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