For The Love Of Port

Robert Parker v. recently anointed the 2009 Bdx vintage as, "the greatest Bordeaux vintage I have ever tasted." In his report on the 2009's, Mr. Parker had 80 wines rated 95 or higher and a whopping 19 with 100 points. Is this his ode to Bordeaux just prior to retirement, or is the juice really that good? Rumor has it that flights out of Hong Kong are booked solid for the next 3 months.

Yeah, but how many did he rate 100+?

In all honesty, Parker has lost his freaking mind. Every year now it seems like he anoints BDX with the newest "Vintage of the century claim." It's now more than a bit annoying (edited out the rest after typing it as it wasn't nice ).

Andy Velebil wrote:In all honesty, Parker has lost his freaking mind. Every year now it seems like he anoints BDX with the newest "Vintage of the century claim." It's now more than a bit annoying (edited out the rest after typing it as it wasn't nice ).

Yeayh, I have also noticed that recently it seems that every vintage is "A one in a lifetime vintage" in Parker's eyes. C'mon....really??? I don't get it and I do think that the over hype of some recent vintages has begun to erode his credibility.

Unless you're chasing first growth, there's plenty of 2000 & 2005 BDX on the market to go after 2009...

I can't proclaim to be able to offer any particular insight into the relative merits of the first or other classed growths, but the quality of some of the 2009 Cru Bourgeois Bdx i have tasted has been exceptional.

Rob,

I am in total agreement. I have had some samples of a few first and second growth 2009's from the head of a local distributor (biggest in WA) who is in my tasting group. I was blown away by the quality. He snuck in some unclassified Claret from 2009 and although there was a perceptible difference, it was mostly structural and stylistic. There are LOTS of great wines for between $35-50 USD. Regardless of what RP thinks and honestly I don't care ... from what I've tasted and from what my friend tells me and he's been doing futures directly at producers in Bdx (and Burg) every year since the late 1980's ... he said 2009 really IS that good and 2010, relatively stunning too. He was not high on 2008's though and felt pricing should have dropped below the level it was at. So while I am no Bdx expert, I do get to drink some pretty good stuff with my tasting group buddies, half of whom are major buyers of Claret the other half Burg freaks. I am the lone eagle when it comes to Port and Douro, even Madeira but they all appreciate when I break out something special.