2009 Bordeaux – The Wines
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St Estèphe
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château Cos d'Estournel, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2021-2040 |
12x75cl |
£2,520.00 |
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| 2009 |
Pagodes de Cos, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2021 |
6x75cl |
£201.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Montrose, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2019-2033 |
12x75cl |
£1,350.00 |
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| 2009 |
Dame de Montrose, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2022 |
12x75cl |
£351.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Capbern Gasqueton, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
12x75cl |
£144.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Tronquoy-Lalande, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2024 |
12x75cl |
£252.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Phélan-Ségur, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2027 |
12x75cl |
£273.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Calon-Ségur, St Estèphe, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
12x75cl |
£630.00 |
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Pauillac
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château d'Armailhac, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2028 |
12x75cl |
£336.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£573.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Haut-Bages-Libéral, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2025 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2026 |
12x75cl |
£288.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Lafite-Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2022-2045 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Carruades de Lafite, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2024-2045 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Les Forts de Latour, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Réserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2021 |
12x75cl |
£324.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
6x75cl |
£498.00 |
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| 2009 |
Echo de Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2022 |
12x75cl |
£252.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Mouton-Rothschild, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2020-2040 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Petit Mouton, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
6x75cl |
£340.50 |
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| 2009 |
Château Pichon-Baron, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2019-2030 |
12x75cl |
£1,050.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France |
2020-3033 |
12x75cl |
£1,200.00 |
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St Julien
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Les Fiefs de Lagrange, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
12x75cl |
£174.00 |
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| 2009 |
Sarget de Gruaud-Larose, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2023 |
12x75cl |
£135.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Lagrange, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£420.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Beychevelle, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Branaire-Ducru, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£498.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2020-2035 |
12x75cl |
£2,010.00 |
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| 2009 |
La Croix de Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2026 |
12x75cl |
£297.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Gruaud-Larose, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£477.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Langoa-Barton, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£462.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Léoville-Barton, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2019-2035 |
12x75cl |
£750.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Léoville-Lascases, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2020-2040 |
12x75cl |
£2,451.00 |
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| 2009 |
Clos du Marquis, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2025 |
6x75cl |
£190.00 |
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| 2009 |
Le Petit Lion, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2025 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Léoville-Poyferré, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
12x75cl |
£1,020.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château St Pierre, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
12x75cl |
£522.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Talbot, St Julien, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£420.00 |
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Margaux
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château La Tour de Mons, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2022 |
12x75cl |
£135.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Siran, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2027 |
12x75cl |
£210.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Cantenac-Brown, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£411.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2025 |
12x75cl |
£351.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£501.00 |
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| 2009 |
Clos Margaleine, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2024 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Giscours, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£441.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2020-2040 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Pavillon Rouge du Château Margaux, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2027 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2019-2030 |
6x75cl |
£330.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Monbrison, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£234.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2019-2035 |
12x75cl |
£2,460.00 |
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| 2009 |
Alter Ego de Palmer, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2026 |
12x75cl |
£393.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château du Tertre, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2027 |
12x75cl |
£264.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£696.00 |
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Médoc, Haut-Médoc and
Moulis-En-Médoc
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château Beaumont, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2022 |
12x75cl |
£96.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Camensac, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2023 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Cantemerle, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2025 |
12x75cl |
£243.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Lagune, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2024 |
12x75cl |
£396.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château de Lamarque, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2025 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Potensac, Médoc, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2027 |
12x75cl |
£186.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Poujeaux, Moulis-en-Médoc, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2020 |
12x75cl |
£210.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Tour de By, Médoc, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2024 |
12x75cl |
£111.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Tour Carnet, Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2026 |
12x75cl |
£240.00 |
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Pessac-Léognan – Red
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château Carbonnieux Rouge, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£228.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Bouscaut, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2026 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Domaine de Chevalier, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2019-2030 |
12x75cl |
£540.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£990.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2020-2040 |
6x75cl |
£3,900.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2025 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2027 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Mission-Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2019-2040 |
12x75cl |
£6,090.00 |
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| 2009 |
La Chapelle de la Mission, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2025 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Pape-Clément, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£1,020.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£732.00 |
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St Emilion
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château de Fonbel, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2021 |
12x75cl |
£168.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Bellefont-Belcier, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£270.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Pavie-Macquin, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
6x75cl |
£276.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Tour du Pin, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2023 |
6x75cl |
£147.00 |
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| 2009 |
Clos Fourtet, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2030 |
12x75cl |
£696.00 |
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| 2009 |
Le Dôme, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2028 |
12x75cl |
£1,092.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Teyssier, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2012-2020 |
12x75cl |
£120.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Angélus, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£2,400.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Ausone, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2020-2040 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
La Chapelle d'Ausone, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2027 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Bellevue, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2027 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Berliquet, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2026 |
12x75cl |
£234.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Canon, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£1,020.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Cheval-Blanc, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Petit Cheval, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2026 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Dominique, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£333.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Figeac, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Franc-Mayne, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2026 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Laforge, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2024 |
12x75cl |
£261.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Larcis-Ducasse, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Larmande, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2023 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Clos la Madeleine, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2024 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
La Mondotte, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2027 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Moulin-St-Georges, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2027 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Troplong-Mondot, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
6x75cl |
£510.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Valandraud, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Vieux-Château-Mazerat, St Emilion, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£510.00 |
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Pomerol
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château La Croix de Gay, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2023 |
12x75cl |
£240.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Gazin, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2030 |
12x75cl |
£545.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château l'Evangile, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2035 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Petit-Village, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2028 |
6x75cl |
£210.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Nenin, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2030 |
12x75cl |
£432.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Clinet, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2029 |
12x75cl |
£990.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Conseillante, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2028 |
12x75cl |
£1,551.00 |
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| 2009 |
Vieux-Château-Certan, Pomerol, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£1,881.00 |
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Sweet White
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château d'Yquem, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2045 |
6x75cl |
£2,925.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Climens, Barsac, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2040 |
12x75cl |
£831.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Coutet, Barsac, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£582.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Doisy-Daëne, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
12x75cl |
£321.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château de Fargues, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Guiraud, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2035 |
6x75cl |
£193.50 |
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| 2009 |
Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2032 |
12x75cl |
£357.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Lamothe-Guignard, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£177.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château de Malle, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
12x75cl |
£246.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château de Myrat, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£231.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château de Rayne-Vigneau, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2030 |
12x75cl |
£366.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Rieussec, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2035 |
12x75cl |
£594.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Suduiraut, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2018-2040 |
12x75cl |
£654.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes, Bordeaux, France |
2017-2035 |
12x75cl |
£468.00 |
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Dry White
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2019 |
12x75cl |
£240.00 |
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| 2009 |
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
12x75cl |
£720.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château de Fieuzal Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Le Clarté de Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2018 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Latour-Martillac Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2012-2016 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2017 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Mission-Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2025 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Pape-Clément Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2018 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2022 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2012-2018 |
12x75cl |
£660.00 |
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| Vintage |
Wine |
Drink dates |
Case size |
Price
IB |
Notes |
Order |
| 2009 |
Château Carbonnieux Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2019 |
12x75cl |
£240.00 |
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| 2009 |
Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
12x75cl |
£720.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château de Fieuzal Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2014-2020 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Le Clarté de Haut-Brion, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2018 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Latour-Martillac Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2012-2016 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2017 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château La Mission-Haut-Brion Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2016-2025 |
6x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Pape-Clément Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2013-2018 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Pavillon Blanc du Château Margaux, Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France |
2015-2022 |
12x75cl |
£0.00 |
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| 2009 |
Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France |
2012-2018 |
12x75cl |
£660.00 |
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Show all wines with notes in printable format |
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Slumbering vines and gravel soils of Château
Latour
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The Union des Grands Crus tastings take place
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of a week that almost
always coincides with the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens,
dammit, leaving Monday and Friday free for one to mop
up the seniors who do not deign to mix it with the
hoi polloi further down the qualitative batting
order.
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Thus my week kicked off with Château Latour and
what a pleasant way in which to gain a yardstick for
the vintage! Lafite came next and not just warming to
my task was I, rather bubbling with the hot
excitement one feels in the presence of the truly
great. That Monday also took in Cos, Mouton, Ducru,
Margaux and Léoville-Lascases. Not a bad day,
in other words.
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Questions about this vintage abound. Is it better
than 2005? To what other vintages does it compare?
Where does it sit stylistically? Where are the best
wines to be found? I'll take these in order:
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No, it is not better than 2005. There are peaks that
may be higher. Certainly at its best it has produced
wines of extraordinary purity and elegance, this
latter epithet one that hardly, if ever, appeared in
one's notes on the '05s. 2005 produced wines of
outstanding richness and structure; impressive
monoliths in a masculine mould. 2009 has produced
wines of phenomenal beauty.
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Temporary tasting room at Château
L’Evangile in Pomerol
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Further, 2009 has distinct inconsistencies. Tasting
them, one often felt (more so than in 2005) the hand
of the winemaker and in notable instances the wine
maker proved prone to fallibility. There are wines
here made from fruit picked too soon. Some people
picked analytically ripe fruit, but omitted to check
for flavour ripeness, thereby ending up with jagged
tannins. These wines are rather like the worst of
1989, only with cooler fruit and fresher acidity. And
as usual there were some woeful cases of over-oaking
and -extraction.
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To what other harvests can 2009 be compared? Tricky
one this. Some said they lie somewhere between 2005
and 2003, but that didn't quite fit with what I was
tasting. Some mentioned 1990, but I didn't get to
taste that vintage at this stage. I must say that I
have never really tasted young Bordeaux wines like
those I tasted in the closing days of March and those
opening the month of April. Perhaps the closest I can
get to a comparison is 2004 - a vintage I loved from
the off - but with 100% more richness and a great
deal more tannin.
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Stylistically, as mentioned, there are some
rivetingly gorgeous wines in '09. Levels of tannin
and alcohol were exceptional, yet this little snippet
of information really paints quite the wrong picture,
for these are not heavy wines, austere wines or,
indeed, hot wines. Aromas of black cherry and red
fruits I associate with the cooler vintages, yet I
found plenty of both in '09. The best tannins of the
vintage - and there are many wines exhibiting such -
are fantastically sophisticated, rich and fine; not
massive or blocky, rather velvet-textured and well
integrated with the fruit. Crisp acidity adds a lick
of freshness to so many of these wines and of that
alcohol there was rarely a sign.
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So what are we left with? Well, it is certain that,
at the top levels we will be presented with some
startling pricing. These prestige wines are finding a
market level in a world that contains increasing
numbers of extremely wealthy people who want Grade A
juice (as our American cousins sometimes enjoy
calling these top bottles) on their tables. Even the
"super-seconds" and those wines their equal by
reputation will be a stretch for mortal man. Yet at
levels more in keeping with the wallets of
earth-bound entities, there is a great deal of
pleasure to be had this vintage.
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Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte, with the
buildings of the Caudalie spa to the right. SHL was
hugely successful with both red and white wines in
2009
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Almost as an afterthought, I come to the white wines
of the region. To my mind, these wines, dry and
sweet, are, in the main, woefully underappreciated.
Perhaps 2009 will change all that! Tasting through
the white wines of Pessac-Léognan, one is
struck by how the minerality changes from property to
property. I found many wonderfully expressive wines,
concentrated, rich and fresh; wines that, in many
cases, will age beautifully and offer a scintiallting
alternative to those weary with drinking white
burgundy (no I haven't met any either, but variety
being the spice of life…).
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2009 is an exceptional harvest for the sweet wines of
Bordeaux. As with the reds, they have managed to
retain that element that lifts them to another level
of interest: freshness. Such sweet, luscious fruit;
such extraordinary levels of botrytis. These are
knockout wines and wines that'll cellar - in many
cases - for a great many years.
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There is no doubt that the wines produced by this
château in 2009 will go down in history as one
of the greats: Yquem, a hyper-concentrated mouthful
of utter loveliness
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