2009 Wine

2009 Wine

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Bathed in sunshine from spring through harvest, the 2009 vintage ranks among the decade’s most generous. Hot, dry weather brought the grapes to full ripeness, producing opulent wines with velvety texture and supple tannins, appealing in their youth yet built to age. In Bordeaux, both banks reached exceptional heights, particularly Saint-Estèphe and Pomerol; Château Cos d'Estournel made one of the greatest wines in its history. But the success extends beyond the Gironde: in the northern Rhône, Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage rival the finest years, and Domaine Guigal takes Syrah to its pinnacle. To see how 2009 compares with other vintages and refine your choice, consult the SoDivin Vintage Guide.

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Article: the 2009 vintage

Article: the 2009 vintage
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The 2009 vintage: the decade’s great sun-drenched vintage

In France, 2009 ranks among the century’s great sun-drenched vintages. A mild spring, a hot, dry summer and ideal late-season weather brought the grapes to full ripeness in remarkably healthy condition. The result is generous, rich, velvety wines that appeal in their youth yet have genuine aging potential. Its success extends well beyond Bordeaux: the northern Rhône, Burgundy, Champagne and the South benefited just as much. This is a vintage that is both easy to love and a sound choice for the cellar, with terroir quality the first consideration when choosing a bottle.

Bordeaux 2009 — Velvety opulence on both banks

In Bordeaux, 2009 ranks among the greatest modern vintages. A hot, dry summer followed by an ideal end to the season brought the grapes to exceptional ripeness. The resulting wines are generous and profound, with velvety texture and ripe tannins; their high alcohol levels are held in check by fine balance. Both banks excelled in distinct styles: the Left Bank offers structure and definition, the Right Bank exuberant fruit. Saint-Estèphe and Pomerol produced some of the year’s finest bottles, with the latter appellation perhaps enjoying its greatest modern vintage.

In Saint-Estèphe, Château Montrose reached an exceptional level in 2009, with power held firmly in check. In Pessac-Léognan, the grand crus combine sun-ripened fruit and mineral freshness, while in Pomerol Château Lafleur exemplifies the Right Bank’s velvety density. Ripe, fleshy Médoc Cabernets produced Pauillac and Saint-Julien wines built for long aging. In Sauternes, the year’s warmth yielded rich, balanced sweet wines lifted by fine acidity: Château d'Yquem shows just what the vintage can achieve, combining opulent sweetness with aromatic brilliance.

Aging potential: second wines and Right Bank wines are opening up now; allow ten to twenty years for the first growths and great sweet wines, checking the fill level and condition of the cork.

Rhône Valley 2009 — Sun-ripened Syrahs from Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage

In the northern Rhône, 2009 was an outstanding success. Abundant sunshine and perfectly ripe grapes produced dense, fleshy, profound Syrahs that winemakers readily compare with the great 1990 vintage. Côte-Rôtie is generous and open, Hermitage magnificent and profound; Cornas follows suit. The whites are more uneven and require greater selectivity. In the south, Châteauneuf-du-Pape produced rich, full-bodied wines from low yields. For SoDivin, this is one of the vintage’s standout regions.

In Hermitage, M. Chapoutier takes 2009 to new heights with single-vineyard cuvées of remarkable concentration. In Côte-Rôtie, the great hillside Syrahs combine ripe fruit and silky tannins in some of the year’s finest expressions. Farther south, Château Rayas and its family of wines carry this sun-drenched character into a southern, Grenache-led style. Those looking for wines to cellar will find bottles for the very long term alongside more approachable cuvées to open sooner.

Aging potential: Saint-Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage are best enjoyed within five to eight years; the great Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage and Cornas wines are only just entering their drinking window and will last for decades.

Burgundy 2009 — Ripe, generous reds from the Côte de Nuits

In Burgundy, 2009 produced ripe, fleshy reds with immediate appeal, generous fruit and silky tannins. Impeccably healthy grapes and excellent ripeness won widespread praise, although sometimes moderate acidity makes it wise to choose the most structured terroirs for long-term aging. The Côte de Nuits stands out: Gevrey-Chambertin, Morey-Saint-Denis and Vosne-Romanée produced profound grand crus, some rivaling 2005. The whites are more variable and call for careful selection, as Burgundy’s wine trade body, the BIVB, points out.

In Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Bernard Dugat-Py captures the vintage in dense, velvety wines that set a benchmark for the appellation. The Côte de Nuits grand crus—Charmes-Chambertin, Chambertin-Clos de Bèze and Latricières—offer the essence of Burgundy’s 2009 vintage, combining sun-ripened richness with a long finish. In the Côte de Beaune, the reds are supple and rounded, ready to enjoy sooner. This is an ideal vintage for discovering Burgundy without waiting, while keeping the finest bottles in the cellar.

Aging potential: most reds are enjoyable now; allow eight to fifteen years for the Côte de Nuits grand crus, which offer the most reliable aging potential.

Champagne 2009 — A ripe, rounded and approachable year

In Champagne, 2009 was a ripe, sun-drenched year. Abundant sunshine produced rich, generously ripe grapes and Champagnes that are rounded, fruity and approachable. The style contrasts with the firmer tension of 2008: here, richness and charm take the lead, with enough acidity to retain vibrancy. It is a vintage that is easy to enjoy early, whether as an aperitif or with a meal, while the top cuvées can age comfortably for longer.

Champagne Philipponnat exemplifies this success with its generous, vinous single-vineyard cuvée, rooted in an exceptional terroir. The 2009 vintage cuvées from the great houses, aged for extended periods on their lees, gain depth and complexity. Rich and approachable, they are equally suited to a festive meal or a memorable gift.

Aging potential: already delicious, 2009 Champagnes can age for ten to fifteen years in the case of prestige cuvées; check the disgorgement date.

Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence 2009 — Great age-worthy wines from the South

The sun-drenched character of 2009 also benefited the South. In Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence alike, heat and drought produced concentrated reds with dense texture and ripe black fruit, supported by firm tannins. These are wines built to age, often made from old vines with low yields, that gain complexity over time. They offer a different way into the vintage, away from the familiar Bordeaux trail, and one of the most distinctive facets of SoDivin’s selection.

In Roussillon, Domaine Gauby makes terroir-driven wines of great finesse, both dense and easy to drink. In the Hérault hinterland, Domaine de la Grange des Pères combines power and elegance in a renowned age-worthy style. Old-vine Coteaux du Languedoc and the great wines of Provence complete this southern picture, all made for the cellar.

Aging potential: the best 2009 reds from the South can age for ten to fifteen years; decant them generously if opening them young.

Buy a 2009 wine from SoDivin

The 2009 vintage is ideal for anyone who loves generous, ripe, profound wines that are appealing today yet promise years of rewarding cellaring: opulent Bordeaux from both banks, sun-ripened Syrahs from Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage, fleshy Burgundy reds, rounded Champagnes and great age-worthy wines from the South. To compare vintages and identify 2009 bottles at their peak, consult the SoDivin Vintage Guide. Every bottle is selected, expertly assessed and carefully stored, then shipped with care in secure packaging.

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