What is your vote for 2009 BWE Wine of the Year?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:17 am

I was searching for the list of previous winners from last year's controversial thread (a "shame," protested one BWEer), but I couldn't find it in the search function.

If anyone can find it can you post the previous winners here.

I think the list is as follows:

2000: 1996 Sociando Mallet
2001: 1995 d'Yquem
2002: 1989 Lynch Bages
2003: 1999 Haut Brion Blanc
2004: 2000 du Tertre and 2000 Pichon Baron
2005: 2000 Margaux
2006: 2003 Pontet Canet
2007: 2002 Leoville Poyferre
2008: 2005 Burgundy vintage (protest vote)

I think I have that right, but I'm going just from memory. Am I correct that the 2003 wine of the year was the 1999 Laville Haut Brion?

Claret · Post by **Claret** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 12:31 am

2007 Southern Rhones, the greatest vintage ever anywhere.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:47 am

A BORDEAUX wine or wines.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:10 am

One wine that stood out and surprised me this year was a wine that several of us shared together in NYC. A wine that was expected to be no more than a bench-warmer compared to some of the superstars it was up against. Not that it isn't a superstar in name and in many vintages, but it definitely exceeded expectations for this particular vintage, and did so on the strength of its perfect balance. It wasn't my favorite wine of the night, but it won overall WOTN honors from the group, and is worthy of nomination at least in part because it performed so far above expectations:

1989 Ch. Lafite Rothschild

A few other stars from that dinner and the BWE Annual Convention deserve consideration, among them:
1989 Haut Brion
1989 La Mission Haut Brion
1982 Pichon Lalande
But I think that these are all too "easy" to pick. We usually look for something with a special BWE-ness to it.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:34 am

I'm not voting until after our tasting in NYC. Some stellar wines there!

jal · Post by **jal** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:38 am

I second that nomination for the 1989 Lafite

Houndsong · Post by **Houndsong** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 2:52 am

As I recall during last year's debate I said something so clever it went completely over everybody's heads. I'll aim lower this year.

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 4:12 am

not ready to declare a final vote BUT 96 Lafite, 94 Togni, 89 Montrose, 95 Yquem, (yes, MichaelM not the best bottle I've had but still a powerhouse, 95 Baron, that flight of 82s 1sts from Stuart's dinner...82Leoville Poyferre....gotta ponder this one

JCNorthway · Post by **JCNorthway** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:08 am

I'm at a bit of an awkward place with my Bordeaux wines. Most of what I own is "hands-off" for several more years, so I have not had a lot of different wines during the year. However, as I think back on some of the wines we enjoyed at the BWE annual convention in DC this past spring, I would be inclined to nominate the 1982 Pichon Lalande (which managed to stand up admirably against the monster 1989 Lynch!). I thought that was a fabulous Bordeaux wine.

I know in the past we often tried to pick a more current release. But I'm not aware of any recent wines that have been enjoyed widely enough by members that the group would have the collective experience to weigh in on them. I know that the only post 2000 Bordeaux I have drunk this year are a few inexpensive 2005s.

While I applauded the departure from tradition to honor the 2005 Burgundy vintage, I would prefer that we return to tradition and pick a single wine. However, if we don't want to limit ourselves to a specific wine, I could easily make a case for the 2007 southern Rhone vintage.

Jon

Claret · Post by **Claret** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 5:30 am

Hey, I was only kidding about the 2007 Southern Rhones.

My top Bordeaux consumed this year is 1989 Pichon Lalande. I have long been a fan of this vintage, and with the suprise showing of 1989 Lafite, and this being the 20th anniversary of the vintage, I say let's go with 1989 Lafite.

Glenn

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 1:47 pm

1989 Lafite would be a great choice.

stefan

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 3:01 pm

Its hard to argue against this emerging consensus for 1989 Lafite

What I liked about it is that in no way could it be construed as a '100 point wine' but so what? It had perfect equilibrium and ticked all the boxes.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Tue Dec 08, 2009 11:33 pm

Jay Winton wrote:that flight of 82s 1sts from Stuart's dinner...

That was an awesome flight of wines. In fact that whole dinner was awesome. Probably the vinous highlight of the year for me. Any one of those wines or any of 3 or 4 we had a the '89 dinner in NYC are deserving. They too are almost "too easy" to pick...

There's something about recognizing a wine that has been overlooked or unheralded as the BWE WOTY... And it doesn't have to be '89 Lafite, that was just one nomination.

rjsussex · Post by **rjsussex** » Thu Dec 10, 2009 10:37 am

Langoa 04 or Soc Mallet 04

Archetype BWE wines.

Richard

Houndsong · Post by **Houndsong** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 12:39 am

I've thought about it and have to abstain. I can't think of a single Bordeaux I had this year that moved me. I think my favorite wine this year was a $12 Vouvray demi-sec I had with Thanksgiving dinner. It made such an impression on me (seriously, I'd sipped some before and liked it but it absolutely handled every twist in the multifarious flavors of the dinner with style) I started toying with the idea of buying a few Foreaus and Huets for the years to come. For me to even consider paying $30-40 for a wine that in my house is typically an aperitif for my wife or a summertime cocktail wine is a stunning turn of events.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 4:39 am

>>
I can't think of a single Bordeaux I had this year that moved me.
>>

I am sorry for you, Hound. If a week goes by when I am unmoved by a Bordeaux I feel cheated out of a week of life.

stefan

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:13 pm

I think we should consider some '04 or '02 wines. While not always the case that one is chosen, an unheralded wine - one that "punches above its weight class" - is always a good candidate for WOTY.

RDD · Post by **RDD** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 2:33 pm

1989 La Mission

Houndsong · Post by **Houndsong** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:26 pm

It's true. I had a Barolo a few weeks ago that was drinking pretty well, but in no way could I say "it moved."

rjsussex · Post by **rjsussex** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 3:43 pm

I agree with David - leftbank 04 is really a very BWE vintage in style and in value (the last value vintage?) and for me Langoa and Soc Mallet were/are just amazingly good for what was their opening prices - as was/is Durfort but I think I'll have a time propelling this Margaux to the BWE wine of the year slot!

Richard

JonB · Post by **JonB** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:05 pm

Hound - you didn't like the '05 Barde Haut?

There are some terrific '05s that are on spot sales at good prices every now and then that could be candidates....like d'Issan was for sale at Wine Conn for $55 for a couple of days....now all gone.

How about 2004 Malescot St. Exupury ? or Pavie Macquin?

Houndsong · Post by **Houndsong** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 5:41 pm

Jon, the Barde Haut was/is excellent. I have not had that transcendent experience I require to thrust a wine into this debate. There's always next year.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 6:31 pm

Rob, you wont get an argument from me about '89 La Mission either. That was my #1 from the '89 dinner. But do we go for a superstar or an "archetypal BWE wine?"

Ramon_NYC · Post by **Ramon_NYC** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:30 pm

Lot's of '89 being mentioned so far.

The NYC '89 tasting has shown how great a vintage is when all the wines we had, imho, were good-to-terrific. Even my worst wine during the tasting, which I don't even remember because everything seemed so good, would likely rise to the occasion when tasted with wines in other vintages.

My vote for 2009 BWE Wine of the Year = "The 1989 Vintage"

jal · Post by **jal** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 8:54 pm

JimHow wrote: Am I correct that the 2003 wine of the year was the 1999 Laville Haut Brion?

IIRC, the 2003 WOTY was the 1999 Haut Brion Blanc not the Laville Haut Brion.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 10:13 pm

Thanks Jacques, I thought I was wrong about that.

I think it makes sense to honor something from 1989 in order to:

a) Celebrate the twenty year anniversary of that great vintage spearheaded by Lynch Bages, and

b) Honor James Suckling for his favorite vintage (I think he's right that 1989 is better than the perhaps somewhat overrated 1990 vintage, although I recognize that James and I are in the vast minority on that one).

The previous BWE Wines of the Year:

2000: 1996 Sociando Mallet
2001: 1995 d'Yquem
2002: 1989 Lynch Bages
2003: 1999 Haut Brion Blanc
2004: 2000 du Tertre and 2000 Pichon Baron
2005: 2000 Margaux
2006: 2003 Pontet Canet
2007: 2002 Leoville Poyferre
2008: 2005 Burgundy vintage (protest vote)
2009: ???????????

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri Dec 11, 2009 11:03 pm

How about the 2009 vintage in Bordeaux? Supposed to be the best ever, no? And BWEs are a faithful lot, aren't we?

Claudius · Post by **Claudius** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 3:01 am

I vote for 2001 Pavie.
Only wine I have ever tasted that managed to get a whole oak forest in one bottle.

Maybe I've missed out too but the best wines I've had this year have been from Burgundy.

Best whites: 2004 Remoissenet Meursault Genevrieres and 2001 Corton Charlemagne.
Best reds: 2000 Castagner Bonnes Mares and 1996 Ghislaine Bartod Chambolle Musigny Les Fuees.

I could easily name 20-30 delicious Burgs I've had over the last year and several Cote Roties.
Also my old local hero Rockford Basket Press Shiraz 1995 and 1996.

Yet last year the best wine I tried was 1986 Cos D'estournel. Wonderful wine.
So I'm making my vote for that wine.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 3:37 am

Not the 2010, vintage, David? BWE should be looking ahead.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 12:37 pm

Ramon_NYC wrote:Lot's of '89 being mentioned so far.

The NYC '89 tasting has shown how great a vintage is when all the wines we had, imho, were good-to-terrific.

My vote for 2009 BWE Wine of the Year = "The 1989 Vintage"

I agree with Ramon - 1989 Vintage Bordeaux

Chris Bublitz

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 1:22 pm

Come on guys, no more of these kumbaya "theme" picks. Let's pick a wine of the year, I know we can do it.

I think something from 1989 is compelling because of the twenty-year anniversary and in honor of James Suckling.

On the other hand, something from a more recent vintage makes sense too. Was there anything that stood out in the 2006 vintage?

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:18 pm

There were many compelling wines at that 1989 tasting. I thought the Haut Brion was the best of them all. That's my vote. No objection to Lafite - tasted about 5 points higher than my expectation.

I haven't bought or tried any 2006 Bordeaux.

Chris Bublitz

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:21 pm

What was The Sucker's fave from 1989?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Dec 12, 2009 2:45 pm

Good question. I know he thought the tannins of the Lynch were "velvety"....

Claudius · Post by **Claudius** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:15 am

I think he rated Pichon Baron above LB in that vintage.
PB was the Wine Spectator's WOTY

Rick · Post by **Rick** » Sun Dec 13, 2009 4:27 pm

Jim - I have no 2006 experience

The 1990 Montrose I just had was memorable

The 2004 Lafite was special

The 2007 Jannasse Chaupin and Vieux telegraphe , I know not bordeaux, but available and ready to drink

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 5:21 pm

I'm a little bit late, but for the BWE wine of the year, can you copy back the rules to select?

As I remember, the BWE WOTY must be a Bordeaux, a wine that most of BWEers have tried, can be buy almost anywhere, ''affordable'' and is representative of the BWE spirit. Up to now, I consider that only these WOTY (in bold) have respected those basic rules :

2000: 1996 Sociando Mallet
2001: 1995 d'Yquem
2002: 1989 Lynch Bages
2003: 1999 Haut Brion Blanc
2004: 2000 du Tertre and 2000 Pichon Baron
2005: 2000 Margaux
2006: 2003 Pontet Canet
2007: 2002 Leoville Poyferre
2008: 2005 Burgundy vintage (protest vote)

The wine not in bold, are great wines, but I never felt they were BWE WOTY type of wine. I don't want to be the one that start a huge discussion about that, but please, don't tell me that the 1989 Chateau Lafite Rothschild is the BWE WOTY. The only first growth that is a BWE WOTY to me is the 1995 yquem, that most of us have tasted in different BWE events.

The 2004 Malescot St-Exupéry would be a good BWE WOTY wine. maybe a wine from the 09 convention could be a good wine? The 2002 Smith Haut Laffite too could be a good choice.

Anyway, I just feel like the winner should respect the basic rules, set at the earliest of BWE.

Nic

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:13 pm

You'll have to talk to that simple country lawyer about the rules, Nic. He can make 'em and he can break 'em, but I think you are on the right track. There is a lot to be said about those initial criteria. And as much as I liked a lot of those top-end '89s and '82s we drank over the past year, they don't meet those initial criteria.

Michael-P · Post by **Michael-P** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:03 pm

I would be surprised that we don't choose an 05 Bordeaux, given they are so good and we have been trying some?

My best wines of the year were:

59 Pavie
88 Margaux (mag)
89 Lynch

But certainly not candidates for BWE wine of 09.

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:26 pm

Michael-P wrote:I would be surprised that we don't choose an 05 Bordeaux, given they are so good and we have been trying some?

My best wines of the year were:

59 Pavie
88 Margaux (mag)
89 Lynch

But certainly not candidates for BWE wine of 09.

Ok, the 05 LaLagune was sensational and I'll add the 59 Suduiraut at the convention was equally great.