UGC Tasting coming to a city (near) you; 2009 vintage

[JonB]

Here's the upcoming schedule. I saw Wally's already advertising tickets for the L.A. public event, as well as a few chateau dinners surrounding the event (e.g. Anthony Barton, Jean-Charles Cazes, Nicolas Glumineau?).

Los Angeles : 20 january
San Francisco : 21 january
Miami : 23 january
New York : 24 & 25 january
Chicago : 26 january
Toronto LCBO : 27 january
Montréal : 28 january

Vintage : 2009

[mike reff]

two days in NYC, wow, never before

[JonB]

....and I think Miami and Montreal are new destinations. They must have some wine to sell.

The 2008s were disappointing last year, but based on the tasting reports the 2009 vintage will be more up my alley.

While I thought K&L (San Francisco) hosted a better tasting (better food, free wine glass, more seating to take a break and write notes), it's hard to beat the sunshine in Los Angeles.

[JimHow]

What the gossip on the ageability of 2009?
I'm thinking of buying significantly into this vintage, and am hoping I'll be able to drink some of these wines in my 70s.

[Claret]

What the gossip on the ageability of 2009?
I'm thinking of buying significantly into this vintage, and am hoping I'll be able to drink some of these wines in my 70s.

Isn't there some kind of boycott in effect?

[JimHow]

The boycott commences with the 2010 vintage, Glenn.
I've actually stated that I've felt the 2009 vintage, while expensive, actually seems rationally priced for many wines....

[dstgolf]

Montreal & Toronto used to alternate years.

[pomilion]

The 2008s were disappointing last year, but based on the tasting reports the 2009 vintage will be more up my alley.

I was disappointed with last year's UGC tasting as well. The '08s weren't showing well at all (many overly acidic and under-fruited), and the '08s I've had since then have been largely uninspiring (had an '08 Malescot last night that sucked). I've bought '08 PC, Tertre Roteboeuf, Clinet, Canon La Gaffeliere, Le Gay and one or two others, but not much. At the UGC event itself, '08 CLG and La Gaffeliere were my favorites ('08 CLG at $60 is a very nice wine). Parker's initial evaluation of the 08 vintage is one of the big mistakes of his career (another being his overpraise of '03 which turned out poorly on the right bank though there are some great left bank wines). I'm excited about attending the '09 UGC; just wish Parker wasn't re-scoring the vintage a month earlier...