The short but hectic 2009 Bordeaux Futures campaign has finally slowed to a manageable pace!

It turned out to be quite an interesting vintage--so many excellent wines at terrific prices, like Ch. Tour de Mons (Margaux), Lilian Ladouys (St. Estephe) and Croix Figeac (St. Emilion), all well-rated and around $20 a bottle on futures… and at the same time, the most expensive vintage on record for the top wines, with the First Growths approaching $1,000 a bottle early on! In spite of the prices, and the economy, the futures campaign was a fast and furious few months.

One of the more interesting questions I have been asked many times over the past few months relates to the current prices for the top 2009’s vs. the current prices of the same wines in other (mature) top vintages…..Is it a better to drop hundreds on a great 2009 and sit on it for 20+ years, or spend the same dollar on the same wine from 2000, 1990 or even 1982, and have the pleasure of enjoying it now? The 2009’s arrive fresh, and you can take meticulous care of them from now to maturity, where an older bottle offers at least a little risk. What are your thoughts on the topic? Would you opt for a nice bottle of 2009 and keep it as long as you can, or find a mature vintage and enjoy the fruits of your labor now?

--Shayne Hebert, Wine Supervisor, Central Florida