2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux

Dear Rene, Though less than 1/4th of the 2009 Bordeaux reds have been released, one thing is becoming very clear from our tastings of these wines... The critics are right,there is something very very special about thisvintage. And have we got a 2009 Bordeaux find for you: the 2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, a full yet focused and pure wine from the Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux (hills of Bordeaux) that is already showing beautiful silky texture and soft tannins. Wine Spectator rated this up to 92 points, everyone at Arrowine loves it, and the price is amazing, as low as $16. In addition to the rating up to 92 points in the Wine Spectator, this estate-bottled, hand-harvested Bordeaux has also been a favorite of Robert Parker who has featured it in "Parker's Wine Bargains- The World's Best Wine Values Under $25" calling it"sensational" and writing that the wine is "Medium to full bodied, velvety textured, sumptuous, and long...". He's called Stephane Derenoncourt (who consults at the estate) "brilliant" and the estate was classified as "excellent". So, just how great is the 2009 vintage? "The finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years of covering Bordeaux!!!" - Robert M. Parker Jr. "In France's most famous wine region, Bordeaux, some people are touting the 2009 vintage as the mother of great modern vintages." - James Suckling, Wine Spectator Other critics have echoed his enthusiasm, and many are calling it THE Vintage of a Lifetime. And though it seems as if every 4 or 5 years there's another "greatest" vintage (remember 2005 and 2000?), it's clear that there is something truly special about the 2009s that was lacking in 2005 and 2000. All three vintages have great depth and concentration and delicious fruit. The tannic structure of the 2000s and 2005s, though, was very firm. The 2009s possess an element of freshness and lithesome texture that make them far more appealing to drink at a young age. And that's exactly what wines like the Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux are for-- they're perfect for drinking now and over the next 3-4 years (while your classified growths are aging). As the Washington Post's wine columnist Dave McIntyre wrote, these are "meant for the dinner table rather than the trophy case." We've tasted dozens of wines from this vintage and it is clear that this vintage truly has it all. It has concentration and ripeness and balance. In addition to our regular beer tasting this evening and Friday and Saturday wine tastings, we are having a very special wine tasting this evening from 5:30 - 7:45 p.m. with Kevin O'Connor, co-founder, owner, and winemaker of Lioco Wines, a high quality Califonia winery specializing in small lots of single vineyard and regional wines. Don't miss this special no-cost event and be sure to inform your wine-loving friends. Jim Cutts 2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux 2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux Regular: $19.99 SALE: 6+ Bottle Price: $17.99 per bottle 12+ Bottle (Case) Price: $15.99 per bottle We can't argue with the critics on this one bit; it isabsolutely delicious and one of the most gorgeously textured Bordeaux reds we've seen from incredible 2009 vintage. Of all the great 2009 Bordeaux we've tried to date, this is among the most focused and pure, while still having palate-caressing tannins that give the wine sensual texture. Already extremely enjoyable, this will continue to drink well until it is 5-7 years old. The importer provides the following information about the estate and the wine: Etienne Barre and Christophe Reboul-Salze bought this exceptional vineyard near the village of Gainiquet in 1997. The mature vines are planted in clay, limestone, and sandy soils. With the help of famed consultant Stephane Derenoncourt, pitcurd below, they've pushed the quality of the estate's wines to among the best of the Blaye area. The hand-harvested, hand-selected fruit (50% cabernet sauvignon and 50% merlot) is fermented as whole berries in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks with a long, slow 30-day maceration. The wine is then racked into French oak barrels (25% new) for aging before the wine is estate bottled. 2,500 cases were produced. Here's the tasting note from the Wine Spectator's barrel tasting: "Licorice and tar on the nose. Full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit and silky tannins. Focused and clear. Could be best ever from here. Score range: 89-92 points." -James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, 2010 If you've been waiting to try the 2009 Bordeaux reds, don't wait any longer. This is remarkably gorgeous wine that is already a joy to drink and promises to remain a favorite for several years to come. Fans of the Wine Spectator and those that like to predict which wines will make theirannual Top 100 list will note that a score up to 92 points for a Bordeaux under $25 is extremely rare. In fact, only one red Bordeaux made the the Top 100 list for 2010. It was rated 90 points and had a listed price of $30. Since the Wine Spectator considers both quality and value when making selections for their Top 100 list, the $20 (or less)2009 Chateau Les Grands Maréchaux with a score up to 92 points is a strong contender for the 2011 list (lower price and higher quality than last year's Bordeaux selection). Of course by the time the list is released, this wine will likely be sold out or far more expensive. Don't wait to get your supply. To order please call 703.525.0990. We need your Visa or MasterCard information including expiration date. The wine arrives tomorrow, Friday April 29th. Thank you for reading. Jim Cutts