Robert Parker The Wine Advocate
Our scoop this morning published a list 0f 16 perfect wines according to Robert Parker. Now that the official list is out, we have more record breaking news for you. Robert Parker Gives 18 Wines 100 Pts! Yes, that’s right. Make that 18 One Hundred Point Wines according to Robert Parker and The Wine Advocate! Our list has been updated.
Setting a record for 100 Pt wines in a vintage, Robert Parker, the world’s most important wine critic awared sixteen Bordeaux wines from the much hearlded 2009 Bordeaux vintage, triple digit scores. This is important because it is the views of Robert Parker that often set demand and price for the best Bordeaux wines. Wines from Pauillac, St. Julien, Graves/Pessac Leognan, St. Estephe.  Pomerol and St. Emilion reached triple digit status.
The rest of Parker’s report from The Wine Advocate is slated for release later today. Consumers and Bordeaux wine producers are anxious to read the rest of Parker’s report. For consumers, writers, bloggers, chateaux owners and merchants that claim Parker’s influence is slipping, this report from Parker will show where he stands in the eyes of wine consumers all over the world. Will this strong report revive the moribund Bordeaux wine market? We say yes. Time will tell.
However, it is our view that consumers will be fighting to buy not only the top scoring wines, but the numerous 2009 Bordeaux wines that are selling for prices closer to $40 and less. As we have reported earlier, not much 2009 Bordeaux wine was sold to American merchants. Based on Email offerings we received this morning, it’s going to be very expensive for merchants to buy and resell these wines to American Bordeaux wine consumers. 2009 Bordeaux will quickly become the most expensive vintage in Bordeaux history!
Don’t kill us. We’re just the messenger. We’ve awarded numerous high scores to these wines since first tasting them in 2010. As we have reported, 2009 Bordeaux are a wonderful style of wine. They are rich, sexy, opulent and in the best examples, offer decadent drinking experiences. Congratulations to the following Bordeaux chateaux.
Cos d’Estournel
Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge
The following 2009 Bordeaux wines hit 99 Points:
If you have comments or questions, please feel free to post your views now.
38 Comments
the 09 bordeaux I purchased last june has gone up in value ranging from 35% to 60% overnight since Parker came out with his in-bottle scores. Too bad that I love wine and will never sell.
David… We’re in the same boat. I bought my 2009 Bordeaux to keep, drink, taste and share with friends and family over the next several decades. I am not selling either. I hope you got a few tips from us!
Yes, in fact I based my purchases on your reviews and Parker’s and of the 14 wines I bought, 9 turned into 100 point wines and a few into 99 to 99+ which was quite a mood elevator today. I initially started with the Parker barrel scores then honed down the list with your tasting notes.
Parker had improved on his score for mouton which I had guessed was going to happen because of its close proximity to Pontet which both of you raved over. But I am confused about pichon lalande which Parker has downgraded to 95. I really love that wine, especially the 96 and 2000 and thought it would shine this year.
I was also surprised to see that trotanoy wasn’t a 100 point wine but I guess it will take years for it to show its stripes. Anyway, thanks Jeff for your great tasting notes and hard work. You certainly have helped me to pick some great wines to cherish and drink for many years to come.
David… That is the coolest post I’ve read in ages! Thank you for saying that. Glad to help and be of service. If you have a moment, feel free to come over and join the Wine Talk Forums. I’d be honored if you posted that over there. Lots of Bordeaux owners visit from time to time, you can ask them questions if you like. http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/winetalkforum/viewforum.php?f=5
who gives a flying crap about one man’s subjective opinion? what would people do if he were to disappear off the face of the earth – taste these wines yourselves and make up your own opinion??? heaven forbid!
Not really the most polite post. But you voice a view others share, so I’ll respond. People do taste and decide all on their own if they like a wine or not. But most people do not have the time, or ability to taste and entire vintage before it is released. That is the reason for critics.
As for who cares about Robert Parker? Let’s start with you. You cared enough to post. You are of course welcome to think he does not matter, but he is the most talked about wine writer on the Internet, so he must matter to some people. His report on 2009 Bordeaux issued yesterday is the most talked about wine review in years.
Regarding Parker and wine critics, I think your comments, while a little self-serving (not that there’s anything wrong with that), do have validity. The downside of Parkerization is of course that his is a symbiotic relationship with the producers of especially premium wines. The high scores from him help to fuel the astronomic rise in prices for desirable vintages. And because the prices are so high, we need him to tell us which wines, in his opinion, are worth pursuing. Nice work if you can get it!
As some of your blog’s readers have so eloquently put it, this has become a rich man’s game.
Query: Will low scores from Parker have the opposite impact on a lesser vintage like 2011? Given the greed (yes I said it) that the premium Chateau owners have shown the last couple of years in their pricing policies, I wonder. What I think is more likely to happen is that we will see a drop in demand for this most recent vintage. Part of that is in Parker’s hands. Part of that is a gathering storm of sophistication in Asian palates. In the end nothing drops prices faster than falling demand.
Thanks for the post. We do not agree on Bordeaux, or even 2009 Bordeaux wine being a rich mans game. The truth is, once past the top 20-30 wines, there is a vast array of great, age worthy Bordeaux selling for $50 and under. The flood gates continue to open at $100 and less. The Wine Cellar Insider has also given numerous tips of wines selling for $25 and less.
True, the First Growths are pricey and so are many of the top Right Bank wines. Joining the lest of high priced wines is anything rated 100 Pts from Robert Parker.
But if you or anyone looks past those wines, it’s easy to find great wines for not that much money.
On the contary, I think we do agree that there are values once you get past the top wines. Maybe some of your other readers and I are reacting to the apparent breathlessness of the headline “Robert Parker Gives 18 Wines 100 Pts!”
Certainly I applaud you for helping to identify the value wines. Though we may disagree on where the cut line representing a “good buy” is. While I am not opposed to drinking expensive wine, a wine priced at $400 is a rare event and at $100 or even $50 is not a typical event in my household or I suspect, most households (Can I get an “Amen” on that, Brothers Michael and Brad Trent).
Look, I’m not trying to rain on anyone’s parade here and truly I love the well known wines as much as the next guy. Just let’s not forget that at these price levels, they are luxury products not accessible to many wine legitimate lovers.
All good points that I agree. Plus as you pointed out, we all have different levels of pain, as to our choice of everyday Bordeaux wine. Fortunately, there are better and better wines from Bordeaux coming from Cotes de Castillon, Fronsac, Bordeaux Superieur and other areas that are generally speaking available for closer to $25 and under. Those are the wines my family has me buy for them and I’m happy to drink them at their place or mine!
Amen, Brother Jeff!
Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the nice words and the post. If you’re ever up for more detailed conversations, feel free to come hang and post on the Wine Talk Forums. http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/winetalkforum/viewforum.php?f=5
A lot of people care. That’s why Robert Parker has earned the respect he has. People do taste and wine decide wiht their own palate if they like a wine or not. I do not know of anyone that does not taste and make up their own mind. However, with so many wines to pick from, and the difficulty in trying before you buy, it makes perfectly good sense to pay attention to experienced tasters who have done the heavy lifting and tasted the wines for you.
Do you get to taste before you buy every wine?
Why does L’Eglise Clinet appear in both 100 and 99 point lists?
Chris… It was just an error on our part. It has been corrected. Thank you for letting us know. However, with a score 99+, perhaps the 2009 L’Eglise Clinet belongs in the hundred point list! It’s a truly stunning Bordeaux wine.
I’m stoked that 2009 Pontet Canet got 100 points! I picked up a 3 6L bottles and 6 3L bottles and a 12pack case during the pre-arrival tranches.
Hope the value skyrockets once these scores go public!!
Feeling groovy that I picked up PC and Clinet when they were first offered… Kicking myself that I didn’t buy more. Not sure I agree with SHL getting 100pts. It was good but not that good.
Morgan… Glad you scored some great 2009 Bordeaux. I can honestly say, I told you to buy more :0)
That you did, Jeff! If only money grew on trees, it would’ve been a case plus a few mags of PC at en premieur, followed by the same of Clinet after UGC. Instead, I’ll have to settle for my two bottles of PC and single of Clinet.
16 wines got a 100pts – wow. Is this a sign that Parker is stepping down? Leaving on a high?
Vim
Vim… I think it’s just Bob’s view on the 2009 Bordeaux wines.
Kinda sucks about Pontet Canet and Cos d’Estournel…wines I actually buy and drink…which will now be so insanely expensive that since I don’t run a hedge fund it’s doubtful I will be buying them in the future!
Brad… 2009 Pontet Canet seems fair to me for a wine of that quality. Having tasted it multiple times, I know how good it is. While 2009 Cos d’Estournel has always been pricey, about $300, it’s one of the best young wines I’ve ever tasted! The Cos is in a class by itself. It’s a stunning Bordeaux wine that offers a singular tasting experience. It competes with Latour, which sells for 300% – 400% more money!
No doubt, but is it 6 times better than Pichon-Lalande 1982 was? Or 4 times better than Mouton 1986? Or even 9 times better than Cos d’Estournel 1990? ….
Nice Scoop!!
Thanks Christopher… After tasting and writing about all those Burgundies we tated together, it’s nice to get back to writing something on Bordeaux wine!
WOW! That must be a record. 2005 was supposed to be the greatest vintage of all time, and only two of those wines managed to hit 100 Pt scores. Thanks for the tip. I was able to buy a few wines before prices jumped this morning. Keep up the great work Jeff Leve! This is my favorite site for everything Bordeaux.
Did 16 wines change overnight?
Joss… In price, these wines changed overnight.
Not at all! About 10 were already in the *high*-100 points range in April 2010 when they were presented from barrel samples.
As good as these wines certainly are, prices are ridiculously high.
Michael, with the exception of the First Growths and of course Petrus and Le Pin, which are always very expensive, most of the wines on this list do not seem over priced to me for the level of quality and unique style they offer.
I don’t know about your financial background – I’m a teacher and have three children. Back in November 1991 my wife and I went to a discount store and there was a full case of Haut-Brion 1989 – price per bottle 78.- Swiss Francs – about the same in Dollars nowadays. I was allowed to buy two bottles.
I know, it’s all about supply and demand, but these prices are not justified. I bought six bottles Pontet-Canet 2008 for 85$ each and wanted to do same with the 2009s – 170$ per bottle was just too much. And why double the price?
Michael… Prices are not set based on if you, or I can afford it. Pontet Canet is sought by people all over the world. When it was first offered in 2010, we told out readers to buy the wine. It was priced at $120. I agree, $170 is a lot of money for a wine. On the other hand, it is still the lowest priced 100 Pt Bordeaux wine from any producer in any vintage.
Having tasted 2008 Pontet Canet, which consumers could buy in 2009 for about $50, while 2008 Pontet Canet is a very good wine, it cannot be compared with the 2009 Pontet Canet. 2009 Pontet Canet is a much more concentrated, complex and unique tasting experience from a legendary vintage.
As to your other post, is it 6 times better than another wine, the same question can be asked in reverse. Is 2009 Latour 10 times better? Also, you cannot compare what 1982 Pichon Lalande or 1982 Mouton Rothschild sold for almost 30 years ago. Compared to what those wines sell for today, and yes, they are ready to drink which adds value, those wines sell for a lot more money.
I can’t reply anymore, as there is no button (a hint? 😉 ) – but I try anyway. Of course you are right. This is free economy. Fine. Let the rich people all over the world have the best wines in the world. I hope they can enjoy their privilege. I’m not bitter – I’m lucky to be old enough, so that I was able to buy great wines in the past. I’ve stopped buying Bordeaux (except the Pontet-Canet) and concentrate on affordable good quality from other regions.
Michael by Australian. Much better bang for your buck than overpriced French wines. Barossa has some great wines all 94 + points by James Halliday and around the same from Parker, depending on the vintage. From Barossa alone you have Turkey Flat and Glaetzer and too many to list. And the best thing about Aussie wine (except Grange) is they don’t double their price just because they had a “great” vintage.
Thanks for the post Alex. At least to me, wines from one country made in a completely different style are not always a good trade for completely different wines for most consumers. It’s a matter of style and character preference. IMO, the wines of Australia can be very good, but they are not a replacement for Bordeaux wine, if that is the style you are seekng.