WTN: The year was 2009

But first it was actually 2008 Foillard Morgon Cuvée Corcelette. This was a fun fine bowl of fragrant spiced gamay fruits. Of course much slimmer body than all the 09s I’ve been drinking, but I wouldn’t call it thin and I like that profile. My quibble however is with the muddy dirty middle of the palate. I’m talking about the wine here, not me! Not sure what that was (brett, rot, reduction?) but it detracted.

2009 Brun Côte de Brouilly
Many sides to this wine. Silky juicy waves and then tart herbal crisp intersections. By the end of the bottle it gets very supple silky and soft. Easy to drink. I’m ready for another bottle!

2009 Coudert Fleurie Cuvée Tardive
I don’t claim to do this stuff comprehensively or professionally but in my own limited experience this is still the most impressive 2009 Beaujolais to grace my table thus far. So compact, focused, and layered, but of course always in fresh Beaujolais mode. Depth, firmness, lightness. It’s times like this that I envy you folks with big cellars. I can’t see having enough of this. Great match with tomato sauce, cauliflower, olive, oregano, and Ossau-Iraty pizza. But frankly both the wine and the pizza could have stood on their own.

2009 Vissoux Brouilly Pierreux
Unlike a previous bottle, this is silky and easy to drink from the beginning. It doesn’t have the most dimensional depth but it is still very dark and flavorful and of course juicy and ready to drink with food. This bottle paired well with a carrot, celery, and parmesan pasta dish. Convivial!

2009 Vissoux Fleurie Poncié
Deep and luscious but not as heavy as I remember from another bottle. Certainly very impressive and with time some fine tannins become apparent so I’m sure this will be interesting to follow over the months/years. Just not sure I’ll have the time/energy/devotion to take the ride.

2009 Juliusspital Würzburger Stein Riesling Kabinett Trocken
Salty, tart, refreshing, but with a touch of friendly r.s. Nothing too complex but I could see this pleasing crowds.

2009 Juliusspital Randersacker Pfülben Riesling Spätlese Trocken
Hard, powerful riesling. Some enjoyably familiar riesling stalk flavors but mainly just big brawny muscles. It loosens up slowly and by the second day it has a nice precision to the frame, but still mainly too BodyBuilt for my delicate mouth.

It’s times like this that I envy you folks with big cellars. I can’t see having enough of this. Great match with tomato sauce, cauliflower, olive, oregano, and Ossau-Iraty pizza. But frankly both the wine and the pizza could have stood on their own.

I know what you mean. Psychologically, it's easier to cellar the big, expensive wines but then when you get to the so-called smaller wines that you feel could still use some cellar time, that's when the wine fridge feels clausterphobic.

[David M. Bueker]

Appreciate the notes Rahsaan, especially on the Coudert Tardive. I am thinking of having a bottle of that for Thanksgiving, but of course plans will change 15 times between now and November 25.

As for large cellars - they get full too. It's funny how that works.

Psychologically, it's easier to cellar the big, expensive wines...

Maybe. For me it's financially easier to cellar the big inexpensive wines!

Appreciate the notes Rahsaan, especially on the Coudert Tardive. I am thinking of having a bottle of that for Thanksgiving, but of course plans will change 15 times between now and November 25..

I'm sure you will enjoy it. Perhaps you've already had a bottle or two?

I must admit, that depending on who you're eating with, it might not be the most 'impressive' 2009 Beaujolais for people who aren't paying attention. Some of the other juicier wines might be more crowd friendly. I have served the Coudert Tardive to non-wine people who didn't really notice anything. It's not as flashy. But for those who appreciate wine I think it it is very impressive.

I'm trying to not tear into all my 09 Beaujolais with a corkscrew, and posts like this aren't helping. The Coudert Tardive is a lovely wine, and I absolutely love what I've tried from Vissoux so far. Really do need to get more of his wines.

Had the '09 Brun Moulin a Vent this weekend, which was very, very good but really needed air to come together. (That's one I may have an easier time keeping hands off.)

I'm trying to not tear into all my 09 Beaujolais with a corkscrew, and posts like this aren't helping.

I'm actually going to take a break for a few weeks and go for something older. Tired of all these 'new' 'young' wines. But it all goes in cycles, and there are so many delicious 09 Beaujolais wines out there.

thanks notes. Agree re the Brun CdB and the Coudert VT, look forward to trying the Vissouxes.

Actually, one of the things I like about having onsite passive cellars (though they can "overflow") is that there is no real marginal cost of storage, so I don't feel weird re cellaring less expensive wines like Beaujolais. I've really enjoyed lately things like 01 Ogier La Rosine, 96 Penfolds 389, 01 Kabinetts etc- if I was paying for storage, the storage fees would have been more than the cost of wine.