Vintage Reflections: 2009

What has surprised me over the past few years is just how much joy some of the 2009s have brought. The best bottles have offered ample fruit that still feels fresh, albeit a bit chewier than vintages like 2005, 2010, or 2015. The most impressive whites exhibit vibrancy in the glass. While they can lack the precision of warmer vintages like 2010 or 2019, there are some extremely fresh examples, like the 2009 Bonneau du Martray that I tasted most recently. For reds, I lean into expressions from the Côte de Nuits, particularly Vosne-Romanée, but Corton and top Volnay from the Côte de Beaune have impressed me, too.