Saumur-Champigny 2009
Your Option wine this year is from the magnificent 2009 vintage. After a really cold winter, the early part of summer was unpredictable and stormy. However, with this period out of the way, the rest of the summer was long and hot right through to October when the grapes were harvested – apart from a little restorative rain mid-September which provided just the right amount of moisture to the vines.
With perfectly ripe, healthy grapes, the Marys were able to fashion lovely wines that have great potential. The pundits say 2009 is a vintage on a par with the magnificent 1990s and 2005s. Indeed some believe it could be even better than these.
Your Saumur-Champigny 2009 is a deep purple/ruby colour with appealing aromatics of red and black fruits interlaced with liquorice, menthol and violet. The fruit is fresh, lively and earthy with raspberry and blackcurrant flavours underpinned by a juicy tannic structure. Although attractive now, it will also benefit from a little more time in cellar.
Saumur-Champigny is an incredibly versatile wine. With its bright raspberry and blackcurrant fruit flavours and leafy fragrance it makes a great aperitif wine, served lightly chilled. As it ages, it takes on gamey complexity and provides a wonderful match with many types of food including tender beef, lamb, charcuterie and hard cheeses.
I recommend you try your 2009 with grilled steak in a shallot sauce. As it takes on secondary characteristics of age, try it with game such as venison, wild boar or hare.