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Château de Lussac, Lussac-Saint-Émilion MAGNUM

Bordeaux, France 2009 (1500mL)
$68.00
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Château de Lussac, Lussac-Saint-Émilion MAGNUM

Because I count evolving Right Bank Bordeaux to be among the greatest drinking experiences imaginable, I wouldn’t hesitate a nanosecond if you told me to hand over a few $20 bills for a deeply brooding, cellar-direct Saint-Émilion from the enormously exciting 2009 vintage. Really, I’m all-in, and that’s even before considering the blatantly obvious: The massive magnum format, meaning twice the amount of pedigreed Saint-Émilion juice at a standard-sized-bottle price. 
Needless to say, we hit the buy button at lightning speed, but our alacrity didn’t result in a huge treasure trove. So, while what little we have to share certainly won’t meet the demands of all-comers, we’re still exceedingly thrilled that we even had a shot at any at all. This ‘09 ‘Grand Vin’ is big, powerful, intense, and perfectly authentic Right Bank Bordeaux that will stun now or age another decade with absolute ease. Disclaimer: Once you pull the cork on your first colossal bottle, aging your others will become a pipe dream—the wine is just that good! 


[NOTE: Due to the large format, this offer cannot be combined with any 750ML bottles from our online store or placed into Build-a-Case.” Any orders that use either of these methods will be corrected on our end after alerting you. Because of the inconvenience, we are offering complimentary Ground Shipping on two magnums.] 





The 2009 vintage in Bordeaux, like 2005 and 1982, was enthusiastically praised over the internet’s loudspeakers and record pricing at the time certainly reflected it. Obviously, we pay close attention to blockbuster years like this, but for reasons that may surprise you. When these so-called ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ vintages emerge, most everyone flocks to the swanky labels and big-ticket appellations, unknowingly ignoring some of the greatest gems of them all—value châteaux that slip behind the blinding spotlight. 

That’s where the venerated and impressively classic wines of Château de Lussac enter the mix. Though not in the beating heart of Saint-Émilion, Lussac-Saint-Émilion is one of its four neighboring satellite appellations, and its eponymous chateau has long been touted by insiders as one of the go-to producers. Founded in 1876, the grandiose château and its sprawling, perfectly manicured property is a spectacle to behold—all thanks to the Laviale family, who provided a major renovative boost upon their acquisition in the year 2000. 

The property enjoys 27 hectares of vines that are planted to 77% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc, and today’s 2009 Grand Vin is a blend of roughly the same percentages. They harvested a small yield (34hl/ha) that was bursting with concentration and phenolic ripeness, and the crop was twice-sorted at the winery. After a five-day cold soak, the grapes fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and partial new oak. Roughly one month later, the resulting wine was transferred into French barrels, 50% new, for 16 months. It was bottled with a light filtration. 

Although we’re now eleven years removed from the 2009 vintage, Château de Lussac’s Grand Vin didn’t seem to get the memo. This is a big, luxurious, and still-youthful Right Bank red bursting with dark-fruited polish and gutsy mineral savor. Ripe red and black currants, black plums, and raspberry liqueur funnel out of the glass with fervor and release a secondary wave of rose petal, tobacco leaf, crushed clay, dusty gravel, pencil lead, cedar, bay leaf, sandalwood, and baking spices. Full-bodied and deeply texturally, it’s a deliciously rich and terroir-infused tour de force that delivers a profound Bordeaux experience. This is meant to serve in your largest Bordeaux stems, over many hours—even into the next day—with a small group of close friends. It also wouldn’t hurt if there was a heaping portion of cassoulet in front of you, too. Open one or two now and keep your other magnums in a dark, cool place for enjoyment over the next 10-15 years. Cheers!
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Country
France
Region
Bordeaux
Sub-Region
FranceSaint-Émilion
Soil
Clay & Limestone
Farming
Lutte Raisonnée
Blend
Merlot 77%, Cabernet Franc 23%
Alcohol
14.5
OAK
50% New French
TEMP.
55
Glassware
Bordeaux Stem
Drinking
Now-2029+
Decanting
30-60 Minutes
Pairing
Classic Cassoulet

France

Bourgogne

Beaujolais

Enjoying the greatest wines of Beaujolais starts, as it usually does, with the lay of the land. In Beaujolais, 10 localities have been given their own AOC (Appellation of Controlled Origin) designation. They are: Saint Amour; Juliénas; Chénas; Moulin-à Vent; Fleurie; Chiroubles; Morgon; Régnié; Côte de Brouilly; and Brouilly.

Southwestern France

Bordeaux

Bordeaux surrounds two rivers, the Dordogne and Garonne, which intersect north of the city of Bordeaux to form the Gironde Estuary, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The region is at the 45th parallel (California’s Napa Valley is at the38th), with a mild, Atlantic-influenced climate enabling the maturation of late-ripening varieties.

Central France

Loire Valley

The Loire is France’s longest river (634 miles), originating in the southerly Cévennes Mountains, flowing north towards Paris, then curving westward and emptying into the Atlantic Ocean near Nantes. The Loire and its tributaries cover a huge swath of central France, with most of the wine appellations on an east-west stretch at47 degrees north (the same latitude as Burgundy).

Northeastern France

Alsace

Alsace, in Northeastern France, is one of the most geologically diverse wine regions in the world, with vineyards running from the foothills of theVosges Mountains down to the Rhine River Valley below.

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