Each year Liv-ex surveys the international wine trade upon their return from tasting the new Bordeaux vintage. The survey is designed to track the consensus of opinion amongst the best professional tasters of young Bordeaux. Liv-ex’s membership numbers more than 285 of the world’s biggest buyers and sellers of fine wine.

The 2009 survey results are below.

• Latour is the wine of the 2009 vintage.
• Calon Segur tops the “value for money” category.
• Cos d'Estournel was the most disappointing wine.
• The vintage scored 96 (out of 100) on average.
• Release prices are expected to be up 120% on 2008 and 6% on 2005.

The results above show the top 10 wines of the vintage according to the experts irrespective of price. Wines ranked number one by respondents were awarded 10 points, second were given 5 points, third 3, fourth 2 and fifth 1. Latour was named the number one wine – edging up from second place in 2008 – with 71% of respondents including it in their top five.  After dropping off the table last year,  Margaux is back in full force, occupying second place. Lafite slides down two places, coming in third, whilst Mouton stays put in fourth place.  Ausone, first in 2007 and third last year, rounds off the top five.

Wines in the value category were ranked as above. Calon Segur − a regular in our best value list − tops the table for the first time in 2009, up from seventh place last year. Pontet Canet, in sixth place, fails to make the top five for the first time in seven years.

Despite having been identified as a possible 100-pointer by James Suckling, Cos d'Estournel is the clear winner (or loser) this year. Pavie ranks second, whilst Pichon Lalande makes its fourth appearance in four years. Perhaps the most surprising appearance is that of best value stalwart Leoville Barton.

96 points (average out of 100)

The average score attributed by the membership for the vintage was 96 points, with a range of 92 to 99. This is the highest overall ranking to date, narrowly beating 2005 which scored 95+.

1. 2005
2. 2003
3. 2000

Although a third of respondents voted ‘none’, nearly a quarter compared it to 2005.  It was also compared to a lesser extent with ‘86, ‘89 and ‘90.

1. 2009
2. 2005
3. 2000

An overwhelming 53% of respondents voted 2009 as tops in terms of quality, with 2005 in second place.

To keep our traders honest we are offering a double magnum of Figeac 2005 to the individual who comes closest to estimating the correct opening prices for the basket of wines listed above. Based on their expectations, prices will increase by 120% on 2008 and be up 6% over 2005. With the pound having weakened considerably since 2006, this would make the 2009s by far the most expensive release on record, at around 30% higher in GBP terms than the 2005s. If the top end of our expected range is where prices eventually end up, then an increase of as much as 50% is within the realm of possibility. The largest increases are expected to come from the Firsts (both of which are expected to be up 220% on last year).

Our respondents repeatedly described 2009 as “an excellent vintage”. Many, however, also highlighted problems in consistency this year, with patchy right bank wines arousing particular concern. Those that impressed were described as “fine and elegant”, characterised by “beautiful fruit, lovely aromas” and perfect balance.  The less successful producers were said to be “too alcoholic” and dogged by over-extraction and winemakers “trying too hard”.  2009 is perhaps “a vintage of highs and lows”. Though uniformity may be lacking, there seems to be general consensus that top chateaux “might be better than ever”.  Price is also of concern this year, with Lafite and Latour expected to unveil jaw-dropping prices in the months to come. “They can get away with it,” said one respondent; “the lesser growths will not.”