I have a feeling that I am going to be posting a lot about European wines from the 2009 vintage… So far, 2009 is reminiscent of other vintages like 1997, 1998, 2000, 2005 and 2007…

I picked up several wines the other day and gave one a try – Chateau Saint Martin de la Garrigue Bronzinelle, from Coteaux de Languedoc. What a gem! The wine is structured and delicious – my note follows:

Lively nose with black raspberry, fresh cherry and dried herb hints. Full-bodied with moderate acidity and firm, chewy tannin – great balance. Dark fruit core with spice, cedar and cacao notes. Moderate length with a tight, layered finish. Drinking well and should continue to  evolve and improve for another 5 to 7 years in bottle. Great value.

At $15.99 (average retail, pre-discount) per bottle, this is a  real charmer – true, past vintages of this wine were closer to $10.00, but at the current price, the wine still represents a magnificent value. The wine should have wide availability.