Bill Blatch, a well-respect negociant and trusted wine adviser in Bordeaux, France, recently passed through D.C. on his “retirement” tour. For years, Bill has not only kept friends and colleagues informed about the best wines in Bordeaux, but he has developed an almost cult-like following for his extraordinarily in-depth annual vintage reports of the region. One of the things that really sunk in during our last meeting was the fact that — to the best of Bill’s records — the past decade (2000 to 2009) is the first time that Bordeaux did not experience any “off” vintages. Not a single one.

And, according to Blatch, 2009 seems to be the best of the bunch, with a perfect combination of a gentle, cool winter, a warm spring with the perfect amount of rainfall that resulted in model budding and flowering, and an even rise in temperature throughout the summer months. The latter provided just the right amount of sunshine and warmth to lead to perfect phenolic ripening — a term that refers to the changes in the tannins in the seeds and skin — and an ideal concentration of sugar levels in the fruit. As a result, both red and white grapes developed beautiful flavors that made spectacular wines. The bad news: Wine prices for this vintage have pushed the limits of most consumer’s budgets. But, as with all things Bordeaux, buying these wines now to enjoy five to ten years down the road could actually be a tasteful investment.