With Hart, Ben, SM, BSG and Maisy at Ben’s.

Got drunk at dinner and left the bottle behind; finally got it back from Ben a couple weeks ago.

BAMA is an odd wine: the chateau was never up for classification in 1855, as it was under private ownership by some royalty who kept its production solely for own consumption. Fast forward today, the wine maker (>90yo; 72 vintages) continues to make the wines in v “ancient” style: it’s rarely concentrated, made with zero oak, and undergoes extremely extended fermentation in concrete. It’s a SUPER different wine to drink: it’s delicate, perfumery, and almost always has a distinctly focused wood, earth, tobacco and funk (which can sometimes be too intense). Super complex, but often incompatible with modern palette.

The 2009 was absolutely delicious. It was young enough to still retain a good chunk of its fruits (mostly blueberry, cherry and red currant) in just the perfect balance with the lean focused wood and tobacco and funk. It’s not dense nor rich like modern Bdx, but a delicate expansive perfume.

On the palate, mid- body, red currant, mid+ acidity and I don’t recall much alcohol at all. Mid finish with long lingering aroma on exhale.

Probably my favorite vintage to date.