2009 Chateau Olivier Pessac-Leognan Bordeaux 750 ml

If you wanted to put a bottle of superb red Bordeaux from the 98-point 2009 vintage on your table—say, from a top-performing appellation like Graves’ prestigious Pessac-Léognan AOC—this is what you’re likely to see online:

“Unavailable.” “Add to Waiting List.” “Sold Out.”

Renowned for its lushness and intensity, 2009 remains the most profitable Bordeaux vintage EVER for châteaux and sellers. After Robert Parker dropped a bombshell report that called it “the finest vintage I have tasted in 32 years,” retailers were buying up cases at such a frenzied pace that Bloomberg News reported their computers’ systems were frying out.

This is a wine Robert Parker declared “the best Oliver I have ever tasted,” predicting it would drink well for 20 years or more. 

After a decade-plus of age, this Cabernet-led blend has shed its baby fat as the tannins have softened and interlocked into a dazzlingly sumptuous texture. It’s a legendary vintage-Bordeaux in top drinking form.

Château Olivier is one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux, with a history dating back to the 12th century. Secluded amidst acres of forests, it features a genuine castle with a moat. The Bethmann family acquired the estate in 1867 and continues to run it today.

Aside from the magnificence of the vintage, 2009 is an important and special year in this estate’s history from a terroir perspective: It’s the first in which Lebrun began incorporating fruit from a new estate vineyard they uncovered following an intensive soil survey in 2002. It’s a terroir that’s pure gold when it comes to ripening late-maturing varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon.

No wonder Parker called it the best Olivier ever.