The 2009 Bienvenue-Batard-Montrachet is impeccably understated and elegant from start to finish. Cool and reserved, it only gradually reveals its charms. The Bienvenue possesses striking purity in its crystalline fruit, beautifully integrated minerality and a long, refined finish. Everything here speaks to first class pedigree. Anticipated maturity: 2014+. Jacques Lardiere and Frederic Barnier showed me a wide range of 2009s during my visit in late June, 2011. Many of the jewels among the 2009s are hidden in the villages level wines, which I highly encourage readers to check out. I also tasted a selection of 2008s. The 2008s are quite fat for the year. Yields were lower than in 2009. Lardiere made the decision to age the wines longer on their lees to give them more richness, which he felt was lacking because of the inconsistent, high acid vintage. As a result, these are fairly big 2008s. Importer: Kobrand Corp., Purchase, NY; tel. (914) 253-7756