Plentiful wines from 2009 pour value as well as flavor

In many parts of Europe, 2009 was a special vintage. Not only was quality high, but so was quantity.

This is unusual. In comparison, consider 2010: high on quality but much lower in quantity — less than half at many top properties.

Wine collectors will be thrilled with both vintages. But for the average wine consumer, because of sheer quantity, there are sensational values to be found in 2009.

Here are a few examples:

» 2009 Domaine de Durban Vaucluse (about $12): This delicious, pretty southern French "country" red is produced mainly from grenache and syrah, with small amounts of merlot and marselan blended in.

Having visited this estate, I am amazed by how the wines seem to capture the smell of the vineyard’s sun-baked earth, the surrounding wild shrubs and herbs mixed with the grapes’ fruitiness.

This is a terrific sipping wine and one you can have fun with at the dinner table. Pair it with everything from meatloaf and pizza to a slew of Mediterranean- and American-styled foods.

» 2009 Marcel Lapierre "Raisins Gaulois" (about $13): Sadly, superstar winemaker Marcel Lapierre died last year. He was the leader of a movement that stressed going back to basics — growing and producing wines more naturally.

Year in and year out, his Cru Beaujolais, Morgon, was one of the wines I anxiously awaited. Lapierre’s wine was not only provocative and age-worthy, it was also delicious and good with food.

On my last visit, he delighted in showing this Gaulois cuvee. Morgon might be what won him high ratings and world acclaim, but this Raisins Gaulois is what he readily served at his dinner table.

» 2009 Artazuri "Old Vine Garnacha" (about $12): One of Spain’s most revered winemakers, Juan Carlos Lopez has branched out from producing his sleek, elegant Rioja Alta red wines, and this is certainly one of them to check out.

This bottling is produced from very old vines grown in Spain’s Navarra region. I love how delicious, fruit-driven and food friendly it is.

Plus, at this price, how can you go wrong?

» 2009 Cantine Valpane Barbera del Monferrato "Rosso Pietro" (about $13): When challenged in the right vineyard and crafted by the right winemaker, wines produced from the barbera grape variety can be amazing.

The trick is in finding them. I have tasted many that are too masculine and gnarly.

This is one of the good ones, delicious, light, perfumed and food friendly. It will be a while before we run across another like it, especially at this price.

» 2009 Lapergola Monferrato Rosso (about $13): This is another fabulous Italian barbera-based red from the same region of northwest Italy.

It, too, is delicious. But what really caught my attention is the intriguing, fruity perfume.

The secret? Sixty percent barbera and 20 percent each croatina and freisa. It’s rare to see the latter two grape varieties in Hawaii, and these have mesmerizing aromas.

Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner in the DK Restaurants chain.