BENEFITS OF ORDERING 2010 BORDEAUX FUTURES FROM
AVOID LINE-UPS
ASSURE YOUR PURCHASE OF SCARCE WINE
DELIVERY ARRANGED WITH CASE ORDERS WITHIN METRO VANCOUVER
SINGLE BOTTLE ORDERS WELCOME
Compiled by Jon Ellison
Introduction
Page 3
Bordeaux Supérieur
Page 31
Map of Bordeaux
Page 4
Right Bank
Page 32
Left Bank
Page 5
Côtes-de-Bordeaux
Page 32
Haut-Médoc/Médoc
Page 5
Côtes du Castillon
Page 33
Saint-Estèphe
Page 7
Saint-Émilion
Page 34
Pauillac
Page 12
Pomerol
Page 36
Saint-Julien
Page 18
Bordeaux Collection Case
Page 40
Margaux
Page 23
Index
Page 41
Pessac-Léognan
Page 29
Terms & Conditions
Page 43
Sauternes/Barsac
Page 30
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Bordeaux 2010 Even before I departed for Bordeaux at the end of March this year, I was already hearing rumours from people in the trade and from the media about how good a vintage 2010 was and how it was another “vintage of a lifetime”. I must admit that I am starting to get tired of hearing this same label attached to each new vintage in Bordeaux. I mean, they can’t all be “vintages of a lifetime”, can they? I think that my friend and Bordeaux négociant Jeffrey Davies, summed up the situation best when he told me that “the 2010 vintage is the best vintage since the last one.” Now, onto more serious matters. What kind of vintage was 2010? If I had to sum up the vintage, in one word that word would be dry. The 2010 vintage was the driest in three years which meant that the majority of the grapes ripened with extra concentration when compared to previous three years. When this dry growing season was coupled with vigorous yield reduction and small berry size, you tend to get wines that are very ripe, dense and high in alcohol. However, the wines are very classical in style and most have tremendous acidity which keeps the wines fresh and lively. It would be hard to classify this vintage as either a Left or Right bank vintage because to put it quite simply, it was a Cabernet vintage. The quality of Cabernet Sauvignon on the Left Bank is un-paralled and the ripeness of the Cabernet Franc on the Right Bank has rarely been seen before. It is worth noting that never before have the First Growths of the Left Bank used such a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in their Grand Vins. Merlot experienced some problems with poor flowering in June and it ripened very close to the rains in October. This resulted in very rich grapes with high alcohols. In some regards, the sheer power of Merlot is similar in style to Cabernet Sauvignon, which means that many Right Bank wines have more heft than usual. The prices for the 2010’s remain very high and in some cases they are even higher than in 2009. This forced me to adopt the same buying strategy as last year, which means that once again there are many wines which I have traditionally purchase but passed on this year due to ridiculous pricing Despite the challenge in pricing, I feel that I have once again managed to put together a very fine selection of wines in this offering that still represent terrific value for the money and I am also very pleased to introduce many new wines this year. I invite you to explore this year’s offering and if you need any assistance or guidance in making your selections, please feel free to contact myself or any of my staff at the store. Sincerely, John Clerides, owner of Marquis Wine Cellars
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LEFT BANK The Left Bank is the wine region of Bordeaux located on the west side of the Garonne River. It includes the appellations of Haut-Médoc, Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac, Saint-Julien, Listrac, Moulis, Margaux, Pessac-Léognan, Graves and Sauternes. The red wines from the Left Bank are generally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and sometimes Petit Verdot and Malbec. The whites are made from a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon and can have a small amount of Muscadelle. In 2010, the success of the majority of the wines rests largely upon Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc playing a strong supporting role. Both of these grapes have produced wines that are nicely aromatic but not overly tannic.
Haut-Médoc/Médoc The Médoc extends northwest of the city of Bordeaux. It is divided into Haut-Médoc, where the classified growths are also found, and the Bas Médoc, located further north on the marshes at the mouth of the Gironde River. Although the appellation technically covers the entire Médoc, most wines of the Médoc come from the Bas-Médoc. Always one of the most reliable regions of Bordeaux, the quality of the Médoc’s in 2010 is on display again. The wines produced in the southern part of this large appellation tend to be more supple, while the wines produced in the north are classic Médoc. Château Belle-Vue - $36.90 “One of the finest over-achievers in the southern Médoc, Belle-Vue is a 36-acre vineyard situated close to Giscours. The 2010's final blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and a whopping 20% Petit Verdot hit 13.5% natural alcohol. The wine boasts a dense purple color along with sweet black currant, cherry, licorice and barbecue smoke notes, medium body, supple tannins and a refined, elegant, lusty style. It is the kind of low level Bordeaux that sells for a song and will make consumers happy.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-89 points “Rounded and enticing, with a mix of crushed blueberry, plum and raspberry fruit backed by spice and toasty vanilla hints. Not shy about the toast, but there's plenty of fruit as well.” - The Wine Spectator 88-91 points Château Cambon la Pelouse - $35.90 “A major sleeper of the vintage from this 100-acre vineyard near Cantemerle and Giscours, the 2010 is a blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot produced under the guidance of well-known consultant, Claude Gros. An opaque ruby/ purple color is followed by sweet black raspberry, black cherry and black currant fruit notes intermixed with notions of licorice and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and supple textured, this sexy Bordeaux should be consumed over the next 5-8 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 89-92 points Château Cantemerle - $64.90 “A quintessentially elegant style of Bordeaux, the opaque ruby/purple-tinged 2010 Cantemerle possesses elegant floral notes intermixed with hints of blueberries, raspberries, sweet red cherries and currants. Medium-bodied with impressive purity, concentration and texture, it is not a heavyweight, but rather a well-proportioned, stylish red that should drink nicely for 15-20 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points
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Château La Lagune - $109.90 “Proprietress Caroline Frey has elevated the quality at La Lagune since acquiring this estate, and the 2010 is another superb effort as well as one of the better values in Bordeaux. An opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary perfume of black raspberries, black currants, licorice and subtle smoke and graphite. While uber-concentrated, full-bodied and pure, it retains both elegance and precision as well as a sensational 45-second finish. The suppleness of the tannins and stunning opulence suggest it will drink beautifully for 25+ years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 93-96 points “A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. Bright dark red. Knockout nose combines raspberry, violet, spicy oak, minerals and dried herbs. Wonderfully tangy and delineated, with excellent thrust and concentration to its blackberry and sweet spice flavors. Still, this comes across as a bit youthfully closed and hiding as much as it's showing today. Finishes long and scented, with substantial but fine tannins. Combining finesse with power, this very impressive La Lagune ought to age very well, and my guess is that it will develop significant complexity.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “This is tangy, with red currant, roasted mesquite, sanguine and tobacco notes. Already shows range and definition, with solid grip.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92 points Château La Tour Carnet - $66.90 “From their 180 acres, this large estate fashioned a blend of 53% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and small quantities of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Harvested over a three week period (September 29 - October 17), it is a big, tannic, nearly over-sized wine boasting a dense purple color along with notes of graphite, blueberries, black raspberries and spring flowers. Great fruit on the attack, a powerful, full-bodied mouthfeel and an unusually masculine, muscular style suggest this 2010 will require patience, but it could turn out to be one of the finest La Tour Carnets ever produced. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2045.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94 points “Opaque inky-ruby. Floral, fruity nose offers dark plum, cassis, licorice and tar. Then soft and supple on the palate, with rich flavors of blackcurrant jelly, black cherry syrup, tar, underbrush, and a lingering balsamic coffee note. The satisfying finish shows youthfully chewy tannins and good length. This very promising wine from Bernard Magrez struck me as less oaky and more gently extracted than many of his wines from previous years.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points “This has good grip from the start, with a graphite underpinning to the dark plum sauce, linzer torte and black currant fruit. The finish is long and well-structured. Very solid.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92 Château Potensac - $49.90 “Traditionally made, yet exhibiting some modern touches such as ripe fruit, the 2010 Potensac is another sleeper of the vintage from this estate, owned by Jean-Hubert Delon, the proprietor of Léoville Las Cases. Classic Bordeaux notes of red and black currants, earth, and spice box are wellpresented in this deep ruby/purple-colored, medium-bodied wine, which should drink nicely for a decade or more.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-89 points 6
“Very primal, with cassia and violet running from start to finish, backed by a lightly chalky, slightly tight finish. Shows the austere side of the vintage, but has admirable length. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Advocate 90-93 points Château Sénéjac - $33.90 “Pontet-Canet’s brilliant proprietor, Alfred Tesseron, has begun to look after the wines of Sénéjac and the result is a tasty, elegant 2010 offering copious berry fruit notes intermixed with hints of cedarwood and spice. This cuvee should be drinkable upon release and evolve for a decade.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-90 points “Still compact, with a very briary, juicy core of plum, dark currant and braised fig, followed by a roasted tobacco edge on the finish. Offers lively acidity. Should unwind nicely.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92 points Château St-Paul - $29.90 “Another bargain from our friend Jeffrey Davies in Bordeaux. This red has sweet, ripe black fruit flavours with a focused, precise style, and a long finish. The complexity reminds me more of a classified growth.” - John Clerides Château Sociando-Mallet - $67.90 “The classic 2010 displays everything one expects from this over-achieving Haut-Medoc. A dense purple color is followed by aromas of blueberries, black currants, graphite and crushed rocks, a layered, full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning concentration and sweet, more polished and refined tannins than are normally found in barrel samples of Sociando-Mallet. This cuvee should last for 20-30 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. Bright ruby-red. Fresh aromas of raspberry, cassis, cedar and flowers. Enters bright and clean, but the deep red fruit and oaky flavors turn mountingly tannic. I'm normally a big fan of Sociando-Mallet, and there's good density and depth to the fruit aromas and flavors in 2010, but this vintage seems a little too marked by astringent, green tannins. Perhaps I'll be proven wrong in time.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 85-89 points
Saint-Estèphe Saint-Estèphe is the northern-most commune appellation in the Haut-Médoc. The wines from this commune tend to be austere and robust in their youth, needing fairly long ageing to show their best. Since the 1980’s however, the trend has been to craft wines with a higher percentage of Merlot, thus making the wines approachable earlier. While Merlot plantings have risen, the star of this appellation is still Cabernet Sauvignon which ripens to perfection and dominates the blends each year. The wines of 2010 have a natural richness that will make them accessible younger than the neighbouring Pauillac’s but that still retain tremendous ageing potential.
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Château Calon-Ségur - $159.90 “A higher alcohol content (13.8% versus 13.4% in 2009), but lower pH (3.7 versus 3.9 in 2009) has resulted in a concentrated, textured wine that requires a decade of cellaring. It will keep for 35-40 years thereafter. The 2010 harvest at Calon-Ségur occurred between September 25 and October 14, and the final blend was 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of plums, kirsch, licorice, incense and herbs. Full-bodied, moderately tannic, pure, fresh and precise, this beauty will require lots of patience from prospective purchasers. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94+ points “A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Bright ruby-purple. Complex, pure aromas of fresh blueberry, blackcurrant, truffle, violet and black pepper are accented by sexy new oak (100% this year, up from 90% in 2009). Began a bit brooding in the middle palate but gained in pliancy and richness with air, showing enticingly pure and remarkably concentrated flavors of dark berries lifted by spices and very harmonious acids. This gorgeous, seamless wine finishes extremely long, with very smooth if youthfully assertive tannins, and a lingering note of violet. A huge wine of great class and purity but one that will require enormous patience; along with Latour, this is the most backward of all the great Bordeaux of the 2010 vintage. It is also one of the very best: it reminded me of the monumental 1966 made here and I believe it will go down as one of the all time great Calon-Ségurs. Flowering at Calon-Ségur was very homogeneous and rapid in 2010, unlike in many other Bordeaux properties, allowing for even ripening of the berries and proper physiological maturity of tannins, something that was common to the best wines of 2010. Beginning with this vintage, the talented and soft-spoken Eric Boissenot, the main consulting winemaker to many of the Left Bank's great wines, has also begun consulting at Calon-Ségur. He and Calon-Ségur's technical director Vincent Millet were in the same enology class at Bordeaux University and also previously worked together at Château Margaux.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 94-97 points Château Capbern Gasqueton - $39.90 “Composed of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, this is one of the Gasqueton family’s finest efforts to date (although the 2009 was also very good). The dark ruby/purpletinged 2010 exhibits plenty of delicious red and blackberry fruit, medium body and more size and substance than most past vintages. It should drink well for a decade or more.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-89 points “A 73/27 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Dark ruby. Perfumed, floral aromas of black cherry, violet and lavender. Enters bright and fruity, with savory black cherry and blackcurrant flavors, then turns increasingly tight and austere on the back, finishing with slightly astringent tannins and persistent, pure black fruit flavors. Though this is a little tannic at present, there's enough fruit here to allow for optimism: after an excellent 2009, this is yet another very good Capbern-Gasqueton. That it's taken very seriously by the staff at Calon-Ségur, which owns this property, can be inferred from the 80% new oak used to age this wine.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points Château Lafon-Rochet - $86.90 “Proprietor Basile Tesseron may have produced his finest Lafon-Rochet to date. The 2010's inky/blue/purple color is followed by a distinctive bouquet of spring flowers, blueberry pie, blackberry liqueur and crushed rocks. Although a classified growth, this wine is an undeniable sleeper of the vintage as its price remains reasonable. The wine possesses terrific structure, ripe tannins and a voluminous, broad, deep impression on the palate. The fruit intensity, purity and richness suggest 4-5 years of cellaring will be required and the wine will last for 20+ years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94 points 8
“66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Dark ruby-red. Deep, pure, perfumed aromas of black fruits, cured tobacco and black tea. Brawny and a bit chunky on the palate with a minty quality to the black fruit and flint flavors. Finishes with big, chewy tannins and a persistent note of cassis. Shows a creamy texture and plenty of palate weight but seems a little unrefined presently. This will need a good eight to ten years in the bottle to harmonize fully and should go on for another 20 after that. Incidentally, I sampled this wine three times and once it was vegetal and green; my guess is that it was the sample. The other two samples were superb, and are the basis for my score.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 90-93 points “This has a nice winey core of dark plum and macerated black cherry fruit, followed by racy acidity and flashes of violet and graphite. Sneakily long.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 Château Le Crock - $47.90 “This vineyard, owned by Didier Cuvelier, the proprietor of Léoville-Poyferré, is finally coming to life. A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2010 achieved 14% natural alcohol. It exhibits a dense purple color followed by notes of roasted herbs, licorice, fruitcake and black currants. Medium to full-bodied and rich with moderate tannins as well as the distinctive earthy character that often comes from St.-Estèphe, this broad, savory effort should drink well for 15+ years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “Round, bright and pure, with silky-textured plum, cassis and blackberry fruit and a long, iron-tinged finish. The grip really struts its stuff on the finish, with the fruit showing excellent persistence.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Château Meyney - $59.90 “This dense ruby/purple-hued 2010 exhibits lots of damp earth and black and red fruit notes along with moderate tannins. It appears to be the finest Meyney produced in many years (this estate made sensational wines in the 1970s and early to mid-1980s). It should drink well for 10-15 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 89-91 points “Dark, pure and driven, with seriously focused black currant, anise and plum notes and a long, graphite-filled finish. A strong showing.’ - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Château Montrose - $359.90 “Jean Delmas believes this is one of the all-time great wines of Montrose, comparable to the 2009, 1990, 1989, 1959, 1947, 1945 and 1929. The 2010 harvest took place between September 27 and October 15, and the final blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that achieved 13.75% natural alcohol, a fraction above the 2009's 13.7%. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1989, only even inkier and richer, the 2010 boasts a dense purple color along with glorious aromatics of blueberries, boysenberries, black currants and a crushed chalk-like minerality. The tannins are less intrusive than I would have suspected for such a young Montrose, but they are unquestionably ripe and well-integrated. Deep, full-bodied and massive, this beauty should be at its finest between 2018-2050.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 96-99+ points 9
“A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep inky-purple colour. Enticing aromas of pure floral blackberry, blueberry and minerals. Enters big, dense and suave, showing rich, almost viscous red and black fruit flavors complicated by dried herbs, tobacco, and minerals. The very long finish showcases some youthfully chewy tannins that could use a bit more polish. This large-scale Montrose is a bit chunky at present and quite backward; it will need plenty of time in the cellar but should prove to be very ageworthy (30+ years), although it's not nearly as thrilling as the splendid 2009 made here. The harvest at Montrose took place from September 27 to October 15, and the wine avoids any hint of overripeness, but flowering was somewhat uneven. Incidentally, Montrose bought a parcel of vines from Phelan-Ségur last year, and this year one-third of the grapes from those 22 hectares went into the grand vin. This explains the slight increase in the percentages of Cabernet Franc and Merlot in the final blend, as these varieties were well represented in the purchased hectares.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 91-94 points “Dense and dark, with a massive core of roasted fig, blackberry, espresso and bittersweet cocoa flavors followed by rapier tannins that drive through the finish. This has both richness and austerity. When it all comes together fully, this should be a superb wine.” - The Wine Spectator 95-98 points Château Ormes de Pez - $61.90 “This dense purple-colored 2010 exhibits dark raspberry and blueberry fruit notes, less power and structure than its neighbor De Pez, but more finesse, elegance and fruit forwardness. This impressively endowed effort should drink nicely for 10-15 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-90 points “A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2 % Petit Verdot. Bright ruby-red. Intense red cherry, raspberry and floral aromas are complicated by hints of cassis and dried herbs. Then quite fruity on the palate, with a luscious quality to the ripe red and black fruit flavors that suggests late-harvested grapes. Finishes clean and long, with a trace of heat and polished tannins. Quite successful.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Really vibrant, with lovely notes of plum, violet and cherry preserves laced with chalky cut that stretches out the finish. Very, very solid.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Château Cos d’Estournel - $519.90 “Representing 55% of the production and cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare, Cos d’Estournel’s final blend in 2010 is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and the rest tiny portions of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Compared to the massive 2009 (14.6% natural alcohol), the 2010 achieved slightly less alcohol, but also a lower pH, which accounts for its more tannic, backward, huge style. An inky/purple color is accompanied by aromas of damp earth, black currants, blackberries, licorice and charcoal. Firm, thick and super-concentrated, it is another outrageously impressive wine that will require 6-10 years of cellaring. It should keep for 30+ years. It is somewhat 2005-ish in its structure and palate impression.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-97 points “A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, Cabernet Franc 2% and 1% Petit Verdot; a 55% selection for the grand vin. Saturated bright ruby. Captivating, intense aromas of dark berries, red cherry, mint and tobacco. Dense, sweet and fruity in the mouth if still a bit youthfully tight, with great purity to the flavors of red and dark berries, exotic herbs and licorice. Finishes smooth and extremely long, with wonderfully silky tannins. 10
This very big wine will need plenty of time, but I have no doubt this will be remembered as a great Cos. JeanGuillaume Prats pointed out that though the analytical numbers (IPT, alcohol, acidity) are very similar to those of the '09 Cos, the two wines could not be more different. When it comes to wine, he emphasized, the numbers do not tell the whole story. I should point out that the 2010 Cos contains only 19% Merlot, down from the 33% of 2009—and Merlot that had overripened at that.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 93-96 points “This offers a terrific panoply of dark tea, cocoa, savory herb and red currant confiture aromas. Remarkably dense, with loads of strapping dark fruit and tar in reserve. There's massive structure, yet this is rounded and so, so long. A huge wine in the making. This is going to compete with the elite of the vintage. A truly superb effort. Contains 1 percent Petit Verdot, for first time since 2005.” - The Wine Spectator 96-99 points La Dame de Montrose - $87.90 “Representing 36% of the production in 2010. Composed of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, it is one of the finest examples of this cuvée I have yet tasted. Intense blueberry and cassis fruit intertwined with floral notes, a plump, unctuous texture and abundant fruit characterize this seductive, fleshy wine. Consume it over the next 10-15 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “Bright damson plum, cherry and black currant fruit races along in this invigorating red, with mouthwatering acidity and a superfresh, iron-filled finish that has a nice rapier feel. Sleek and long.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Les Pagodes de Cos - $109.90 “Possibly the finest Pagodes the estate has produced, as Jean-Guillaume Prats said, this 2010 is better than many vintages of Cos d’Estournel produced in the sixties and seventies. Forty-five percent of the production made it into this blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot that achieved 14.1% alcohol naturally. Plump and fat with an abundant concentration of black fruits as well as outstanding intensity, purity and texture, this beauty should drink well for 10-15 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-93 points “A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot. Bright, full red. Perfumed aromas of fresh blackberry, violet and cedar. Dense, sweet and juicy, with bright acidity lifting the flavors of ripe red berries, exotic dried herbs and graphite. With its fine-grained texture, very sweet tannins and excellent length, this sexy midweight offers impeccable balance and lovely purity of fruit. Without question one of the best second wines of the vintage. In fact, I think it will turn out to be the best Pagodes ever.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-90 points “This is sleek along the edges and dense in the middle, with ample crushed cherry, red currant and melted red licorice notes. A bright floral edge chimes in on the long finish. An impressive second wine. A little more Merlot than usual (62 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 38 percent Merlot). Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points
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Pauillac Just south of Saint-Estèphe lies the appellation of Pauillac, with the largest number of First Growths. Known for its long-lived wines with notes of cedar, cassis and cigar box, this commune is the most consistent from vintage to vintage. As always, the variety of wine styles produced in 2010 is amazing. Fragrant, severe and sumptuous, all the wines are Cabernet Sauvignon dominated and overall the quality is very good. Château Clerc-Milon - $134.90 “The powerful 2010 is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and the balance mostly Merlot except for dollops of Petit Verdot and Carmenère that achieved 14.5% natural alcohol – a record at Clerc- Milon. An intense purple color is followed by notes of incense, crème de cassis and flowers and a broad, rich wine with superb purity, concentration and depth. This layered, expansive effort could turn out to be one of the finest this estate has ever made. Give it 3-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère. Deep ruby-purple. Dense, rich nose redolent of cassis, dried herbs and violet, with a refreshing note of mint emerging with air. Smooth, full and rich on entry, with pure, precise black fruit and herbal flavors. Big, strapping tannins are silky and sweet. A very big, expressive Clerc-Milon that manages to deploy its considerable power with uncommon charm and refinement. Call me crazy, but I thought I could pick up the green pepper note given by the Carmenère. Jean-Emmanuel Danjoy, who was previously at Opus One for ten years, has worked for the past two years at Clerc-Milon with Philippe Dhalluin (the technical director and general manager of the Mouton estates), and his involvement is starting to show in a string of ever-improving wines from Clerc-Milon. And the greater attention to detail can't be a bad thing either, given the difficulties presented by working with such a high-quality but complex site (230 different parcels of vines!). This 2010 struck me as much better than the 2009.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 90-93 points “Offers a more rounded feel, with cassis, black licorice and plum sauce carried by very supple but substantial tannins and terrific acidity. The long finish has a solid tarry edge. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Advocate 93-96 points Château Croizet-Bages - $64.90 “This property is clearly on the upswing although they still have a long way to go to compete with the top end, non-first growth Pauillacs (i.e., the two Pichons, Pontet Canet, Haut-BagesLiberal, Grand Puy Lacoste and Grand Puy Ducasse). Nevertheless, the 2010 Croizet Bages reveals plenty of classic, sweet crème de cassis, camphor and underbrush characteristics. Medium-bodied with good purity and texture, it may turn out to be as good as the 2009 and 2005. The tannins suggest it has 10-15 years of aging potential.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-88+ points “80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Dark ruby. Enticing nose combines black plum, blackcurrant, violet, Oriental spices and soy sauce. Smooth and dense on the palate, with juicy fruit flavors similar to the aromas. Displays very good balance and finishes with smooth, ripe tannins. A surprisingly big wine for Croizet-Bages that remains elegant and refined but packs plenty of oomph. Tasted three different times with only one sample scoring less than 90 or 91 points. The best Croizet-Bages I remember tasting at a similar stage of its development, although the 2008 had already hinted at an overall improvement here. This wine may well be underrated by other wine writers who don't want to go out on a limb, given the estate's track record, but in 2010 Croizet-Bages, at least at this stage of the game, is very promising indeed.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points 12
Château d’Armailhac $94.90 “A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, the 2010 achieved in excess of 14% natural alcohol. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple color along with a pronounced nose of underbrush, cedarwood, licorice and black currants. This attractive, elegant, mid-weight Pauillac should be drinkable early in life and last for 15+ years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 89-92 points “60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Medium-deep ruby. Austere nose hints at red fruits, cassis, cedar and minerals. Soft and luscious on entry, then tighter and more linear in its saline black fruit and delicately herbal flavors. The fine tannins show a slightly bitter quality on the lingering finish. This came across as a bit simple, and though it's a very well made wine with a varietal composition similar to the 2009, I find the latter to be much finer.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-89 points “This has a nice briary core, showing dark fig and plum flavors, with a backdrop of roasted sage and tobacco. Offers good muscle and heft, but also the rounded feel of the house style. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points Château Duhart-Milon - $179.90 “This large estate (190 acres) has been on a qualitative rise for nearly a decade. A classic Pauillac, the opaque purple-colored 2010, a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, reveals beautiful notes of creme de cassis, licorice, tobacco leaf and forest floor. Bigger and more muscular than most previous vintages, this full-bodied Pauillac possesses stunning density as well as intensity. Atypically high in alcohol for this property, it requires 5-7 years of cellaring and should age effortlessly for 25-30 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 94-96 points “73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot. Opaque ruby-purple; this really stains the glass. Intense herbal, cola and coffee notes keep the blackcurrant aroma in check, but I find this nose ultimately lacks grace. Straightforward and austere, with blackberry, cedar and herbal flavors displaying good length. Finishes with a nice peppery kick but this Pauillac currently lacks a little charm and complexity. Perhaps all it needs is a little time.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-88 points “This plump red offers black tea, warm ganache, fig and black currant confiture notes backed by a smoky finish, with pillowy but lengthy tannins. Acidity then rushes in at the very end, adding more length. An impressive step up for this wine. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Advocate 92-95 points Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse - $81.90 “The recent resurrection and impressive quality emerging from Grand-Puy-Ducasse is obvious in their prodigious 2010. An inky/blue/purple color is followed by abundant notes of graphite, cassis and blueberry liqueur offered in an opaque, full-bodied, layered, structured wine. This prodigious Pauillac may be the finest wine ever produced at this estate, and is undeniably a sleeper of the vintage as it remains one of the finest values for a classified growth Pauillac. Give it 5-7 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25+ years. Bravo!” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94 points 13
“A 60/40 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Deep red. Restrained aromas of cassis, red apple, licorice and black pepper, lifted by an intriguing citrus note. Then juicy and easygoing in the mouth, with light flavors of raspberry and red licorice. Finishes simple and with only average length, but I like this wine's polite style and early-drinking appeal. The tannins turn slightly astringent at the back (from the Merlot?), but overall this is a successful Grand-Puy-Ducasse.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-88 points “Mouthfilling, with lots of fleshy crushed plum, blackberry and currant fruit pushed by dark tobacco and roasted vanilla notes. Muscular, but rounded and showing good integration already.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste - $159.90 “The greatest Grand-Puy-Lacoste since the 2005, 2000 and 1990, the fabulous 2010 reveals all the hallmarks of this estate. It boasts a dense purple color along with classic notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, blackberries, crushed rocks and flowers, sweet tannin and an exceptionally full-bodied and multilayered mouthfeel as well as a boatload of tannin. Cellar it for a decade and drink it over the following three decades. Proprietor Xavier Borie’s 2010 recalls the 2005.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 93-96 points “83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot. Saturated ruby. Very-ripe-verging-on-overripe nose dominated by strawberry liqueur, black fruits and faded flowers. Creamy and sweet but with very good acidity giving shape to the middle palate, this shows distinct hints of surmaturite to its sweet, creamy red and black fruit flavors. Finishes with mounting, slightly dry tannins, but there's so much fruit here that I'm confident that time in bottle will bring more volume and flesh.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 91-94 points “Juicy and still a bit compact, but with red currant, blackberry and roasted vanilla flavors. Shows the racy style of the vintage, with a solid core of fruit for balance. The pure, lengthy finish has nice polish, and this is rock-solid, with a flash of coffee at the end.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points Château Haut-Bages Liberal - $81.90 “Sleeper of the vintage exhibits a blue/purple hue as well as projected aromatics of blue and black fruits, spring flowers and subtle background oak. Full-bodied with moderately high tannins, a layered mouthfeel and a long finish, it should be at its best between 2017 and 2035.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93+ points “A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot. Medium-dark ruby. Fruity, bright aromas of red cherry, red berries and flowers, complicated by cedar and graphite. Then light and lively in the mouth, with strawberry, raspberry and smoky dark cherry flavors complicated by hints of white pepper and gunflint. The finish features a lingering floral note and chewy tannins that will need some time to resolve but seem polished enough to guarantee a bright future. This is an excellent, classically styled Haut-Bages Liberal, just a step below the first growths: I loved its balance, refined texture and sneaky concentration, though it might fail to impress those looking for a large quantity of creamy, soft fruit.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 91-94 points “Shows friendly mocha and roasted tobacco up front, followed by a mouthfilling core of blackberry, plum and cassis. The dense but velvety finish has nice latent grip.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 14
Château Haut-Batailley - $81.90 “This is always the most St.-Julien-like of the Pauillacs (although occasionally Pichon-Lalande possesses a suave, St.-Julian character and less power than many Pauillacs). The dark ruby/ purple-hued 2010 reveals sweet aromas of red and black currants, cedar and spicy background oak. It is an attractive, elegant, mid-weight wine with polished tannins as well as a restrained style. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 88-90 points “This is ripe, with a lovely beam of cassis and blackberry well-harnessed by seamless acidity. The rounded, enticing finish has a dash of toasty vanilla that's well-embedded.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Château La Mission Haut-Brion - $1,549.90 “One of the most powerful La Missions ever produced, the 2010, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, achieved 15% natural alcohol (even higher than the 2009's 14.7%). Nevertheless, the pH is normal which gives the wine an extraordinary precision, freshness and vibrancy despite its massive size. A blue/purple color is followed by a classic nose of blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and crushed rocks. This monumental, full-bodied, incredibly rich La Mission-Haut-Brion will need a decade of cellaring and should last for 40-50 years. It is slightly fatter and creamier than its sibling rival, the 2010 Château Haut-Brion.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 98-100 points “62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc; 15.1% alcohol. Deep ruby-purple. Deep, refined aromas of blackcurrant, cedar, minerals and wet stone on the reticent, Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated nose. Then very dense and powerful on the palate, with pristine blackberry, mineral and forest floor flavors and a supple touch that Haut-Brion doesn't yet show. The tannins are amazingly fine and polished, indeed among the noblest of the year, but this otherwise great wine lacks the sheer massive concentration of Haut-Brion. At 10,000 vines per hectare, La Mission almost always has 0.2% or 0.3% more alcohol than Haut-Brion, according to Jean-Philippe Delmas. But the exact measure of La Mission's success in 2010 is that its 15.1% alcohol is not at all obvious.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 94-97 points “This is loaded, with a torrent of pastis, crushed plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruit, backed by tarry tannins and a long, spice- and graphite-filled finish. Big, but very, very sleek. Highest percentage of Cabernet ever for La Mission (62 percent). Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Spectator 95-98 points Château Lafite - $1,549.90 “This exceptionally rich, thick Lafite came in with the highest level of natural alcohol (13.5%) ever achieved at Lafite Rothschild. To put that in its proper context, the 2009 and 2005 were 13.3% and in the hottest Bordeaux summer ever recorded in over 200 years, the 2003 achieved 12.8%. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, all harvested between October 9 and 14, the 2010 exhibits an extraordinarily dense color, an unctuous texture and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with graphite, charcoal and truffle notes. As director Charles Chevalier told me, between July and the October harvest, Bordeaux had its driest weather since 1949, but it never got excessively hot. Hence the tiny berries, freshness and extraordinary precision of Lafite Rothschild. This superb effort will undoubtedly shut down slightly once it is bottled despite a pH of 3.8. It needs no building up because much of Lafite Rothschild has now become an obsession with the wealthy 15
Chinese and most of it will undoubtedly be consumed before it ever hits its prime. Ideally, it should be cellared for 10-15 years and drunk over the following 50+ years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 98-100 points “87.2% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12.8% Merlot; 13.5% alcohol. Glass-staining deep purple-ruby. Archetypical Lafite elegance on the nose, offering delicate, pure aromas of cassis, blueberry, cedar and graphite complicated by intense minerality. Then bright and fresh in the mouth, with perfectly harmonious acids nicely supporting the pretty blackcurrant, cedar and delicate herbal flavors. Very long and extremely refined, with uncanny silkiness of tannins. A cool, refined, impeccably balanced Lafite that will need plenty of aging: drink 2022 through 2050. One of the top half dozen wines of the vintage.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 95-98 points “This is all guile and elegance now, with sleek, perfumy black tea, currant and crushed fig fruit, laced with subtle smoke, incense and tar. Just as you think it starts to fade, the acidity kicks in on the finish and brings everything back for an encore. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Spectator 96-99 Château Lynch Bages - $266.90 “Over the last three vintages, Lynch Bages has returned with a vengeance after somewhat listless performances following their brilliant duo of 1989 and 1990. Much of the credit for this must go to Jean-Charles Cazes who has taken over for his father, Jean-Michel, one of the greatest ambassadors Bordeaux has ever had. The 2010 blew me away on each occasion I tasted it during my two week sojourn in Bordeaux. Tannic and concentrated, this huge Pauillac boasts an inky/purple color as well as impressive notes of crème de cassis, smoke, graphite and spring flowers. This dense, seriously endowed, monstrous Lynch Bages is reminiscent of some of the wines made at this estate in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It will require 4-5 years of cellaring and should be drinkable for 3-4 decades.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-97 points “79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep ruby. Fresh aromas of red berries, plum, underbrush and minerals. Enters the mouth light and lively, showing clean flavors similar to the aromas. A politely styled Lynch-Bages, this pure, medium-bodied wine shows excellent balance, but some claret lovers might be left wishing for a little more creamy flesh and intensity.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 90-93 points “This is densely packed, with loads of crushed fig, plum and blackberry. Shows ample tobacco, roasted apple wood and bittersweet cocoa notes as well, but stays defined, with a long, authoritative finish that delivers waves of grip, backed by even more grip.” - The Wine Spectator 95-98 points Château Pédésclaux - $66.90 “Vibrant, racy and long, this super vivid red has great cut, with raspberry, red currant and iron notes. Pure and stylish, with a lovely floral hint hanging on the finish. Bravo on the turnaround going on here.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points
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Château Pibran - $64.90 “A 50/50 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot; 50% selection for the grand vin; 50% new oak. Deep ruby. Deep, restrained aromas of black plum, blackcurrant, graphite and black pepper: very typical of Merlot on calcaire, where this variety usually expresses itself with much darker fruit. Then thick, rich and satisfying on the palate, with fleshy flavors of cassis, flint and underbrush. A very good Pibran, not surprising given the very rapid, compact flowering that took place here, which led to even ripening of the berries. Due to Pibran's later-ripening calcaire soils the Merlot was harvested later than at many other Left Bank properties from October 2 through 8.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points “Nicely polished, with a fresh, pure beam of kirsch and blackberry fruit, followed by bitter cherry, violet and iron. The finish is long and sleek.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Château Pichon-Baron - $349.90 “A prodigious, blockbuster effort from Pichon-Longueville-Baron, the 2010 is reminiscent of this estate’s titanic offerings in 1989 and 1990, but may be even greater with 30 years of longevity. Kudos to proprietor AXA and general director Christian Seeley. It was absolutely compelling on each of the three times I tasted it. Black/purple-colored with super concentration and richness as well as full body, it offers an awesome display of creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, camphor and spring flowers. Stunningly pure and unctuously textured with high but sweet, well-integrated tannins, this superstar of the vintage is definitely a wine to purchase as a future. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2040. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 97-99+ points ”79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot; 80% new oak. A 50% selection for the grand vin. Opaque purpleruby. Blackcurrant and minty aromas are complicated by coffee and gunflint on the deep, reticent nose. Silky in texture and ripe, with very good complexity to the deep, brooding blackberry, cassis and pepper flavors. This multilayered, very rich wine offers outstanding mid-palate concentration of fruit and sneaky sweetness, finishing fresh and very long, with mounting but polished tannins. Should age extremely well. I'd plan to drink it from 2022 through 2045.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 93-96 points “This is mouthfilling, with terrifically dense yet graceful layers of roasted coffee, warm fig sauce, currant preserves and Kenya AA coffee. The powerful finish blends iron-clad tannins and a hint of loam. Cuts a broad swath, but remains pure. Destined for a long life.” - The Wine Specator 95-98 points Château Pontet-Canet - $269.90 “Pontet-Canet’s 2010 harvest took place between September 29 and October 17 (this vineyard is one of the few in Bordeaux that is fully certified as biodynamic) and the final blend was 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that achieved nearly 15% natural alcohol. A remarkable, full-bodied effort (as was the estate’s 2009 and 2008), like so many recent vintages from proprietor Alfred Tesseron, it is of first-growth quality (some may even argue that it eclipses several first-growths). Dense purple to the rim, it offers classic notes of crème de cassis, graphite, subtle smoke and spring flowers. Multi-dimensional with massive concentration as well as vivid purity, precision and freshness, this is another astonishing effort from an obsessive/compulsive proprietor who is doing everything right. On the 17
downside, this 2010 will require a decade of cellaring and should evolve for 50+ years. It will be fascinating to drink it side by side with the 2009 and 2008. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 96-100 points “65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. Bright ruby. Knockout nose of cassis, black pepper, minerals and cedar just screams Pauillac. Enters the mouth sweet, creamy and pure, displaying very rich, dense flavors of black fruit, minerals and dried herbs, with lively, integrated acidity keeping the wine from coming across as top-heavy. Finishes extremely long, with silky tannins and an intriguing floral note. Twenty-four hectares are now farmed by horse (up from seven last year) at what has become the first officially certified biodynamic grand cru classé property of Bordeaux. This wine has one of the most impressive and memorable noses of all in 2010 and is much better than the very good but generally overrated 2009. Though it's a little more accessible now than some other great wines of 2010 such as Latour and Calon-Ségur, this still needs another 10 to 12 years in the cellar to start showing its best and will keep another 40 years after that without problem.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 94-97 points “Seriously dense, with thickly layered fig paste, macerated black currant fruit, Kenya AA coffee and roasted tobacco. But really fresh and invigorating throughout, with mouthwatering iron and apple wood notes. Despite the power, this cuts like a knife from the start. When the Bordelais say precise, this is what they mean.” - The Wine Spectator 96-99 points
Saint-Julien Located just south of Pauillac, Saint-Julien is very uniform in terms of quality. Wines from this commune are classic, elegant and long lived with a lot of subtlety. Saint Julien is traditionally the bastion of decent Left Bank Bordeaux, the commune that makes up for its lack of First Growth with virtues of reliability, trust and steadfastness. In 2010, St. Julien produced wines that displayed the “quintessential claret” qualities that reflect their style and terroir. The wines are a bit more concentrated than 2009 and as such they have great ageing potential. Château Beychevelle - $149.90 “Flowery blueberry, red and black currant fruit notes intermixed with a hint of damp earth emerge from this wine’s moderate aromatics. Elegant with medium body as well as a classic Beychevelle style with high tannins and a more restrained structure, the elevated tannins suggest 7-8 years of cellaring will be necessary. It should keep for 25-30 years thereafter.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. Dark ruby-red with purple highlights. Floral aromas of red cherry, blackcurrant, licorice and tar. At once smooth, sweet and nicely delineated, with good lift to the delicate, lightly saline red berry, sassafrass and white pepper flavors. Finishes with sweet tannins and sneaky persistence. As usual, Beychevelle is not a blockbuster and left me wondering if it couldn't be just a bit more concentrated, but this 2010 seems to have more stuffing than usual. The high percentage of Merlot gives it early appeal.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Juicy, with a beam of cassis and spice bread, laced with smoke, graphite and crushed plum on the velvety finish.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94
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Château Branaire Ducru - $134.90 “Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has completed a decade of brilliant performances at this Château across the Médoc’s Route de Vin from Beychevelle and a stone’s throw from Ducru Beaucaillou, St.-Pierre and Gloria. A fabulous effort, the 2010's notes of raspberry jam, black currants, crushed rocks and spring flowers are followed by a wine of impeccable purity, medium to full-bodied power, sweet tannin and stunning texture and length. With superb richness and beautiful overall equilibrium, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25 or more years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 93-95 points “70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Bright ruby-red. Floral aromas of fresh red cherry, redcurrant, violet, gunflint and minerals. Suave on entry, then pliant and sweet, with a plush texture and a smoky quality to the redcurrant, blackberry and floral flavors. The spicy, aromatic, persistent finish is marked by ripe tannins. This struck me as a less opulent Branaire-Ducru than usual, but I liked its overall balance and light touch.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 90-93 points “This has guts, offering dark fig, plum and cocoa notes carried by velvety but substantial tannins, with a very long, smoke- and plum sauce-filled finish that has well-embedded acidity.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points Château Gloria - $81.90 “A sensational effort, the 2010 Gloria may turn out to be the finest wine they have made since 1982, although the 2009 is a serious contender for that honor as well. A bigger than life as well as more backward than normal offering, the 2010 exhibits an inky/purple color along with an opulent display of black currants, jammy cherries, licorice, cedar and roasted herbs. Some serious tannin gives the wine grip, but this is a full-bodied, big, thick, well-proportioned, super-endowed Gloria that will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and keep for two decades.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Deep opaque ruby. Intensely fruity, fragrant aromas of blackcurrant and blueberry pie complicated by hints of cinnamon and bay leaf. Then minerally and clean on the palate, with pure flavors similar to the aromas. The aromatically persistent finish is slightly chewy due to youthfully backward but polished tannins. A very stylish, successful Gloria that will age well, though it’s already pretty irresistible now.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Mouthfilling, with a core of plum and black currant fruit that expands in the mouth, while tobacco, graphite and roasted fig notes filling in. Long, with a dark tarry edge on the finish.” - The Wine Advocate 92-95 points Château Gruaud Larose - $125.90 “This gets my nod as the finest Gruaud Larose since the 2000 and 1990. The opaque purplecolored 2010 exhibits copious notes of Asian plum sauce, spice box, creme de cassis, loamy soil and a beefy/meaty character. It is full-bodied, dense and powerful, with stunning purity and no evidence of brett (a characteristic of the great Gruaud Larose wines made in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s). Given the 2010's tannin profile, it will require 5-8 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades thereafter.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94 points 19
“66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. Inky-purple. Intense aromas of cassis and dark plum are complicated by earthy underbrush. Very sweet and supple in the mouth, with a juicy quality to the bright red cherry, tobacco and mushroom flavors. Finishes with mounting but polished tannins and a hint of white pepper. This is a big wine that comes across as precise and pure, no small feat given its concentration. Yet another strong showing for Gruaud-Larose, following the excellent 2009. Drink from 2018 through 2040.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 92-95 points “Offers a serious core of kirsch, blackberry and plum sauce notes, with lovely, velvety tannins taking over the pure, violet-tinged finish, which has length and grace. Shows more elegance than most of its peers in this vintage.” - The Wine Spectator 93-96 points Château Lagrange - $112.90 “Lagrange's relatively new winemaking team appears to have backed off the aggressive oak regime and the result is a wine with better overall balance. Still a backward, muscular/ masculine style of St.-Julien, it reveals abundant tannin along with a subtle hint of vanillin intermixed with lead pencil shavings, white chocolate, black currant and cassis characteristics. Although less expressive than some of its 2010 peers, it is a big, powerful, rich wine that needs a decade of cellaring. It should last for 30 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 89-92 points “A 75/25 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Bright ruby with purple highlights. Reticent nose offers delicate aromas of blackcurrant, violet and cedar. A pronounced minerality gives delicacy to the rather forward blackberry, gunflint and licorice flavors. Finishes long, but with a slight green edge to the building tannins. A nicely balanced, medium-bodied Lagrange: perhaps time in bottle will bring more volume and flesh.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “This is precise, with pure, unadorned cassis, blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors woven with toasty vanilla and anise. Offers a lovely, rounded feel, despite its obvious weight. Very long.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Château Langoa-Barton - $124.90 “Softer than I expected given the highly extracted, exceptionally tannic wines routinely produced by proprietor Anthony Barton, the oaky, powerfully concentrated, dense 2010 Langoa-Barton possesses silky, well-integrated tannins. Nevertheless, the level of wood and the primary nature of the black currant and black cherry fruit suggest 7-8 years of cellaring will be essential. This is a 30 year wine.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Dark ruby-purple. Aromatic notes of Oriental spices and smoky vanilla add an extra dimension to the ripe red cherry and strawberry scents. Creamysweet in the mouth, but with nicely integrated acidity lifting the ripe red berry and red cherry flavors complicated by sweet spices, licorice and pepper. The long finish features youthfully chewy but noble tannins. As good as this wine is, a little more density would have merited an even higher score.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Pure, with a gorgeous beam of dark cassis and violet racing along, while black tea, spice, tobacco and tar flitter in the background. The finish is superpolished and very, very long.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points 20
Château Léoville Barton - $196.90 “The 2010 Léoville Barton was almost impossible to evaluate because of its highly extracted, masculine, muscular style. However, it exhibits a dense purple color along with surprising amounts of oak, excruciatingly painful tannin levels, good acidity and a massive mouthfeel. One of the biggest, most backward wines of the vintage, forget it for a decade and drink it over the following 30+ years. Unfortunately, I have passed the age where it makes sense to buy a wine such as this.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93+ points “77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep inky-purple. Knockout aromas of smoky plum, chocolate-coated blackcurrant, balsamic vinegar and aromatic herbs. Suave, sweet and fine-grained, with creamy-rich cassis, smoke and sweet spice flavors given definition by firm acidity. Finishes with subtly powerful, building length and fully ripe tannins. This strikes me as the best Léoville Barton in years, a really mesmerizing wine that's already remarkably pliant and accessible but also has a great future ahead of it. Drink from 2018 through 2040.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 93-96 points “Dark and winey, with a terrific core of plum and macerated black currant fruit woven with a note of black cherry reduction. Tarry but polished. Grippy but velvety. And plenty long.” - The Wine Spectator 94-97 points Château Léoville Las Cases - $499.90 “As one would expect, this is a powerful, concentrated wine with 13.7% natural alcohol (compared to 2005's 13.2%). The pH is quite normal at 3.56, and its relatively high total acidity gives it a classic, fresh, yet backward style. Given how long vintages such as 1982, 1986, and I suspect, 2000 are taking to reach maturity, prospective purchasers of this wine should easily invest in a decade of cellaring, although I suspect it will be closer to 15 or more years before it reveals secondary nuances. A good 40 to 50 year wine, it is a dense purple, full-bodied style of Las Cases, with classic sweet kirsch, graphite and black currant fruit as well as hints of new saddle leather and subtle oak. Backward, layered and multi-dimensional, the wine is stunningly rich, but brooding. Forget it at least until 2020 or later.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-98 points “A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby with purple highlights. Sexy, classic, captivating cabernet sauvignon aromas of blackcurrant, graphite and cedar complicated by minerals. Silky-sweet, fine-grained and almost gentle on entry, with well-integrated acidity contributing to an impression of finesse. Then dense and firm in the mid-palate, with rich, brooding cassis, gunflint and mineral flavors. This is considerably less showy today than the 2009 was at a similar stage of development, conveying a more austere aspect to its dark fruit flavors. Finishes pure, seamless and very long, with incredibly silky tannins. How JeanHubert Delon manages to get tannins this sweet and smooth every vintage is beyond me.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 94-97 points “This has almost searing acidity running through it, but it's ripe and mouthwatering, harnessing a massive core of black currant and red licorice notes. Supertight but very fine-grained, this gets tighter, but also longer, as it moves along. This could age in reverse for a while, before it starts to unwind. A brick house. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Advocate 95-98 points
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Château Léoville Poyferré - $227.90 “One of the prodigious wines of the vintage, the Cuvelier family has produced an outstanding 2010 that must tip the scales at 14.5+% alcohol. It boasts an opaque purple color in addition to a sweet perfume of spring flowers, black raspberries, crème de cassis and a hint of spicy oak. This seamlessly constructed St.-Julien possesses massive concentration, moderately high tannins, abundant glycerin, an unctuous texture, remarkably fresh acids and wonderful precision. It will benefit from 5-6 years of cellaring and last 30-35 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-98 points “61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Opaque inky-purple. Fruitdriven aromas of plum jam, smoky black cherry and chocolate-covered blackcurrant. Then increasingly austere and tough on the palate, with black fruit flavors hidden beneath a thick coating of oak. The long finish features clove, vanilla and underbrush nuances. This massive Léoville Poyferré will need plenty of time to shed its tannic cloak, but appears to possess enough fruit beneath its oaky veneer.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 90-93 points “This is big, with layers of succulent blackberry, cassis and linzer torte pushed by sweet spice and a long, graphite finish. Shows lots of smoky, fleshy power, but really sails along.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points Château Moulin-Riche - $51.90 “Juicy and vivid, with lots of raspberry, cassis and blackberry fruit woven with a perfumy black tea note. There's plenty of grip on the back end, but this is lush and has melded nicely already.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Château Saint-Pierre - $142.90 “A killer trilogy (2008, 2009 and 2010) has been produced by Saint-Pierre and the 2010 is unquestionably one of the all-time great wines this estate has yet made. A candidate for one of the top wines of this remarkable vintage, it offers a thunderball of fruit, extract, glycerin and intensity. Its black/purple color is accompanied by notes of melted licorice, camphor, blackberries, blueberries, creme de cassis and subtle background oak, amazing concentration, unbelievable opulence and intense, but sweet, well-integrated tannins. Moreover, because of lower pH’s and higher total acids across the board in 2010, and despite the high alcohols (this wine’s alcohol content must be 14.5+%), the overall impression is one of elegance, freshness and precision. This cuvée reminded me somewhat of a St.-Julien version of another of the superstars of the vintage, the 2010 Pichon Longueville Baron. The 2010 Saint-Pierre should drink well for 30-40 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-97+ points “Deep purple-ruby. Reticent but nuanced nose hints at cassis, brown spices and smoky herbs. Lush and seamless in the mouth, with lovely precision if not palate-busting concentration to the red cherry, blackcurrant, cocoa and underbrush flavors. Really spreads out on the palate and vibrates on the long, aromatic aftertaste. A wine of sneaky concentration and depth, it's a bit more youthfully closed today than usual for Saint-Pierre at this stage, but it still has the typical drink-me-soon appeal of this Château. I'd forget about it in the cellar for another six or eight years and drink it from 2018 through 2035. Should be an excellent value.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 92-95 points “Dark and winey, displaying a smoke-filled core of roasted plum, fig and anise, with plush tannins and a long finish, where the anise note hangs on nicely. Textbook St. Julien.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points 22
Château Talbot - $111.90 “Abundant amounts of sweet, up-front fruit give this wine a precocious appeal compared to many of its brethren. It exhibits a dense plum/ruby/purple hue along with sweet boysenberry, black currant, cherry, smoke and licorice aromas and flavors. This deep, medium to fullbodied, classic Talbot should be approachable when released, and age effortlessly for 15 or more years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Bright, deep ruby. Fruity, grapey aromas of strawberry, blood orange, tobacco and cedar. Then more blood orange and strawberry jam on the smooth palate, complicated by hints of lavender and musk. Finishes with good but not outstanding length. An uncomplicated, easygoing style, but I was a bit put off by a slight green streak to the mounting, palate-dusting tannins.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-89 points “Plump and rather open, with delicious plum, raspberry and black cherry fruit melded with spice and anise. This has a nice chocolaty finish, with a velvety feel.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Clos du Marquis - $102.90 “Now essentially treated as a separate estate by Jean-Hubert Delon, and not as a second wine of Léoville Las Cases (whose second wine is now the newly introduced Le Petit Lion), Clos du Marquis has been a shrewd consumer’s purchase for almost two decades. Interestingly, the first vintage of Clos du Marquis was introduced in 1902! The 2010, which is an exceptional wine, was produced from the same parcel that always goes into this wine. A blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, it is a relatively big wine at 13.6% natural alcohol, with loads of black cherries, black currants and crushed rocks in a medium to full-bodied format. Layered, intense, high-class and complex, this wine should drink nicely for 15 or more years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Bright, deep red. Subtle aromas of red berries, cherry, flowers and minerals. A ripe, sweet midweight with good tension to its supple red fruit, licorice and fresh herb flavors. Finishes with moderate length and a refined quality; currently a little subdued, and although the tannins are smooth, I get a hint of green at the back.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-89
Margaux Margaux is the southernmost commune appellation in Haut-Médoc. Wines here generally have a higher percentage of Merlot than other northern appellations. Always a difficult commune to judge due to its large size and wide variety of soils. In 2010 the wines are easier to characterize thanks to the perfectly ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. This permitted wines with tremendous elegance and depth of flavour to be produced. Alter Ego de Château Palmer - $124.90 “For many of the classified growths in the Médoc, the quality of the second wines has soared over the last 5-6 years, and Alter Ego is no exception. The 2010 Alter Ego is the richest ever made. Relatively high in alcohol, this is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon and 49% Merlot. Thick and juicy, its black fruits intermixed with acacia flowers, camphor, and subtle smoky notes are followed by a plump, corpulent style of wine with loads of fruit, glycerin and texture. Drink it over the next 15 or so years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points 23
“A 51/49 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Deep ruby-red. Musky aromas of blackberry, gunflint and black pepper, plus a whiff of dried herbs. Bright and linear on the palate, with lively acidity framing the flavors of dark fruits, black pepper and minerals. Finishes with smooth tannins and good length. This rather firm-edged Alter Ego is a different wine than usual, more rigorous and less fruity than the softer, suppler versions of recent years. In fact, in this vintage it resembles Palmer more than Alter Ego.” Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Velvety and inviting, with lovely dark plum and blackberry fruit, followed by a long, caressing finish. This has some grip too, but it's nicely integrated. Should have some staying power. Tasted non-blind.” - Wine Spectator Online 92-95 points Château Boyd-Cantenac - $107.90 “An opaque blue/purple color is accompanied by impressively sweet floral notes intermixed with black currant and blackberry fruit. Medium to full-bodied with high but round tannins, the 2010 Boyd-Cantenac is exceptionally well-endowed, textured and pure. This under-the-radar estate (a classified growth in the famous 1855 rankings) never seems to catch the attention of consumers. It deserves better. Enjoy the 2010 for 25 or more years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “Full, dark red. Deep, slightly oaky aromas of black fruits, wild herbs and delicate spices could use a bit more verve. Clean and bright, with a minty, somewhat austere quality to the black plum and raspberry flavors. Finishes pure and long, with big, chewy tannins that need time to resolve fully. But I was left with the impression that this wine was slightly overextracted.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points “Very ripe, but with superfresh acidity to keep the lush plum, raspberry and black currant notes fresh, while melted licorice and a long, violet-filled finish come in behind” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Château Brane-Cantenac - $149.90 “After nearly two decades of mediocre performances, Brane-Cantenac has been doing impressive work over the last decade. While the 2010 may not eclipse the 2009 or 2005, it is an exceptional wine from proprietor Henri Lurton. A dense purple color is accompanied by a floral-scented bouquet revealing notes of licorice, graphite and red as well as black currants. Layered, rich and concentrated, this impressively constructed, seamless Margaux has plenty of tannin, but it is buried under the extravagant fruit and glycerin. This rich, pure, authoritative 2010 should drink well young yet keep for 25-30+ years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 93-96 points “A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Purple-ruby. Highly complex aromas of red plum, cassis, violet, graphite, and cedar. Then focused and suave on the palate, with flavors of pure blackberry, blueberry pie and flint. Finishes with broad, polished tannins and impressive length. This excellent Brane-Cantenac is a highly nuanced and structured wine with plenty of life ahead. If it gains in sweetness, it may well eventually rate a score at the high end of my range. Drink 2020-2040.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 92-95 points “A fresh, floral style, with violet and rose aromas followed by a mix of vibrant red currant and blackberry fruit. The dusty finish has good underlying acidity, keeping it racy.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points 24
Château Cantenac Brown - $104.90 “One of the finest Cantenac Browns made in the last half century, the 2010 may be even more impressive than the 2009. Sweet, fat notes of blackberries, forest floor and earth emerge from this inky/purple-colored beauty. The tannins are slightly more serious and elevated than in the 2009, but the big, bold, full-bodied 2010 represents a remarkable turn around for this estate, which has now produced three straight top-flight vintages. It should drink well for 25-35 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94+ points “66% Cabernet Sauvignon and 34% Merlot. Inky-purple. Initially reserved nose opens with air to reveal pure, vibrant scents of crushed black cherry, violet and minerals. Juicy and tight in the mouth, with penetrating flavors of black cherry, cassis, smoke and coffee and showing very good balance. A dense but weightless wine with wonderful energy and terrific lift. Finishes intensely minerally and long, with broad, mounting tannins that dust the palate. Cantenac Brown has been on a roll of late.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 91-94 points “Very focused, with a taut beam of red currant and crushed damson plum fruit, backed by very fine-grained, supple tannins. A twinge of iron weaves through the increasingly fleshy finish. This has power, but also lots of finesse.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Château d’Issan - $134.90 “Emmanuel Cruse has done a superb job at this moated castle on the southern approach to the appellation of Margaux. The dense blue/purple-tinged 2010 reveals notes of violets, blue and black fruits, a striking minerality, excellent purity, texture and length, a medium to fullbodied mouthfeel and noticeable but sweet, well-integrated tannins. It should drink well in 5-6 years and last 25-35.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 94-96 points “A 69/31 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Deep, bright ruby-purple. Classic highly perfumed aromas of blackcurrant, violet, crushed stone and gunflint. Bright, clean and concentrated but currently backward, with densely packed black fruit and mineral flavors displaying a wonderfully precise, penetrating quality. Finishes long and subtle, with an austere quality and a lingering note of violet. This will need plenty of time to show its best: I find that the better vintages of Issan age gracefully; while never turning into behemoths, they put on weight and flesh with bottle age. For example, the 1999 is drinking splendidly now. Enjoy this from 2020 through 2040.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 91-94 points “A juicy, ripe, forward style, with lots of kirsch and blackberry notes filled in with apple, sweet spice and red licorice, followed by a juicy finish. Not quite as vivid as the top examples, but solid.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92 points Château Giscours - $124.90 “The over-achieving Giscours has turned in a great performance in 2010, which possesses an opaque purple color as well as notes of licorice, black truffles, sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, flowers and soil undertones. It is very full-bodied and exceptionally opulent, fat and round, but the vintage’s acids, precision, high glycerin, alcohol and extract are all present. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-95 points 25
“A blend of 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot. Fully saturated ruby-purple. Inviting nose offers smoky black cherry and dark cocoa complicated by a floral nuance. Fairly rich, large-scaled Margaux with flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes moderately long and creamy, with substantial oak tannins and a balsamic chocolatey flavor. Perhaps a bit disorganized and chunky today, but it ought to come around in time.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points “Polished, with lots of alluring mocha and licorice notes leading the way, followed by creamy blueberry, blackberry and black cherry fruit. The finish is long and creamy.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Château Kirwan - $114.90 “Readers looking for a masculine, powerful, concentrated, broodingly backward style of Margaux need look no further than the 2010 Kirwan. A dense opaque purple color is accompanied by notes of graphite, licorice, blackberry and cassis. Intense and concentrated with good acidity as well as a boatload of tannin, it should be forgotten for 7-10 years and drunk over the following three decades.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-93 points “Ripe and very juicy, but with lovely seamless texture to the plum, cassis and violet notes. The long, racy finish is really persistent.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Château Lascombes - $196.90 “While this large property is composed of a huge number of small parcels that must require military-like precision to harvest, the quality of the wines over the last decade has been remarkable. The 2010 may turn out to be the greatest Lascombes ever made. It boasts a dense purple color along with an extraordinarily uplifted set of aromatics consisting of blueberry liqueur, black cherries, subtle smoke, crushed rocks and restrained oak. Massive fruit, an unctuous texture, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and stunning definition (because of good acids and a modest pH) have resulted in a formidable wine that will benefit from 5-6 years of cellaring, and should keep for 30 years. A brilliant effort!” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-97 points “50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Very deep, almost inky ruby. Perfumed aromas of red cherry, dark plum, flowers and cedar, plus a whiff of menthol. Juicy, sweet and nicely deep, with red cherry, blackberry and underbrush flavors carrying through to the long finish. The wine's tannins are firm but polished, and its bright, harmonious acids leave an impression of freshness and refinement that I don't always associate with Lascombes.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Slightly jammy, with a ripe, forward profile of plum, prune, blackberry and black cherry backed by an ample dose of dark licorice on the slightly raisiny finish.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92
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Château Malescot St. Exupéry - $164.90 “This estate, which has been on a qualitative crescendo for over ten years, has made a prodigious 2010 that ranks alongside their 2009, 2005 and 2000. A gorgeous fragrance of spring flowers, cedarwood, black and red currants and hints of spice box and subtle oak is followed by a generously endowed, full-bodied, opulent wine with layers of concentration, a restrained yet exuberant personality, superb fruit purity and a long finish. There is plenty of tannin, no doubt elevated alcohol and wonderful freshness as well as delicacy. This beauty should drink well for 25 or more years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 94-96 points “58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Good, full ruby-purple. Flamboyant, pure aromas of cassis, violet, gunflint and vanilla on the enticing nose. Then sweet, plush and broad, stuffed with opulent ripe dark berry, candied violet and licorice flavors. The melting tannins on the impressively long finish give this wine an early accessibility, but it also has the structure and weight to age extremely well. An excellent Malescot Saint-Exupéry, even if it tastes more like Pomerol than Margaux. Purists may like it less than I did.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 91-94 points “Fresh and lively, with lots of prominent but silky tannins carrying the mouthwatering plum, red currant and black cherry fruit. Rock-solid, with great buried acidity and a long, vivid finish.” - The Wine Spectator 93-96 points Château Margaux - $1,549.90 “Paul Pontallier was rattling off some interesting statistics about Château Margaux. The 2000 (a great, great wine) was 13.1% natural alcohol, the 2005 13.1%, the 2009 13.2%, and the 2010, the highest ever measured, 13.5%. That is still nearly one degree less than the Pauillac first-growth of Chateau Latour at 14.4%. This blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc (representing only 38% of the total production) has the classic, quintessential Margaux character of spring flowers, almost cool-climate precision, medium body, and a seamless integration of tannin, wood and alcohol. The blue and black fruit characteristics are present, and the wine restrained. The most measured and polished of all the first growths I tasted, it is also less concentrated than any of the other first growths, but the elegance is classic. The harvest finished on October 15, which was not their latest by any means. This is one of the few first growths of 2010 where the tannins are remarkably delicate and sweet, and the softness of this wine will provide magical drinking at a relatively early age, yet its balance and concentration will carry it for 20 or more years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 96-98 points “A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Good full ruby-red. Pure, ripe aromas of cassis, graphite and cedar, lifted by floral and mineral high notes. Dense and amazingly concentrated yet light on its feet, with compelling, extremely pure flavors of spicy blackcurrant, tobacco leaf and minerals. The extremely long, slow-building and wonderfully fine-grained finish offers an exhilarating combination of power and sweetness. This comes across as quite backward today yet is anything but austere. A real essence of Margaux's great terroir, and one of my favorite wines of the vintage. As I walked to the parking lot with Pontallier after the tasting, he said to me, "If people don't think this is one of the greatest wines I have ever made, then it means I haven't really understood anything in the last 30 years spent making wine." - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 10 91-94 points “Superfocused and superracy, with torrents of cherry, raspberry and plum fruit. Offering terrific mouthfeel, this glides by effortlessly, with a fantastic perfume developing on the finish. Long and iron-tinged. Really, really 27
fine-grained. Other than 2006, this is the only vintage since 2000 with as much Cabernet Sauvignon (90 percent). Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Advocate 96-99 points Château Marquis d’Alseme Becker - $66.90 “After making mediocre wines for many years, this estate has gotten on the right track since they brought in Michel Rolland as their consultant, and Rolland’s magic is on display in this beautiful 2010. From a 37-acre vineyard planted with 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest equal parts Merlot and Petit Verdot, this dense purple-hued offering reveals copious notes of sweet blueberries, blackberries, licorice and toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied and rich, it is the finest Marquis d’Alesme Becker I have tasted in my 30+ years of visiting Bordeaux. It should drink well for 12-15 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “A dark, winey style, with thickly layered crushed fig, currant paste and blackberry confiture notes wrapped with loads of graphite and roasted spice. The long finish has lots of grip. Well-packed. A strong showing.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Château Monbrisson - $59.90 “Ruby-red. Aromas of violet, cassis, black pepper and mint. Hints at sweetness and flesh on entry, then turns minty and light in the middle, finishing with slightly grainy tannins and a fragrant quality to its red berry flavors. Not the last word in complexity, fleshiness or length, but this will prove to be a good early-drinking Margaux.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-88 Château Prieure-Lichine - $106.90 “The strongest Prieure-Lichine produced in many years, along with consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt, the proprietors have fashioned a wine with true opulence as well as wonderful projected aromatics of blue, red and black fruits, licorice, flowers and subtle oak. Silky tannins, a sexy, generous, opulent attack, mid-palate and finish, no hard edges and well-integrated acidity, tannin and alcohol (14.5%) are all found in this impressive Margaux. Give it 2-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25. It is potentially one of the longest lived wines made at Prieure-Lichine since some of their classic efforts from the sixties.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94 points “65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Inky-purple. Flamboyant, opulent aromas of ripe black cherry, cocoa and cinnamon. Sweet and full on entry, offering flavors similar to the aromas, then high acids and mounting tannins kick in. Finishes moderately long, with a trace of heat.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-88 points “An amped-up style, with dark, weighty, frankly toasty layers of blackberry, plum and currant fruit giving way to black licorice on the finish. Offers more raw power than finesse and relies on toast more than acidity, but this is a solid example of the style.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92 points
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Pessac-Léognan Pessac-Léognan lies directly south of the city of Bordeaux in the region of Graves. The appellation was established in 1987 and it encompasses the 10 best communes which also have the right to the Graves AOC. This area takes its name from its very distinct soil, which possesses a high percentage of gravel. The wines from Pessac-Léognan are characterized by pronounced smoky and mineral notes. Though many thought it would be hard to improve upon the wines of 2009, the wines produced in 2010 did just this. Perfect ripening for all the red varietals has given the wines an extra bit of concentration over the previous vintage without a loss of elegance. These wines will age a very long time. Château Haut-Bailly - $239.90 “Proprietor Robert Wilmers and general manager/winemaker Veronique Sanders have done an extraordinary job at this estate, which has now become one of the superstars of Bordeaux as recent vintages have admirably demonstrated. An opulently styled effort, the blue/purple-hued 2010 offers a sweet kiss of graphite, charcoal, black cherries, black currants and compelling forest floor-like notes. A seamless integration of acidity, tannin, alcohol and oak is found in this full-bodied yet delicate, precise 2010. There is plenty of tannin but it is well-hidden behind the extravagant quantity of fruit. Give it 5-7 years and drink it over the following 35-40 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-97 points “64% Cabernet Sauvignon with 30% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. Inky-purple. Floral aromas of fresh blueberry, cassis and minerals complemented by allspice, sassafras and plenty of new oak. Dense and chewy on entry, then shows chunky, almost monolithic black fruit and herbal flavors. Although this gains sweetness and flesh with air, it remains somewhat tight and austere and finishes with mounting, grainy tannins. The persistent finish could use more acidity and less oak for better cut and clarity. Haut-Bailly is always one of the trickiest Bordeaux to judge when young, so it's entirely possible that this wine will blossom in the coming months in barrel. But although there is plenty of sweet fruit hiding beneath the glossy oak, it's presently tough going.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91? points Château Le Thil Comte Clary - $39.90 “A stunning sleeper of the vintage, this blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon was made by winemaking guru/consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt. The wine’s 14.5% alcohol tells you something about its amazing richness and intensity. Aromas of smoke, lead pencil shavings, sweet kirsch and black currants soar from the glass of this medium to full-bodied, opulent, fleshy wine. Some tannin lurks beneath the surface, but the overall impression is one of opulence and extravagance. Drink this beauty over the next decade or more.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “An attention-getter, with supervivid raspberry and blueberry fruit coursing along a racy graphite edge. There's solid flesh, but this is really lengthy and driven. A major turnaround going on at this estate.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points
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Château Pape-Clément - $254.90 “Bernard Magrez’s flagship estate continues to produce consistently beautiful wines and that includes his sensational 2010. The fruit was harvested between September 24 and October 20, and the result is an opaque purple-colored blend of equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that achieved 13.5% alcohol naturally. Subtle notions of smoke, graphite, oak, black cherries and blackberries jump from the glass of this impressively perfumed claret. Medium to full-bodied, strikingly elegant and less thick and intense than a structured vintage such as 2005, the 2010 possesses remarkably sweet tannin (sweeter than the 2005) as well as a full-bodied, long finish. It should be drinkable at an early age and keep for 20-25 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 93-95+ points “62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby-purple. Perfumed aromas of strawberry, spicy plum and black cherry. Enters fresh, dense and juicy, with lovely balance to the sweet, syrupy black fruit flavors and lively acidity that extend the rich aftertaste. The long, clean finish features lingering notes of violet and blackcurrant and extremely polished tannins. A great wine and one of the stars of the vintage in 2010: I can't recall a better Pape-Clément at a similar stage of development. I've taken issue with this wine in the past for overextraction, but this struck me as by far the most balanced Pape-Clement I've ever tasted. Michel Rolland consults here.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 94-97 points “A flashy, modern style, with lots of dark fig, anise and graphite notes, pushed by more black currant sauce and tar. Ample toast runs through the finish, but this has plenty of raw material.” - The Wine Spectator 93-96 points
Barsac/Sauternes One of the five communes of Sauternes, producers of Barsac are entitled to label their bottles under either name. Located on the west side of Céron, the vineyards benefit from river mist which favours the noble rot. Wines from Barsac tend to be a little lighter than Sauternes due to the high content of sand and limestone in the soil. This is a great area for good value sweet wines. Located just south of Graves, the Sauternes appellation is dedicated entirely to the production of unfortified sweet wines. Most wines are made of a blend of Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and occasionally Muscadelle. The 2010 produced grapes with a remarkable combination of richly botrytised berries that retained remarkable acidity. This means that the wines produced here have pure, crystalline aromas that are more akin to Riesling TBA’s. These wines are rich, pure, true to terroir but far easier to drink that anything produced in recent memory. Château Climens - $97.90 375ml “Berenice Lurton and her team managed to pick the crop just hours before rains fell on October 23. Tasting through every one of their lots in 2010, there was a theme of tautness, racy acidity and spice. Focusing upon two batches representing about 14% of the harvest, there was patently exquisite balance and a sense of concentrated but efficient power, counterbalanced by immense purity and effervescence. Their problem will be knowing exactly which lots to deselect!” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 94-96 points
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Château Guiraud - $43.90 375ml “The 2010 Château Guiraud has fine purity and minerality on the nose, with touches of passion fruit and dried apricot, later quince joining the fray. The palate is very well-balanced with a lively entry of apricot, quince and a touch of hazelnut. The middle and finish demonstrate fine tension and a lot of freshness. Individual lots seemed to have more race than the final sample, and I suspect it will warrant a higher score once the final blend is in bottle.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “This is developing some real power, with glazed peach and pear fruit pushed by graham and honey notes. There's lots of viscosity on the finish, but with good underlying acidity.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey - $42.90 375ml “The Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey has an ebullient nose of Tropicana, dried honey and quince that intensifies in the glass whilst maintaining impressive definition. The palate is very wellbalanced with superb tension and focus, a Sauternes built of minerality and poise, leading to a citrus, almost spicy finish that leaves the mouth tingling with pleasure.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points Château La Tour Blanche - $54.90 375ml “The Château La Tour Blanche has a complex bouquet with scents of grapefruit, honey, apricot and white flowers. The palate is very well-balanced, with a great sense of tension and poise, and notes of citrus lemon, lime, dried honey and a touch of marmalade that lead to a tightly wound, focused, almost Germanic finish. This is intriguing Sauternes that should repay considerable cellaring.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-94 points “Gorgeous apricot, ginger, green fig and honey flavors show lots of density, with a sweet, rich finish. A big one in the making.” - The Wine Spectator 93-96 points Château Rieussec - $66.90 375ml “Sporting 140gms/L residual sugar, the 2010 Rieussec displays impressive clarity on the nose, with fresh pineapple, grapefruit and a touch of lime flower, and tangible minerality. The palate has that “Tropicana” vibe with guava, almond and pineapple that slightly obfuscates the terroir towards the finish. This is a highly enjoyable, comparatively rich 2010 Sauternes, but without the intellect of some of the finest examples of the vintage.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “Extremely rich and bright, with lots of green fig, honey and apricot. Very lush and round, with some serious weight and power in reserve. Remarkably fresh now. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Spectator 93-96 points
Bordeaux Supérieur Bordeaux Supérieur is a generic Bordeaux appellation. It encompasses parts of the Left Bank and Right Bank, as well as the area between the two, known as Entre-Deux-Mers. The Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée requires an extra 1/2 degree of alcohol over the Bordeaux AOC to have the Supérieur designation. It is very important to be selective, as the quality of the wines varies depending upon where the grapes are sourced. 31
Château Bolaire - $27.90 “An exclusive for American wine broker Jeffrey Davies, the 2010 Bolaire was cropped at 37 hectoliters per hectare. An outstanding sleeper of the vintage, its unusual blend of 40% Petit Verdot, 35% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Sauvignon might raise a concern about tannin levels, but that does not appear to be a problem with this particular wine. A dense purple color along with sweet blueberry and black raspberry fruit and medium to full-bodied flavors transcend the appellation. Drink it over the next 4-5 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-89 points “Expressive, with a vivid beam of plum and cassis flavors backed by sweet spice. There's not a lot of range, but this is fresh, with ripe fruit.” - The Wine Spectator Online 86-89 points Château de le Cour d’Argent - $24.90 “I tasted this wine twice during my visit to Bordeaux and on each occasion it was a beauty. Made from 100% Merlot planted in clay and limestone soils and aged in old oak, it is an attractive, chubby, delicious, young Bordeaux bursting with raspberry and black cherry fruit. With admirable purity as well as a nice texture, it is the type of wine that Bordeaux needs to make more frequently, as it is unmistakably Bordeaux in taste and textural/aromatic profile. It also represents a great value. Enjoy it over the next 2-3 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-88 points “A bit compact, but still quite juicy, with briary black cherry, plum skin and sweet spice notes. Just a touch clamped on the finish, but should flesh out enough.” - The Wine Spectator 87-90 points
RIGHT BANK The Right Bank is on the east side of the Dordogne River. The two most important appellations are Pomerol and Saint-Émilion. The wines from the Right Bank range from 100% Merlot to blends dominated by Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Generally, there is much less Cabernet Sauvignon in these wines. As always the success of the 2010 vintage depended on the quality of the Merlot. Once again it was very rich, sometimes even alcoholic with most wines pushing 14%. Due to the sheer concentration and power of the Merlot crop, many of the wines are in a style that is similar to the Cabernet dominated wines of the Left bank. Dense, concentrated and built for long-term ageing.
Côtes-de-Bordeaux The Côtes-de-Bordeaux represents 14% of the total production of Bordeaux wines, covers 12,600 hectares and has 1,500 winegrowers, divided into the 4 "terroirs" of Blaye, Cadillac, Castillon and Francs. Located on the right bank of two rivers: the Garonne and the Dordogne and on hillslide vineyards, the Côtes de Bordeaux vines enjoy ideal sunny conditions for producting quality wines. The red wines (97% of the production) are fruity and expressive with the Merlot as main grape varietal. In 2010, some excellent wines were made and this is definitely a year to be on the lookout for some great values. Alcohols might seem a bit high, but the same wines possess refreshing acidity so the wines are all nicely balanced.
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Château Le Doyenné - $25.90 “Michel Rolland, who has been the consultant here for well over a decade, consistently producers a well-made, attractive La Doyenné. Composed of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2010 reveals scents of coffee beans, jammy berries and black currant fruit, a healthy color and silky tannins. A sleeper of the vintage, it offers a delicious introduction to Bordeaux that can be consumed over the next 2-3 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-88 points
Côtes-de-Castillon Côtes-de-Castillon lies just east of Saint-Émilion. Of all the lesser-known appellations, it may well possess the greatest number of hidden treasures. In 2010, some excellent wines were made and this is definitely a year to be on the lookout for some great values. Alcohols might seem a bit high, but the same wines possess refreshing acidity so the wines are all nicely balanced. Château Cap de Faugères - $34.90 “A big-time sleeper of the vintage, this 2010 reveals a dense ruby/purple color along with lots of black raspberry, black currant, toasty oak and smoke characteristics offered in a medium to full-bodied style that over-delivers for its humble appellation.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Full ruby. Intense aromas of raspberry, graphite, exotic spices and vanilla. Soft and ripe in the mouth, but with good floral lift to the concentrated, ripe black fruit and chocolate flavors. Made in a rather powerful style, but a bit blurry on the back end from the alcohol and the oak. The broad, moderately long finish shows considerable tannins and dark chocolate.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points “This has a fresh, invigorating feel, with bright acidity and floral notes cutting through the plum and black cherry fruit nicely. The finish is long and silky. Delicious.” - The Wine Advocate 89-92 points Château la Roncheraie - $41.90 “A superb discovery for me, this tiny (4 acres) garagiste Côtes-de-Castillon is made by the talented consultant, Claude Gros. Made from 100%, late-harvested Merlot (15.5% alcohol), this stunning wine exceeds its humble appellation. A dense purple color is accompanied by abundant blackberry, plum and fig-like fruit presented in a deep, chewy, supple textured, explosively rich, full format. This superb, modern-styled 2010 will offer sumptuous drinking over the next 7-8 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 89-91+ points Château Pitray-Madame - $23.90 “This recently resurrected estate has fashioned a 2010 offering abundant notes of black cherries, black currants and licorice with a hint of barrique in the background. It is a mediumbodied, richly fruit Côtes-de-Castillon to drink during its first 4-5 years of life.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 87-88 points
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Clos Puy Arnaud - $51.90 “Always one of my favorite Côtes-de-Castillons, this 35 acre vineyard is planted primarily on limestone soils. A blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2010 was cropped at 24 hectoliters per hectare, and attained 14.5% natural alcohol. Abundant Rhône-like notes of black raspberry, licorice, garrigue and lavender emerge in the aromatics, but in the mouth, the wine is pure Bordeaux in its rich black currant and black raspberry-like fruit intermixed with subtle oak in the background. This impressively full, rich effort is capable of lasting 7-10 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “Very primal, showing ebullient cherry and damson plum notes, with a bright, floral finish. Stylish and pure, if a touch shy on density in the end.” - The Wine Advocate 88-91 points
Saint-Émilion Home of the “so-called” micro-châteaux, Saint-Émilion’s output is bigger than that of any other Right Bank appellation. The wines from this appellation are usually dominated by Merlot with an important percentage of Cabernet Franc. Since Cabernet Sauvignon struggles to ripen in this area, it is only planted where there is an ideal microclimate and is relegated a minor position in most wines. 2010 was a very consistent year, more so than in 2009. Concentrated Merlot grapes when coupled with the success of both the Cabernet’s has produced some excellent wines. A profusion of styles of wines have been crafted but the majority are deeply coloured with lots of fruit and soft tannins. Big wines possessing great freshness. Château Bellefont-Belcier - $87.90 “One of the finest Bellefont-Belciers I have tasted, this outstanding 2010 boasts an opaque ruby/ purple color as well as copious notes of kirsch, licorice and sandalwood, excellent fruit on the attack and mid-palate, a full-bodied mouthfeel and moderate tannin in the finish. This beauty will benefit from 2-4 years of cellaring and drink well for 15-20 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-93 points “70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, cropped at a reported 28 hectoliters per hectare. Medium-deep ruby. Raspberry, violet, mocha and a hint of smoky torrefaction on the nose. Dense, sweet and creamy, with red cherry and berry flavors lifted by a floral component. Finishes sweet and pure, with fine tannins, very good length and a persistent hint of coffee. One of the best young Bellefont-Belciers I recall.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 89-92 points “Dense and ripe, showing its wood today, this has lots of spicy aromas leading to flashy mocha, blueberry preserves and anise notes, with incense, vanilla and blackberry on the finish. Not as integrated now as most, but there are plenty of components in place.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Château l’Arrosée - $79.90 “The dense ruby/purple-hued 2010 possesses copious notes of graphite, blueberries and black raspberry liqueur intermixed with subtle smoky oak. A more structured effort than other recent vintages, deep, pure, full-bodied and impressive, this property has regained its momentum over the last 4-5 years, and their 2010 is another powerful yet elegant effort that admirably translates its terroir. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 91-94 points 34
“Saturated red. Cherry-vanilla, cassis and violet on the nose. Juicy and sweet, offering creamy red cherry and blackcurrant flavors and a repeating note of vanilla. The finish lingers with a spicy floral note. This graceful, balanced wine will offer early accessibility but has the stuffing to age well too.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “A structured, weighty style, with dark blueberry, fig and blackberry fruit. There's ample toast, but it's wellembedded. Big but polished.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92 points Château La Fleur Cardinale - $74.90 “The greatest Fleur Cardinale since the 2005, the super-powerful, rich, opaque purple-colored 2010 exhibits beautiful floral notes intermixed with black raspberry, blueberry and boysenberry fruit as well as a hint of minerality. Exuberant and flamboyant with full-bodied richness, stunning purity and an impressive, textured mouthfeel and finish, this beauty should age effortlessly for 12-20 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 92-95 points “A blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Bright ruby-red. Floral, scented aromas of cassis and chocolate. A supple, spicy midweight with flavors of raspberry, graphite and tobacco. On the soft side but juicy and delicious, finishing with a light dusting of tannins and decent length. This would have merited a higher score with a little more complexity. In fairness, some critics liked this wine a lot more than I did.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-89 points “A dense, slightly chewy version, with a broad swath of roasted fig, espresso and black currant confiture pushed by additional charcoal and roasted tobacco notes. This is plenty fleshy and dense, with an encore of anise and plum at the very end. A bit raw still, but everything's there. This estate is quietly putting it all together.” - The Wine Spectator 91-94 points Château La Tour Figeac - $67.90 “This is one of the few instances where the 2008 performed better than the 2010 when tasted side by side. Trust me, there is nothing wrong with the 2010 as it possesses excellent, possibly outstanding black raspberry, blueberry, earth and acacia flower-like characteristics. The wine’s soft tannin, medium-bodied mouthfeel and less massiveness than most 2010s suggest it will be ready early and drink well for a decade.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 88-90 points “75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. Dark, bright ruby-red. Knockout nose exudes spicy, aromatic notes of strawberry, superripe raspberry and flowers. Then surprisingly light on its feet given the ripeness of the nose, conveying excellent clarity to its red berry, cherry and herbal flavors. Finishes long and smooth, with a lovely floral nuance and bright but harmonious acids.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Juicy and focused, with a delicious beam of anise, plum and blueberry. Superbright, with a long finish and a fine-grained structure.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points
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Château Larcis-Ducasse - $137.90 “An excellent effort, stylistically, the 2010 comes as close to the 2005 as one will find. The wine was made from remarkably low yields of 19 hectoliters per hectare and the final blend was approximately 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. The late harvest (it finished during the third week of October) was managed impeccably by the dynamic duo of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt. This phenomenal terroir, situated with a south/southeast exposition on the limestone soils of the Côte Pavie, has produced a wine with great individuality. Its dense purple color is followed by notes of black currants, sweet cherries, garrigue, licorice and incense. Already complex, it reveals formidably endowed, full-bodied flavors, a skyscraper-like texture, marvelous depth, moderately high tannins and excellent precision as well as freshness (which gives the wine that 2005-like personality). This 2010 will require 4-5 years of cellaring and should age effortlessly for 20-25 years thereafter.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-97 points “85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Bright ruby-red. Strawberry, red cherry, white pepper and flowers on the perfumed nose. A refined midweight on the palate, with fresh red cherry and plum flavors complicated by herbs and spices. The peppery, smooth, long finish features hints at flowers and white pepper. This pristine, lovely wine packs in a ton of flavor without coming across as particularly powerful or large-scaled.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 90-93 points “A nice winey core of crushed red and black currant fruit is laced with ample anise and graphite notes. Stretching out nicely already on the finish, with fresh acidity.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 Clos des Jacobins - $75.90 “Consulting winemaker Dr. Alain Raynaud has produced a beautiful dense ruby/purplecolored effort offering abundant aromas of licorice, black currants, crushed rocks and flowers. Medium to full-bodied with fresh acids, high but ripe tannins and a long finish, this cuvee is usually fairly priced. It should drink well for 15+ years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “Bright, medium-deep ruby. Musky aromas of plum, blackcurrant and tobacco leaf. Juicy, sappy and rather stylish, combining peppery herb nuances with sweet chocolatey black fruit. Neither hugely concentrated nor particularly complex, but silky and insidious long, finishing with suave tannins. Hubert de Bouard consults here.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points “This is loaded with enticing raspberry and blackberry fruit, along with crushed plum and cherry sauce notes. Sleek and racy through the finish, with the graphite edge starting to take form. Shows nice purity and length.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points
Pomerol Merlot is without a doubt the king of this 784 hectare appellation. Given the right weather conditions, it produces lush, rich and voluptuous wines that are very approachable in their youth but also have the ability to age. It should come as no surprise that this small appellation produced a staggering number of truly outstanding wines in 2010. The wines have deep colour, lovely floral an berry aromatics, svelte tannic structure and good length that is all framed by acidity that lends freshness and balance.
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Château Beauregard - $77.90 “An opaque purple-colored, dense, tannic, powerful Pomerol, the 2010 Beauregard exhibits a muscular framework, abundant tannin and impressive concentration as well as sweet fruit. Atypically backward for a Pomerol, it requires 3-5 years of cellaring and should drink well for two decades. Tasted twice.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 89-91 points “A 75/25 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Opaque ruby-purple. Very ripe aromas of cassis, black cherry and spicy underbrush, along with an element of smoky chocolate; this borders on overripe. Sweet and lush on entry, with plenty of breadth to the smoky plum and milk chocolate flavors, but then finishes with mounting, somewhat harsh tannins. This is aging in 65% new oak, and perhaps this percentage is too high. General Manager Michel Garat, who is also responsible for the very good Sauternes of Bastor-Lamontagne, told me that Beauregard hopes to increase the percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend to at least 30%; that's why more of this variety was planted five years ago at a tight spacing of 9,000 plants per hectare. Like most successful estates in the area, the Merlot was harvested early (on September 20), while the Cabernet Franc came in on October 8.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-89 points Château Clinet - $229.90 “A spectacular success in this vintage, this blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc achieved 15% natural alcohol. Sadly, there are only 3,400 cases primarily because of the small Merlot crop (yields were only 29 hectoliters per hectare). The wine’s opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of boysenberries, blueberries, black currants, licorice, truffles and a hint of asphalt. The wine possesses great intensity, a multidimensional mouthfeel, stunning glycerin and richness, and wonderful freshness as well as precision because of the vintage conditions. This massive Pomerol will age effortlessly for 30-35 years. Equaling what Clinet achieved in 1989 and 1990, it is the third successive great vintage for this estate.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-98 points “Deep ruby-purple A strong element of superripeness dominates the aromas of plum, prune, coffee, and cocoa on the nose. Rich, plush and dense in the mouth, but with a sappy quality to leaven the wine's liqueur-like ripeness of plum, cocoa and underbrush flavors. Though I don't find the vibrancy or lift of the best wines of the appellation, I have to admit that this Clinet maintains very good balance for such a ripe, concentrated wine. The long finish features youthfully chewy tannins. Those who like their clarets big, rich and ripe will score this higher than I did.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 88-91 points “Rich and fleshy, with a cocoa powder frame to the blueberry, raspberry and dark plum fruit. Long, with some muscle, yet stays graceful overall.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 Château Gazin - $134.90 “Another remarkable effort from Gazin, the big, powerful, dense 2010 boasts an opaque purple color along with loads of black currant and kirsch-like fruit intermixed with licorice, caramel, mocha and toasty oak. This seriously endowed, broodingly backward cuvée requires 6-8 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 93-95 points
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“Ruby purple. The floral nose of violet, white pepper, flint and truffle is very Pomerol. Then a little chunky and warm in the mouth, with fruit-driven flavors of blackcurrant and black cherry complicated by underbrush and cocoa. Offers good intensity and the smooth, sophisticated finish displays only moderate length.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 86-89 points “This sports some power, with dark fig, plum and blackberry fruit, but still stays silky, with perfumy black tea gliding in on the finish. A lacing of iron shows some strength as well.” - The Wine Advocate 92-95 points Château Le Gay - $225.90 “The 2010 Le Gay is another extraordinary achievement from proprietoress Catherine Pere-Verge, who purchased this estate in 2004. A tiny production of around 1,300 cases achieved 13.5% natural alcohol and the final blend was 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. An inky/blue/purple color is followed by a distinctive perfume of liqueur of rocks, blueberries, blackberries, truffles and a subtle hint of oak. Extremely tannic, full-bodied, structured, masculine and backward with abundant minerality as well as ferocious extract and intensity, this 2010 requires at least a decade or cellaring. It should keep for three decades or more.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 95-97+ points “Rich but refined, with a pure core of raspberry, cherry and plum fruit. There's a gorgeous, silky feel through the finish. Very long. No heat here—it's all style.” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 Château Nenin - $119.90 “An 82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc blend that hit 13.9% natural alcohol, the 2010 Nenin is a full-bodied, deep plum/purple-colored wine with loads of sweet boysenberry, black currant and cherry notes, as well as hints of earth and spring flowers. Broad and deep, it could turn out to be one of the best-made wines from this estate. It will drink well for 15 or more years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points “82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc. Ruby-purple. Blackberry, violet and sweet pipe tobacco on the slightly medicinal nose. Juicy, supple and easygoing, with moderate depth and complexity to its black fruit, herb and earth flavors. A fruity, high-acid style, but with good balance and smooth tannins on the moderately long finish.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 87-90 points “Superfleshy but very direct, with long, racy raspberry ganache and red currant notes. Almost flashy, but stays focused through the long finish. Tasted non-blind” - The Wine Spectator 92-95 points Chateau Petit-Village - $124.90 “The finest wine from this estate since their glorious 1982, the 2010 Petit Village possesses aromas of licorice, black cherries, cassis, truffles and oak. Powerful and deep with a corpulent texture, a silky mouthfeel and a wonderful lushness, it will be drinkable in 2-3 years and last for 15 or more.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 90-92 points
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“75% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Good, bright ruby-red. Complex aromas of red berries, violet and minerals, plus a whiff of peppery milk chocolate. Very suave and silky on entry, then tight and energetic in the mid-palate, with sweet flavors similar to the aromas. Ripe and smooth on the long, peppery aftertaste. There's more Cabernet Franc this year in the blend, technical director Jean-Luc Martignon told me, because a well-situated parcel that survived the frost of 1956 has turned out to be Cabernet Franc—and not Cabernet Sauvignon, as they had always believed! This looks to be one of the best vintages for Petit Village in years. Stephane Derenoncourt also consults here.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 90-93 points “Crushed plum, raspberry and cassis flavors glide along silky, refined tannins, with a suave finish that has a polished edge.” - The Wine Spectator 89-92 points Château Vieux-Maillet - $59.90 “Shows lovely crushed raspberry, cherry and plum fruit, with silky tannins and a perfumy finish. Very silky, with deceptive length.” - The Wine Spectator 90-93 points Vieux Château Certain - $474.90 “Alexandre Thienpont thinks 2010 is even more powerful and tannic than 2009. This is certainly a big wine, dominated by its Merlot component (86%, with the rest mostly Cabernet Franc). The natural alcohol level is 14.5%, slightly above 2009, but the pH is a healthy 3.7, and the wine, like so many 2010s, is a paradox. The alcohols are often the highest ever yet the acidities are fresh and lively, and the wine crisp and refined. This is a deep purple-colored wine, with loads of opulence and fat, a voluptuous texture and tremendous purity. The style is a modern-day version of what they probably achieved in 1947, 1949 and 1950. Thienpont attributes the wine’s freshness to the lack of any real heat wave, the drought, and the very cool nights in September. This wine should drink well for 20-40 years.” - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194 96-98 points “86% Merlot, 8% Cabernet franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon; 3.7 pH; 90 IPT; 75% new oak; 14.5 % alcohol. Deep purple-ruby. Knockout nose displays amazingly penetrating aromas of black cherry, cassis, violet, pungent herbs and minerals; for me, this is the nose of the vintage! Then rich, fresh and mouthfilling, with lively acidity framing and lifting the wine's dark fruit, floral and mineral flavors. The very long, palate-saturating finish features building tannins that turn just slightly astringent at the back. Had the tannins been just a bit finer, this might have been the wine of the vintage. Alexandre Thienpont feels that this wine is similar to the 1950, while the 2009 is more like the 1948, and he notes there was 20% less production in 2010 than in 2009.” - Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June '11 94-97 points “Super broad and muscular, with lots of dark fig, currant and chocolate notes. A smoky tobacco edge on the back end is starting to emerge, and this begins to gush linzer torte and cassis with air. A very big wine. One of the stars of the appellation in 2010. 86 percent Merlot, 8 percent Cabernet Franc and 6 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, almost the same as 2009. Tasted non-blind.” - The Wine Spectator 96-99 points
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2010 Bordeaux Collection Case - $20,000.00 Contains one bottle each of: 2010 Château Margaux 2010 Château Lafite 2010 Château Latour 2010 Château Mouton Rothschild 2010 Château Haut-Brion 2010 Château La Mission Haut-Brion 2010 Château Cheval Blanc 2010 Château Petrus 2010 Château d’Yquem
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Alter Ego de Château Palmer Château Beauregard Château Belle-Vue Château Bellefont-Belcier Château Beychevelle Château Bolaire Château Boyd-Cantenac Château Branaire Ducru Château Brane-Cantenac Château Calon-Ségur Château Cambon la Pelouse Château Cantemerle Château Cantenac Brown Château Cap de Faugères Château Capbern Gasqueton Château Clerc-Milon Château Climens 375ml Château Clinet Château Cos d’Estournel Château Croizet-Bages Château d’Armailhac Château d’Issan Château de le Cour d’Argent Château Duhart-Milon Château Gazin Château Giscours Château Gloria Château Grand-Puy-Ducasse Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste Château Gruaud Larose Château Guiraud 375ml Château Haut-Bages Liberal Château Haut-Bailly Château Haut-Batailley Château Kirwan Château l’Arrosée Château La Fleur Cardinale Château La Lagune Château La Mission Haut-Brion Château La Roncheraie Château La Tour Blanche 375ml Château La Tour Carnet Château La Tour Figeac Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey 375ml Château Lafite Château Lafon-Rochet Château Lagrange
$124.90 $77.90 $36.90 $87.90 $149.90 $27.90 $107.90 $134.90 $149.90 $159.90 $35.90 $64.90 $104.90 $34.90 $39.90 $134.90 $97.90 $229.90 $519.90 $64.90 $94.90 $134.90 $24.90 $179.90 $134.90 $124.90 $81.90 $81.90 $159.90 $125.90 $43.90 $81.90 $239.90 $81.90 $114.90 $79.90 $74.90 $109.90 $1,549.90 $41.90 $54.90 $66.90 $67.90 $42.90 $1,549.90 $86.90 $112.90 41
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Château Langoa-Barton Château Larcis-Ducasse Château Lascombes Château Le Crock Château Le Doyenné Château Le Gay Château Le Thil Comte Clary Château Léoville Barton Château Léoville Las Cases Château Léoville Poyferré Château Lynch Bages Château Malescot St. Exupéry Château Margaux Château Marquis d’Alseme Becker Château Meyney Château Monbrisson Château Montrose Château Moulin-Riche Château Nenin Château Ormes de Pez Château Pape-Clément Château Pédésclaux Chateau Petit-Village Château Pibran Château Pichon-Baron Château Pitray-Madame Château Potensac Château Pontet-Canet Château Prieure-Lichine Château Rieussec 375ml Château Saint-Pierre Château Sénéjac Château St.-Paul Château Sociando-Mallet Château Talbot Château Vieux-Maillet Clos des Jacobins Clos du Marquis Clos Puy Arnaud La Dame de Montrose Les Pagodes de Cos Vieux Château Certain
$124.90 $137.90 $196.90 $47.90 $25.90 $225.90 $39.90 $196.90 $499.90 $227.90 $266.90 $164.90 $1,549.90 $66.90 $59.90 $59.90 $359.90 $51.90 $119.90 $61.90 $254.90 $66.90 $124.90 $64.90 $349.90 $23.90 $49.90 $269.90 $106.90 $66.90 $142.90 $33.90 $29.90 $67.90 $111.90 $59.90 $75.90 $102.90 $51.90 $87.90 $109.90 $474.90
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TERMS & CONDITIONS Offer closes December 31st, 2011; end of business day. We reserve the right not to accept your order, in which case we will not have any further obligation to you. We may accept the whole or part of your order, both in respect of the kinds of products ordered and the quantity of products ordered. The price will be adjusted accordingly. Orders will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, except for those wines that have historically proven to generate demand far in excess of our ability to satisfy that demand. In the case of these wines, preference will be give to those customers who balance their orders of such “cherries� with other wines from this offering. We will be deemed not to have accepted your order until we have debited your credit card. Even if we accept your order, there will not be any agreement between us if you are under the age of 19 years at the time you submit your order. Confirmation of your order will be mailed. No discounts of any kind are applicable. Our total liability to you for non-delivery of any product is limited to the purchase price of the products. Cancellation of order after being processed is subject to a $50 fee per invoice. Cancellations will not be accepted after the campaign closes December 31st, 2011. Marquis Wine Cellars is not responsible for typographical errors. Prices include all taxes, bottle deposit to be added. Delivery arranged with case orders in Metro Vancouver only. Arrival of wines in store will be autumn of 2013. All wines will be held until all products have arrived for order consolidation.
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