Tasting notes, reviews, and ratings of the 2010 Bordeaux primeur campaign, by Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider. You can read more by Jeff Leve on 2010 Bordeaux on The Wine Cellar Insider.
2010 Chateau Adaugusta
80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from vines that average 40 year of age produced a medium bodied Bordeaux wine with jammy blackberries, fennel and a soft, kirsch finish. 86-88 Pts
2010 Chateau Angelus
From an assemblage of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc, this inky purple Bordeaux wine sports a beautiful sheen. Licorice, coffee, jammy black and red fruits, earth and stone aromas are found with little effort. The full boded, rich, concentrated wine feels sexy and plush with its cashmere tannins. The long, intense, balanced finish ends with licorice, chocolate and pure, black plum liqueur sensations. Hubert de Bouard prefers this to his 2005 St. Emilion, which for me, remains the benchmark wine for Chateau Angelus. At this point in time, I do not agree with Hubert. But it’s going to be fun comparing those and other vintages over the next several decades. 96-98 Pts
2010 Chateau Les Asteries
83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc minerality, licorice, black raspberry, chocolate, full bodied, structured, tannic Bordeaux wine with a stone and black cherry finish. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Ausone
From a blend of 55% Cabernet Franc, 45% Merlot, the Bordeaux wine will be aged in 100% new oak for about 20 months. 67% of the yields were placed into Ausone, the remainder will become Chapelle d’Ausone . The nose offers aromas of broken rocks, sweet, ripe, dark berries, licorice, flowers, spice, minerality and smoke. Full bodied, rich, and concentrated, this supple, polished St. Emilion wine is filled with fresh berries, freshness, spice, jam, fennel, minerality and black cherry in the finish. 95-97 Pts
2010 Chateau Chapelle d’Ausone
65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon produce the blend. Like its big brother, the Bordeaux wine will be aged in 100% new oak for about 20 months. This is the debut vintage for Chapelle d’Ausone to feature a large percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the assemblage. Smoke, cassis, stone and fresh blackberry aromas pair with a medium full bodied, sweet, round, tannic, blackberry and chocolate finish 92-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Balestard La Tonnelle
is filled with licorice, fresh berries and minerality. 88-90 Pts
2010 Chateau Barde Haut
is produced from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc,14.5% licorice, black cherry, chocolate and coffee bean espresso are easy to find in this sexy Bordeaux wine. Luxurious and mouth-filling, fat, licorice and ripe, black plums are found in finish. 92-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot
From an assemblage of 70% Merlot 25% Cabernet Franc with the remainder split evenly between Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, this lovely Bordeaux wine opens with a perfume of crushed stone, licorice, jammy black plums and floral scents. Soft and opulently textured, this fresh, sweet, ripe St. Emilion wine ends with a mouthful of anise, minerality, red and black fruits. 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagreosse
Produced with help from St. Emilion’s dynamic duo, Stephan Deroncourt and Nicholas Thienpont, this is the second year in a row, Bordeaux wine close to the level of the legendary 1990 was produced. However, it’s possible that 2010 could eclipse the 1990 in 20 years! A blend of 73% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon produced a black/purple colored wine. The wine coats glass as you swirl to find the licorice, minerals and ripe, spicy ripe black fruit scents. Powerful, intensely concentrated, sweet and mouth coating, this is a hedonistic thrill to sip that also gives you something to think about. The opulent Bordeaux wine ends with a long, fresh, complex, seamless finish of intense purity of fruit and stone that grows in your mouth and lasts over sixty seconds! 98-100 Pts
2010 Chateau Belair-Monange
With aromas of charcoal, stone, licorice and red with black fruits, this Bordeaux wine offers silky, supple textures and a deep, licorice infused, long, mineral, ripe plum and cassis finish. 94-95 Pts
2010 Chateau Bellevue
98% Merlot with the remaining smidgeon Cabernet Franc, this wine comes from the recently acquired property located across the street from Chateau Angelus. Hubert de Bouard thinks the terroir is as good, or better than much of the Angelus terroir. This opaque colored Bordeaux wine shows a perfume of licorice, minerality and spice. Rich, opulent textures concentrated with ripe spicy fruit, the wine ends with boysenberry, chocolate, mineral and fennel. 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Cadet Bon
80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc open to licorice, spice, jammy berry and minerality aromas. Soft and round in texture, the wine ends with a sweet, ripe, rich, blackberry finish. Slightly more than 1,000 cases were produced of this Bordeaux wine. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Canon
From 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, (which is the same mix as found in the vineyards,) the wine is deep ruby in color and reached 14.8% alcohol. Yet, there is no sensation of heat. People who prefer tasting by the numbers could have problems with this Bordeaux wine, but I loved it! An intoxicating perfume filled with minerality, licorice, black raspberry jam, hints of oak and chocolate, this is the richest, most concentrated St. Emilion wine produced by the Kolasa team yet. Thick, intense and filled with fresh, perfectly ripe plums, blackberries and licorice, the wine feels great as it falls over your palate and coats your mouth. 94-96 Pts.
Kolasa stated this is not the usual style for Canon. During fermentation, Due to its unique style, Kolasa has some fears about the wines ability to age. Tempering his remarks, he added, this is probably how the winemakers felt about 1947, when that vintage was produced. We all know how that turned out.
The vineyards are currently planted to 25% Cabernet Franc. This will be increased to 35% over time. According to the director John Kolasa, “At Canon the goal is to produce a Bordeaux wine that will age and improve for decades. Canon is not at its best when drunk young”. Canon now includes some fruit from the replanting that was done in 1998. New plantings are taking place with Cabernet Franc vines.
2010 Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere
Low yields of 28 hecoliters per hectare produced a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that will be aged in 70% new oak. Licorice, chocolate mint, spice, jammy black raspberries, silky lush textures and long, fresh, sweet chocolate cherry expansive finish are the hall marks of this Bordeaux wine. 93-95 Pts
2010 Chateau Cap de Mourlin
Licorice, plums, coco powder and oak, medium bodied, soft textures and a red and black plum finish. 88-90 Pts
2010 Chateau Le Carre
85% Merlot and Cabernet Franc 15% 14.65% alcohol deep color stony black cherry, toast, round textured, black cherry, oak with some dryness in the finish. 89-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Cheval Blanc
Produced from a higher percentage of Cabernet Franc than usual, 56% Cabernet Franc, with the remaining 34% percent relegated to Merlot; that assemblage is similar to what is planted in the vineyards today. The Bordeaux wine reached 14.5% alcohol with a 3.75 pH, allowing for a rich, ripe wine that is also alcoholic and fresh. Placing your nose into this wine reminds you of walking into a flower shop. The aromatics are further complicated with scents of stone, oak, truffle, caramel and black cherry. Pairing delicacy with power, this is an elegant, deep, Bordeaux wine of finesse, purity and refinement. Part of the reason for this St. Emilion wines success is the long and exacting time spent harvesting the fruit. The estate took three weeks to conclude picking. Previously, they finished the harvest in two weeks. 96-98 Pts
2010 Chateau Le Petit Cheval
From 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, this medium bodied wine is filled with coco powder, black cherry and licorice, coupled with freshness and round textures. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Clos Badon
Thunevin From almost 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the Bordeaux wine offers scents of licorice, jammy dark berries and oak ending in a soft, sweet, fennel and blackberry finish. 88-90 Pts
2010 Chateau Clos de Sarpe
An assemblage of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc from very old vines situated on stony soils produced a massive wall of dark fruit, rocks and tannin, with a ripe black plum finish. 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Clos Dubreuil
Dark purple in color, with licorice, smoke, coffee, earth and spice filled aromatics gets even better with the Bordeaux wines decadent palate fee and chocolate covered, dark, black cherry finish. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Clos des Jacobins
Produced with the efforts of Hubert de Bouard from Chateau Angelus, this Bordeaux property keeps getting better, one step at a time. Earthy, pepper, herbs, plums and coffee aromas catch your interest. The soft, round textures, freshness and vanilla infused black raspberry finish is a pleasure to experience. 90-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Clos Fourtet
With a clay and limestone terroir, the vineyards are located close to the center of the St. Emilion village abutting Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot. From an assemblage of 87% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Franc, this Bordeaux wine reached 14.5 alcohol. Intense aromas of jammy dark berries, black licorice, minerality and plum liqueur lead the way to a sexy, opulent and multi-layered Bordeaux wine with waves of sweet, rich, juicy fruit. The long finish ends with a mouthful of rich, licorice coated dark berries and cassis. 95-96 Pts
2010 Chateau Clos de l’Oratoire.
From low yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare and a biodynamic approach, the property produced a wine from a blend of 95% Merlot and Cabernet Franc that will be aged in 75% new oak. Vanilla, fennel, black cherry, fresh herbs, lush textures, silky tannins, sweet licorice covered jammy berries and chocolate 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Clos La Madeleine
Spice, berries, licorice, oak and intense minerality, rich fruit, supple textures and a long, fresh licorice, stone and plum filled finish. This breakout Bordeaux vintage is the finest wine from this estate I’ve ever tasted. Situated just outside the village next to Belair-Monange, the St. Emilion winery is consulted by Hubert de Bouard of Chateau Angelus, and the improvement shows. 91-93 Pts
2010 Clos St. Martin
the smallest classified St. Emilion wine in the Bordeaux appellation comes from a 1.33-hectare vineyard. Planted to 7,000 vines/ha, with an average age of 31 years. The terroir consists on clay and limestone soils over the limestone plateau. Smoke, mineral, licorice, oak, and jammy berry scents open to a supple, ripe, silky textured concentrated wine ends with a long fresh, black cherry, spice and licorice finish. 94-95 Pts
2010 Chateau La Clotte
from limestone, sand and clay terroir, this is the first vintage that the owner included Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend which consists of 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and the remainder, Cabernet Sauvignon. Licorice, minerality, chocolate mint and plum aromas with soft textures, medium/full bodied and a fresh black cherry finish. Due to its high quality, great style and low price, this Bordeaux wine is often purchased by many of St. Emilion’s most famous wine makers. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau La Confession
71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc form the assemblage that came in at 14.7% alcohol that will be aged in 40% cigar shaped barrels. Deep ruby in color, the wine offers oak, blackberry, licorice and stone aromas. Fleshy in texture, this soft, ripe wine is filled with licorice, black cherry, spice and mocha. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Cote de Baleau.
70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, (the same portions the vineyard is planted in) make-up the blend. Licorice, 5 spice and black cherry scents open to a medium bodied, fennel and black cherry filled winish. Lovers of well-priced St. Emilion Bordeaux wine should be all over this wine. 89-91 Pts
2010 Chateau Corbin
Deep colored, mineral driven, licorice, jammy berry, spice and sweet black cherry open to a rich, plush, round, deep Bordeaux wine. This is a big step up for Annabelle Cruse. It’s the best Corbin I have ever tasted. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau La Couspade
Oak, coffee, licorice, smoke, chocolate and jammy berries open to a plush, ripe, round Bordeaux wine that should drink well shortly after release. 89-91 Pts
2010 Chateau Croix de Labrie
is produced from 100% old vine Merlot. Licorice, spice, crushed stone and ripe dark berries pair with ripe tannins, a lush, sexy, opulent mouth feel and rich, plummy textures. This is a truly sensuous, hedonistic Bordeaux wine made for pleasure seekers. Not much is made, which is too bad as St. Emilion wines like this deserve more attention. 94-95 Pts
2010 Chateau Daugay
68% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon make a licorice infused, jammy red and black fruit filled wine that will make for easy drinking 86-88 Pts
2010 Chateau Le Dome
80% Cabernet Franc and 20% Merlot combined to produce what’s probably the wine with the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc from Bordeaux in the vintage. The wine reached reached 14.58% alcohol with a pH 3.8. A deep purple color leads into a licorice, floral, oak, and spicy blackberry perfume, plush textures and a finish that offers oak, coco and black cherries. About 1,000 cases were produced of this unique St. Emilion Bordeaux wine. 91-94 Pts
2010 Chateau La Dominique
sports an earthy, mineral, plum, licorice and blackberry nose. The medium bodied Bordeaux wine finishes with a cassis and cherry finish. 88-90 Pts
2010 Chateau Edmus
Produced from an assemblage of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc, with vines that average 40 years of age, the wine reached 14% alcohol. Licorice and blackberry aromas, medium body and a light red and black fruit finish. 87-88 Pts
2010 Chateau Faugeres
From a blend of 85% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon, the wine will be aged in 50% new oak for about 14 months. Licorice, bitter chocolate, boysenberry aromatics, plush, soft, round textures and a ripe, chocolate and black cherry finish are found in this Bordeaux wine. 90-91 Pts
2010 Chateau Figeac
Fresh herbs, dark ripe berries, licorice, cassis and green peppercorn aromas fill the perfume. Full bodied, tannic and slightly austere in character, with intensity, licorice and bright black cherry flavors, this is a successful vintage for the traditionally styled Figeac. 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Fleur Cardinale
From an 18 hectare, clay and limestone vineyard, located next to Valandraud and across the street from Faugeres, Florence and Dominique Decoster put a lot of effort into their 2010, Bordeaux wine starting with reducing their yields to 36 hectoliters per hectare. With its deep color, cassis, blackberry, licorice and jammy liqueur aromas exude from the glass. This full bodied wine offers layers of opulent dark fruit ending with a fresh, licorice, blackberry, dark cherry and chocolate finish. From an assemblage of 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, the wine reached 14.5% alcohol. This is the best wine from the estate since the outstanding 2005. For consumers not familiar with this property, they remain one of the top Bordeaux wines combining price and quality. 93-95 Pts
2010 Chateau Fonbel
66% Merlot 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot and 7% Carmenere opened with jammy berries, licorice and floral scents. Medium bodied and soft textured, the Bordeaux wine ends with a licorice and sweet jammy berry finish 89-91 Pts
2010 Chateau Fombrauge
Minerals, coffee, cassis and spice aromas open to a medium bodied wine, elegant textures and a dark berry, cassis and fennel finish that was slightly marred by a hint of tartness. 89-91 Pts
2010 Chateau Fonplegade
From 91% Merlot 5 % Cabernet Franc, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in 80% new oak, this is the first vintage for the new managing director Jean-Christophe Meyrou, who previously occupied the same position at Le Gay and La Violette in Pomerol. Malolactic finished in late March, the Bordeaux wine was just opening up when tasted. Licorice, spice, jammy berries and vanilla scents opened to a wine with medium/full body, round textures and a ripe licorice, spice and jammy berry finish. 89-91 Pts
2010 Chateau Franc Mayne
Fennel, jammy black cherries, espresso and cassis scents, medium/full bodied with round textures and a juicy, blackberry, licorice and red plum finish. 90-92
2010 Chateau La Gaffeliere
From an assemblage of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with its deep ruby color, licorice, smoke, jammy dark berry and coffee aromas is a treat. Rich, polished, tannic, black and red fruits are found in the finish. 93-95 Pts
2010 Chateau Godeau
is located not far from Tertre Roteboeuf and Troplong Mondot. Stephane Derenoncourt started consulting the property in 2007. 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc produce the blend. Deep ruby in color, with a licorice, mineral, floral and jammy black raspberry aromatic profile, the Bordeaux wine ends with a fleshy, black plum filled finish. The wine will be aged in 33% new oak for 12 months. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau La Gomerie
produced from 100% Merlot offers deep color, silky textures, licorice, with melted black cherries, earth and truffle scents. Sensuous in texture, the Bordeaux wine ends in opulent layers of ripe black raspberries and licorice. 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Gracia
80 % Merlot 20% Cabernet Franc came in at 15% alcohol. Oak, spicy berry, licorice and chocolate covered blackberry nose. Round texture, full bodied and concentrated with a long dark cherry, fennel and jammy blackberry finish. 91-93
2010 Chateau Les Angelots Gracia
80 % Merlot 20% Cabernet Franc combined to produce a St. Emilion wine that 14.5% alcohol. The nose offers a perfume of oak, licorice, plums and jammy blackberries. Supple in texture, the round, ripe wine finishes with anise and sweet blackberry jam. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Grandes Murailles
This tiny, 1.46-hectare Bordeaux wine vineyard is planted to 100% Merlot on clay and limestone soils. Licorice, minerality, coco powder, fresh jammy berry scents and oak pair well with the opulent, round textures and rich layers of juicy ripe, licorice coated black cherries. 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Grand Mayne
Deep dark ruby colored, this rich, ripe, round textured wine offers a big, fresh, juicy mouthful of licorice, fleshy berries, spice and chocolate. This St. Emilion wine ends with a long ripe, plum, blackberry and fennel finish which offers real character. This is the best Bordeaux wine I’ve tasted from Grand Mayne. 92-94 Pts
2010 Chateau Haut Simard
Making its debut in 2010 from the team at Chateau Ausone, this 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc blend is not to be confused with Simard. Haut Simard comes from a different terroir and will be aged in 50% new oak. Licorice, oak, jammy black raspberry and floral aromas work well with the suave texture and ripe, chocolate and blackberry finish. 89-91 Pts
2010 Chateau La Fleur Morange Mathilde
is made from 100% old vine Merlot. Old being the operative word as the average of the vines is 50 years! Opening with aromas of stone, licorice, plums and blueberries, this concentrated wine finishes with plush, chocolate, licorice and jammy dark berries. This is another Bordeaux wine that deserves an award for continually pairing high quality, character and fair prices. The St. Emilion wine will be aged in 50% new oak. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Laforge
which takes its name from the trade of a former owner who was a blacksmith, is produced from 92% merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc. Licorice, spicy blackberry and earth aromas, medium/full bodied, round textures and a finish filled with chocolate covered black cherries. 90-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Larcis Ducasse
The color of dark, purple ink, pungent aromas of crushed stone, fresh ground spice, licorice, and intense jammy berries lead the wine to a powerful, rich, dense, sexy mouthful of opulent, juicy fruit. This Bordeaux wine coats your palate. Long, pure and incredibly rich, this offers competition to the sublime 2005 Larcis Ducasse. 95-97 Pts
2010 Chateau Larmande
Using 51% Merlot, 28% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc and a small portion Petit Verdot, the wine opens with licorice, blackberry and cassis scents. Medium/full bodied, the Bordeaux wine ends with a cherry, chocolate and fennel finish. 88-90
2010 Chateau Lucia
comes from a 3.06-hectare vineyard, part of which was planted in 1901 to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The Bordeaux wine expresses licorice, black cherry and spice aromas. Plushly textured and filled with ripe jammy berries, with its open style, this St. Emilion wine should be fun to drink shortly after release. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Laroze
Spicy dark berries, medium body Hubert de Bouard consults 89-91 pts
2010 Chateau Magdelaine
From a vineyard located just outside of the St. Emilion village, licorice, oak, black raspberry and minerality aromas pair with a medium bodied, traditionally styled Bordeaux wine that ends with a bright, anise, red and black fruit finish. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Magrez Fombrauge
With its inky, jet black color, this exciting wine says hello with oak, licorice, chocolate, black cherry and blackberry aromas. Mouth coating, paced and stacked with a lot of intensity, this rich pure Bordeaux wine stains your palate with multiple layers of licorice, chocolate and dark plums. 95-96 Pts
2010 Chateau La Mondotte
comes from a 4.5-hectare vineyard that produced wine in this vintage from the ridiculously low yields of 20 hectoliters per hectare from vines that average 70 years of age. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc formed the assemblage that will be aged in 100% new oak. The Bordeaux wine reached 14.% alcohol, but with one of the lowest pH numbers I found in this vintage, 3.2, there is a lot of freshness and pop to this wine. Inky black with purple accents, licorice, stone, black fruit, jam, spice and mocha aromas rocket from the glass. Concentrated with luscious, ripe, opulent berries, this tannic, St. Emilion wine is expansive on the palate, finishing with waves of fresh, pure black cherry liqueur, licorice and minerality. I asked Neipperg if producing a Bordeaux wine like this was risky. He responded with a smile saying, “No risk, no fun.” 96-97 Pts
2010 Chateau Moulin St. Georges
From an assemblage of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the Bordeaux wine will be aged in 100% new, lightly toasted oak for close to 18 months. Licorice, jammy blackberry and smoke aromas are easy to locate. Soft, fresh, ripe, elegant juicy berries and vanilla meld with the licorice and jam finish. 1650 cases produced. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Patris
From close to 90% merlot, this small 9 hectare, St. Emilion vineyard produced a wine with notes of tobacco, black raspberry and earthy aromas. Medium/full bodied, the Bordeaux wine finishes with a nice black cherry sensation. 87-89 Pts
2010 Chateau Pavie Macquin
from clay and lime stone soils, this dark colored wine offers, sweet jammy berries and minerality in the nose. 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and a smidgeon of Cabernet Sauvignon make up the assemblage. With soft, plush round textures, minerality, purity and freshness, the Bordeaux wine ends with a long wave of sweet, jammy black plums, minerality, coca and licorice. 95-97 Pts
2010 Chateau Peby Faugeres
is produced from 100% Merlot and aged in 100% new oak for 18 months. Production hovers close to 1,000 cases. Deep purple in color, jammy black fruit, espresso, licorice and spice, this thick, powerful, dense, dark Bordeaux wine is stuffed to the brim with decadent ripe fruit, licorice and chocolate that defines voluptuous in a wine. Unctuous and long, the St. Emilion wine ends with licorice, chocolate, spicy plum and berry liqueur. 95-97 Pts
2010 Chateau Pierre de Lune
is owned Tony Ballu, the wine maker for Clos Fourtet. This small, 1 hectare, biodynamically farmed vineyard is planted on sand and gravel soils. From a mix of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14% alcohol, which is lower than what they achieved in 2009. With scents of jammy black raspberries, stone and licorice, this round textured Bordeaux wine ends with a licorice and sweet, black cherry finish. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Le Prieure
Using 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this licorice, jammy blackberry and ripe dark cherry tinged is sweet, round and lush. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Puy Blanquet
is a medium bodied St. Emilion wine with cherry griotte, licorice and kirsch in the finish. 86-87 Pts
2010 Chateau Quinault L’Enclos
From an assemblage of 70% Merlot 20% Cabernet Franc, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and some Malbec for good measure, the team at Cheval Blanc came up with a Bordeaux wine that reached 13.5% alcohol that shows licorice, griotte and earthy scents. The wine end with a fresh, supple, fennel, chocolate and black cherry. 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Rol Valentin
has new owners who are related to the Robin family, the previous owners of the famed Chateau Lafleur from Pomerol. Interestingly, the fruit is sourced from two separate vineyards. 60% of the crop emanates from vineyards located in the eastern sector of St. Emilion, not far from Valandraud on clay and limestone soils. The remaining 40% comes from property located close to La Gomerie on sandy soils. Coffee, truffle, cassis, plums and licorice scents fill your glass. Silky in texture and more concentrated than the 2009, the Bordeaux wine ends with floral, plum and fennel flavors. Thanks to investments from the new owners and the efforts of their consultant, Stephane Derenoncourt, this Bordeaux wine from St. Emilion is becoming a property to watch. 2010 is a big increase in quality from the 2009. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Sanctus de La Bienfaisance
opens with stone, spice, licorice, espresso and ripe berries. Soft textured, with minerality and opulent textures, this fleshy and fresh Bordeaux wine will be aged in 90% new oak. 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Sansonnet
85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc produced a wine filled with fresh spice, minerals, jammy plums and anise. Plush, and round, this rich Bordeaux wine ends with soft textures and licorice coated, jammy maraschino cherries. 90-92 Pts
Chateau La Serre
Located close to the St. Emilion village offers licorice, oak and black cherry, medium body and a soft, black raspberry finish. 88-90 Pts
2010 Chateau Simard
80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc offers jammy black raspberries, licorice and earthy scents, medium body and a kirsch finish. 88-90 Pts
2010 Chateau Siaurac
Blending 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this is a solid, easy drinking plummy wine. 85-87 Pts
2010 Chateau Soutard
Using 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, this medium bodied, licorice, earth and black raspberry tinged Bordeaux wine offers soft textures and a black cherry finish. 87-89 Pts
2010 Chateau Tertre Roteboeuf
From an assemblage of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 15.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.75. The wine does not feel hot. With massive amounts of glycerin, the wine offers exotic textures not found in other wines. The Bordeaux wine will be aged in 100% new oak barrels from Radoux. With a strong perfume filled with iron, oak, jammy red and black berries and fennel, this lush, unctuous, unique expression of St. Emilion is sweet, mouth filling, opulent and loaded with oaky, sweet, candied red berries, licorice and roasted fruits. 94-97 Pts
2010 Chateau La Tour du Pin
85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc helped to produce a wine that hit 13.9% alcohol. Floral, cherry blossom, anise and black cherry scents open this supple, fresh, sweet, ripe Bordeaux wine that finishes with spicy black raspberries in a finesse style. 91-93
2010 Chateau La Tour Figeac
is made by Christine Derenoncourt, the wife of Stephane Derenoncourt. In 2010, the apple does not fall far from the Bordeaux wine tree with this St. Emilion wine 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc blend. Licorice, spice, jammy black cherry aromas open to a suave, lush, fennel, spice and ripe dark berry finish. 91-93
2010 Chateau Teyssier
The home property of Jonathan Maltus is produced from 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Licorice, dark berries, medium body and soft textured dark fruit are found in this Bordeaux wine. 88-89 Pts
2010 Chateau Troplong Mondot
has been slowly increasing the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the vineyards. 2010 is the first year featuring a substantial portion (14%) in the blend, along with 83% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Previous recent vintages have included about 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Currently, the vineyard is planted to 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the goal set to about 20%. The Cabernet Sauvignon is planted in clay soil, as it does not grow well in limestone.
Yields were low in this vintage at 32 hectoliters per hectare, the same as in 2009. The Bordeaux wine reached 15.5% alcohol. For people that like to compare, 2009 came in at 15.4% alcohol. The pH is 3.6 is for the Merlot and 3.75 in Cabernet Sauvignon. Those low levels of pH allow the wine to feel fresh and offer lift. 2010 expresses more lift than 2009.
Midnight black in color, with a perfume filled with minerality, licorice, blueberry, blackberry, jam and clay, this dense, chocolate covered, sweet boysenberry filled St. Emilion wine packs a lot of wine into the bottle. Sensuous, palate staining, incredibly concentrated and rich, the wine coats your palate. The experience ends with a long bath of chocolate covered blackberries and black cherry liqueur that combine for a hedonistic treat. This decadent Bordeaux wine is one of the great vintages of Troplong Mondot. 97-98 Pts
2010 Chateau Trotteville
Using a high percentage of Cabernet Franc in the blend at 58%, with the remainder being Merlot, the perfume opens with floral, chocolate mint, fennel, stone and red with black fruit aromas. Medium bodied, the Bordeaux wine ends with an elegant, soft, licorice and red plum finish, 90-92 Pts
2010 Chateau Valandraud
Murielle Andraud has been in charge of the Bordeaux wine making at the property since 2007. Each vintage has shown marked improvements over the previous year. 2010 is no exception. She is clearly on a roll! With a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 14.5% alcohol. Coupled with a low pH of 3.55, the wine feels bright and fresh, with no sensation of heat. Displaying an intense, inky black, purple hue, the powerful perfume jumps from the glass with complex aromas of stone, licorice, dark berries, truffle and oak. This dense, rich, concentrated St. Emilion wine is filled with sexy, ripe fruit that stains your palate. Sweet boysenberry, blue fruit and licorice are sensed in the long, fresh, harmonious, sweet, ripe finish. This is most compelling Bordeaux wine I’ve tasted from Valandraud yet! 96-98 Pts
2010 Valandraud 3 de Valandruad
While the name 3 de Valandruad implies this is the third wine of Valandraud, it’s actually the second wine of Valandraud. The name comes from an inside joke of Jean Luc Thunevin. Ripe dark berries, licorice supple textures, sweet black raspberry and an anise filled finish are the signatures of this Bordeaux wine. 89-91 Pts
2010 Chateau Vieux Pourret Dixit
is made by Michel Tardieu. It’s one of the few Bordeaux wines to have been certified biodynamic. From an assemblage of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, this, licorice, black cherry and earthy St. Emilon wine is medium bodied and soft textured. 86-89 Pts
2010 Chateau Vieux Chateau Mazerat
65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, the Cabernet Franc is from vines planted in 1947, the wine reached 14.3% alcohol in this vintage. Licorice, floral, black raspberry, earth and mocha scents are easy to find. The round, soft Bordeaux wine finishes with sweet black cherry, oak and licorice 91-93 Pts
2010 Chateau Villemaurine
is located not far from the village of St. Emilion. Jammy berries, licorice, spice, pepper and plum scents pop from the glass. Lush and round, this concentrated, ripe Bordeaux wine is loaded with sweet, jammy black cherries and fennel. This is the finest wine I’ve ever tasted from this property. With a new owner, new consultant,( Stephane Derenoncourt) and a new label, they are off to a great start. 90-92 Pts
