“The 2010 vintage IS an exceptional year for red, and harks back to such great years as 2000, 1990, 1986, 1961, and may be even 1929, but the wines are made with much more precision in the vineyard and cellar giving them a more polished character than historic vintages. The young wines have such beauty in a toned and muscular way. The reds’ tannins are layered and caressing. Their acidities are strong and creamy. These are wines built for aging, but they also impress you when they are young. I really enjoyed tasting almost 700 samples from barrel in late March in Bordeaux.”
James Suckling,20 April 2010

"As always we spent a full week in Bordeaux this April and have tasted in the region of 400 wines. 2010 follows the superb 2009 vintage and there can be no doubt it has the potential to join the top three vintages of the last two decades. It is always difficult to generalise about any vintage as there are micro climate variations and different performing wine makers but the wines show great purity and a long ageing potential, they are likely to outlast most of the 2009s. One thing that we can be sure of it is another great vintage."

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Château Boutisse 2008, St Émilion Grand Cru

The Milhade family acquired Château Boutisse in 1996 but for consumers 2005 is a more important date to remember. This was the year the quality of the wine began distinctly to improve. It was also the year Xavier Milhade took on sole ownership and his son, Marc, the management.

The 25 hectare property is located in the eastern sector of the appellation at St-Christophe-des-Bardes. About half the vineyard is located on the clay-limestone soils of the plateau, the rest on deeper clay and sand. Much work has gone into renovating and improving the vineyard but from 2005 yields were reduced and the selection became more severe.Other changes included investment in sorting tables, smaller vinification tanks and air-conditioning for the cellars.

The wine is made principally from Merlot (85–90%) with Cabernet Sauvignon the other blending component. There is also a tiny percentage of Cabernet Franc and recently planted Carmenère which may be integrated in future years. In 2008 15 percent of the production was vinified in 500 litre oak barrels (half new, half one-year), a technique that has since been continued. “It gives greater concentration and volume to the wine as well as adding an extra touch of aromatic complexity,” explains Marc Milhade.

Dark in colour, the wines now show a modern expression of St-Emilion. The fruit is pronounced, the tannins rounded and there’s the extra concentration and gras that Marc Milhade has been striving to obtain. They are best drunk from six to seven years.

"2010 Bordeaux are very interesting wines, not as opulent and generous as 2009, but more structured and defined. The best display a similar balance of ripe tannins and freshness to the superb wines of 2005. There are many good wines and some great, with price tags to match. However, if you would like to secure some very serious wines at sensible money for drinking, the selection on these two pages will give great pleasure from roughly £12 up to £30 per bottle including vat and duty.
If you have never bought wine En Primeur before, it is without a doubt the best way to pick up some seriously engaging and compelling wines at their release price to the market, usually the most reasonable price at which they will be available. If the idea of buying wines that are still in a cask somewhere in Bordeaux seems slightly off the beaten track, please do not hesitate to give me a call in the shop and I will be happy to explain further and answer any questions."

Château Puygueraud, Bordeaux Côtes de Francs £99.50 / €115 per 12 bottles

This is always good value from the Thienpont family; it displays a pleasant fruit driven nose. It is really tasty on the palate with a beautiful flavour of violets and plums and well integrated tannins with good freshness. Lovely finish. JN Team, April 2011 “From the Thienpont family (which is almost as large as the Lurton family in Bordeaux), the 2010 Puygueraud (70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec) exhibits a dark ruby/purple color as well as abundant notes of damp earth, raspberries and blueberries. Medium-bodied and cleanly made, it is ideal for drinking over the next 5-6 years. 87 – 88 pts. Drink 2013 – 2017.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Senejac, Haut-Médoc £120 / €138 per 12 bottles

“Pontet-Canet’s brilliant proprietor, Alfred Tesseron, has begun to look after the wines of Senejac 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. 87 – 90 pts. Drink 2013 – 2021.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Fonbel, Saint Émilion Grand Cru £160 / €175 per 12 bottles

Quite pretty on the nose. Good young Fonbel. Quite elegant with plenty of flavour, focusing on concentrated damsons. Good freshness and clean. Well integrated tannins give good balance. This will drink well from 2015 onwards. JN Team, April 2011

Château Poujeaux, Moulis-en-Médoc £215 / €250 per 12 bottles

“An undeniable sleeper of the vintage, this may be the finest Poujeaux I have tasted in three decades. A crushed rock/mineral character is intertwined with abundant black currant, blackberry, incense and camphor notes in this full-bodied, unctuously textured, elegant, pure effort. It is capable of lasting 15 years. Kudos to new proprietor Philippe Cuvelier (also the owner of St.Émilion’s Clos Fourtet) for resurrecting this well-known estate. 90 – 92 pts. Drink 2013 – 2026.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Bouscaut Blanc, Pessac-Léognan £245 / €272 per 12 bottles

55% sauvignon Blanc and 45% Semillon. This has an appealing mineral and grapefruit nose. Actually quite dense on the palate, good flavour density with plenty of persistence. There is good weight in the middle palate, balanced by cleansing freshness. The wine is long with a fine mineral component. JN Team, April 2011

Domaine de Cambes, Bordeaux £139 / €159 per 12 bottles

Appealing fruit and liquorice nose. Plenty and freshness and poise on the palate. Stacks of length and finesse. The palate is pretty seamless, the middle is highly pleasurable, in fact almost hedonistic. Great stuff. 2014 – 2020. JN Team, April 2011

Château Chasse Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc £220 / €255 per 12 bottles

“A strong effort, the tannic, medium to full-bodied 2010 possesses good minerality, zesty acidity, admirable freshness and both blue and black fruits. With impressive depth and length, this pure Moulis should drink well for 15+ years. 88 – 90 pts. Drink 2013 – 2026.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

L’Hospitalet de Gazin, Pomerol £275 / €295 per 12 bottles

Polished nose, almost fragrant and perfumed. A superb offering of red and black fruits, a little cherry as well. Soft texture and refreshing acidity. Good flavour in the middle and pretty finish. Good length and well made. Highly enjoyable wine. Drink 2015 – 2025. JN Team, April 2011

Les Songes de Magdelaine, Saint Émilion, £240 / €265 per 12 bottles

As always, the second wines offered by Christian Moueix represent great value and a lighter touch than most. There is plenty of finesse in this offering; I think Christian got it just right with his Saint Émilions. Lots of red fruit and freshness, in good balance with texture and minerality. Firm, but not intrusive tannins. Good length, this will drink well from 5 years after bottling. JN Team, April 2011

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Echo de Lynch Bages, Pauillac £295 / €329 per 12 bottles

Second wine of Château Lynch Bages“A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 9% CabernetFranc, the Deuxieme Vin of Lynch Bages has blackberry, wild hedgerow and a touch of tobacco on the nose. Good definition. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe, succulent entry, powdery tannins with a fine blackberry, raspberry and cassis-tinged finish. Moderate length. Fine. Tasted March 2011. 90 – 92 pts.” Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com, April 2011

Château Gloria, 5ème Cru Saint Julien £325 / €375 per 12 bottles

“Dark and rich and very upright. Beautifully balanced, dry and cool without being austere of drying. The fruit is succulent and yet the framework is there. Very luscious indeed but very 2010. Very firm mineral finish. Long. Bravo! 17 pts.” Jancis Robinson Purple Pages, 19 April 2011

Château Lagrange, 3ème Cru Saint Julien £470 / €535 per 12 bottles

Lots of fresh fruit here. A more refined style, which personally I feel suits the vintage. The gentle touch yields plenty of fruit concentration however. The tannins are more restrained than many. There is a fine mineral component, which complements the refreshing quality of the wine. Good length. JN Team, April 2011

Château Langoa Barton, 3ème Cru Saint Julien £530 / €595 per 12 bottles

Pretty. Surprisingly accessible. Clean, fresh, but good ripeness and elegant. A return to a more angular, classic Langoa. Really good. I think I actually prefer it to Leoville this year. When this gets to its drinking window it really will be a treat. JN Team, April 2011.

Château Talbot, 4ème Cru Saint Julien £470 / €530 per 12 bottles

“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. 91 – 93 pts.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Certan de May, Pomerol £420 / €475 per 12 bottles

“This estate, which enjoys a fabulous location on the high plateau of Pomerol with neighbors such as Lafleur, Vieux-Château-Certan, Petrus and La Fleur Petrus, should produce even greater wines. While I long for a return to the fabulous Certan de Mays of the early and mid-eighties, the 2010 is an impressive effort. Aromas of black fruits intermixed with an iron-like character, soil, oak and earth undertones emerge from this full-bodied, masculine, borderline rustic wine. With abundant concentration as well as elevated tannins, this Pomerol will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2018 – 2030+. 91 – 93 pts.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Branaire Ducru, 4ème Cru Saint Julien £570 / €645 per 12 bottles

“Deep crimson. Fresh and dense – very glamorous! Rich, opulent start. Not the most concentrated on the end but very nicely constituted and rewarding. 17.5 pts.” Jancis Robinson Purple Pages, 4 May 2011

Château Pavie Macquin, Saint Émilion £955 / €1079 per 12 bottles
Premier Grand Cru Classé

“This black/purple-tinged wine exhibits lots of minerality (from this terroir’s clay and limestone soils) as well as the entire spectrum of black fruits. Full-bodied and backward, it’s like drinking crushed limestone/chalk when you taste this intense, tannic, powerful wine. It will require 8–10 years of cellaring and should evolve for 35 – 40+ years 96 – 98+ pts.” eRoberParker.com, May 2011

Château Troplong Mondot, Saint Émilion £1220 / €1290 per 12 bottles Premier Grand Cru Classé

“An amazing wine, the 2010 is right up there with the extraordinary quality of 2009, 2005 and 1990… there is freshness, precision, definition and absolutely no heat in the wines whatsoever. This stunningly rich effort offers abundant blueberry, black raspberry, licorice and graphite notes intermixed with a hint of espresso roast, a seriously concentrated, super-intense mouthfeel, full-bodied power, a complex, multidimensional texture and a nearly 50-second finish. It will require 5– 6 years of bottle age after its release and should keep for three decades or more. Just prodigious! 96 – 98+ pts.” eRoberParker.com, May 2011

Chateau Lagrange, Saint Julien

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Château Providence, Pomerol £395 / €435 per 6 bottles

“Bright crimson. Very rich and sweet - something of the pâtissière on the nose here. Broad and very polished with a savoury meaty undertow. Pretty interesting wine with some intensity but real savour. Muscular sheen to it. A more aerienne Pomerol than many. Long. 17 pts. Drink 2018 – 2032.” Jancis Robinson Purple Pages, 14 April 2011

Château Clinet, Pomerol £1020 / €1150 per 12 bottles

“A spectacular success in this vintage… 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. 95 – 98 pts.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Clos Fourtet, Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé
£850 / €965 per 12 bottles

Good fragrant nose. Minerality and elegance on the palate. Good freshness helps define the red fruit character. Balanced and clean, very well made. Great length with plenty of fruit. Top class. JN Team, April 2011

Château d’Issan, 3ème Cru Margaux £570 / €650 per 12 bottles

“Final blend since Jan 2011.’ 55% new oak. Very dark crimson. Heady and perfumed and very Margaux. More subtle on the nose. Very sweet start with good freshness. Tighter and introvert. Needs a long time. The grown-up version of Blason d’Issan. Lovely delicacy. Very fine tannins on the end but with Margaux polish. 17.5 pts.” Jancis Robinson Purple Pages, 3 April 2011

Château Canon la Gaffelière, Saint Émilion Grand Cru Classé
£698 /€790 per 12 bottles

As always Stephan von Neipperg’s Canon la Gaffelière is a big, polished, rich wine. It has masses of dark fruit on the palate, complimented by big, ripe tannins and refreshing acidity. There is fantastic length to this wine. This will require time to integrate fully, but once ready will offer immense drinking pleasure. A very big treat. JN Team, April 2011

Château Leoville Barton, 2ème Cru Saint Julien £850 / €965 per 12 bottles

“Black with a purple edge. Less obviously aromatic than the Langoa 2010. Drier but still very ripe and voluptuous. Tea leaves and a savoury note. Real energy. This should be a very long-term player… This wine may overtake Langoa in the long term but is certainly less expressive at this stage. 17.5 pts.” Jancis Robinson Purple Pages, 19 April 2011

Château Leoville Poyferre, 2ème Cru Saint Julien £1150 / €1299 per 12 bottles

“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, creme 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. 95 – 98 pts.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Montrose, 2ème Cru Saint Estèphe £1590 / €1796 per 12 bottles

“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 … Somewhat reminiscent of the 1989, only even inkier and richer, the 2010 boasts 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, bu they are unquestionably ripe and well-integrated. Deep, full-bodied and massive, this beauty should be at its finest between 2018 – 2050. 96 – 99+ pts.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

Château Pontet Canet, 5ème Cru Pauillac £1320 / €1495 per 12 bottles

“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 creme de cassis, graphite, subtle smoke and spring flowers... It will be fascinating to drink it side by side with the 2009 and 2008. 96 – 100 pts.” eRobertParker.com, May 2011

James Nicholson with François Mitjavile April 2011

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