Wine Cellar

Wine:  Pauillac

RP 89-91, NM 89-91, WS 89-92, JS 94-95

Wine:  St Emilion

A blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Franc cropped at 32 hectoliters per hectare, the 2010 may not hit the peaks of the extraordinary 2009 or 2005, but it is another fabulous wine from proprietor Hubert de Bouard. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color along with abundant aromas of acacia flowers, blueberry liqueur, black raspberries, licorice and subtle toasty oak in the background. A notion of graphite emerges as the wine sits in the glass, which tends to be a characteristic of Angelus. Long, rich, dense and full-bodied with high but well-integrated tannins, it will rival the 1989 and 1990 as well as the 2009 and 2005 as one of the finest wines made at this estate. At present, the 2009 has a slight edge because of its more sumptuous texture. Nevertheless, the 2010 is a great wine with a future of at least 30 years - RP 94-96+, NM 92-94, JS 97-98, JR 17.5, WS 94-97, Dec 18½, RPP 95-97

Wine:  St Estephe

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/purple-tinged 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 - RP 87-89, Dec 17, JS 90-91, JR 16.5, NM 90-92, RPP 90-92

Wine:  Moulis

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. - RP 88-90, NM 92-94, JS 88-89, JR 16, WS 89-92 Dec 17, RPP 89-91

Wine:  St Emilion

Consulting winemaker Dr. Alain Raynaud has produced a beautiful dense ruby/purple-colored 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. - RP 90-92, NM 87-89, JR 16, WS 92-95, RPP 93-95

Wine:  Pomerol

A bigger, more structured and intense La Croix de Gay than usual (this is generally a more elegant, finesse-styled Pomerol), the medium to full-bodied 2010 possesses an opaque ruby/purple color along with surprising intensity and copious aromas of berry fruit intermixed with vanillin, mocha and earth. Given the wine’s tannic structure and size, I would cellar it for 4-5 years and drink it over the following 15-20 years - RP 89-91, NM 89-91+, JR 17-,Dec 16, RPP 90-92

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

The sample tasted blind during my main Sauternes tasting was a little out of sorts; however, a second and third encounter were much more promising. The nose is very pure, with honey, passion fruit and quince, whilst the palate demonstrates great freshness and vitality, zippy acidity, with real race towards the linear finish. This holds great promise for the future. Suckling: A classical styled Sauternes with a delicate nose of lemon curd and sweet spices. Rich and delicious but lacks a little bit of a middle palate NM 91-93, JR 16.5, Dec 17, JS 89-90

Wine:  Pessac Leognan

Consultant Stephane Derenoncourt along with owner Olivier Bernard have done a fabulous job over recent years, but the tannic, backward 2010 Domaine de Chevalier seemed primary and difficult to assess when I tasted it on three separate occasions. The natural alcohol is 13.5% from a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot. A youthful inky/blue/purple color is opaque to the rim and the nose offers elegant aromas of crushed rocks, acacia flowers, boysenberries, black currants and subtle toast as well as oak. This thick, rich, tannic, backward wine will require patience. I would guess 7-10 years of cellaring will be essential, but this is a 30- to 40- year wine - RP 91-93 JR 17.5+, NM 92-94,WS 92-95, Dec 18½, RPP 91-93

Wine:  St Emilion

From the largest estate in St.-Emilion (130 acres), the opaque purple-colored 2010 Fombrauge was produced from late harvested fruit (the harvest finished on October 21). It possesses fresh notes of blueberries, red and black currants, lead pencil shavings and espresso roast. Medium to full-bodied and rich with sweet tannin, it should drink nicely for 10-12 years. RP 90-92, NM 90-92, JR 15.5, Dec16.5, WS 90-93, RPP 89-92

Wine:  St Julien

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. - RP 91-93, WS 92-95, JR 17+, Dec 17½, NM 94-96, RPP 90-92

Wine:  Pessac Leognan

A dark plum/ruby/purple color is accompanied by hints of graphite, blueberries, tobacco and herbs in this medium to full-bodied 2010. It possesses rugged tannins as well as good freshness, depth and ripeness, but appears to be slightly disjointed and in need of more identity. There is plenty going on, but at present, this wine is primary and earthy. - RP 87-89+, Dec 16, NM 87-89, JR 17.5, RPP 91-93

Wine:  Pessac Leognan

This cuvee offers complex, forward fig, melon and honeysuckle notes as well as 10 years of aging potential. - RP 90-92, JR 16, RPP 91-93

Wine:  St Emilion

Much of La Carre’s tiny production (a total of 300 or so cases) comes from high class real estate near Chateau Canon and Clos Fourtet on the limestone plateau and hillsides of St.-Emilion. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc aged in 80% new oak, the 2010 exhibits a dense purple color, abundant black fruit characteristics, undeniable sucrosity, a big, juicy texture, beautiful purity and a long finish with the oak present, but subtle. It will probably reveal more tannin after bottling, and should age well for 15 or more years. RP 92-94, NM 89-91, WS 91-94, RPP 94-96

Wine:  St Emilion

Another tiny production offering from proprietor Jonathan Maltus, this blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is produced from a single vineyard situated near La Carre. The 2010 reveals notes of powdered rock as well as red and black fruits, moderately high tannin, good acidity and a fresh, lively, medium to full-bodied personality. Although slightly austere, it has not fleshed out from its late malolactic, but it looks very impressive. Give it 2-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 15+ years. RP 91-94, Dec 18.5, NM 92-94, WS 91-94, RPP 90-93

Wine:  Pessac Leognan

A beautiful wine from proprietor Alexandre Bonnie’s 115-acre vineyard, this blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot hit 14% natural alcohol. The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest was late, ending on October 18. The wine’s dense purple color is followed by aromas of vanillin, smoked herbs, tobacco leaf, black currants and blackberries. This rich, elegant Pessac-Leognan is loaded with potential. It should drink well in 3-4 years and evolve for 20-25. - RP 92-94, NM 93-95, JR 17, WS 91-94, RPP 92-94

Wine:  St Emilion

The 2010 Monbousquet (14% natural alcohol) is composed of 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. More restrained and less exuberant and flamboyant than usual, it exhibits a dense ruby/purple hue along with plenty of sweet black raspberry and black cherry fruit intermixed with tell-tale toasty, oaky notes as well as a hint of espresso roast. This medium to full-bodied, ripe St.-Emilion will be ideal for drinking in its first 10-12 years of life. - RP 91-93, NM 92-94, JR 16, WS 92-95, Dec16½

Wine:  St Julien

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- WS 90-93, NM90-91

Wine:  St Emilion

Wine:  St Estephe

The Le Petit Bocq has impressive freshness and vitality on the nose with fresh brambly blackberry fruit. The palate is fresh and well defined with tensile tannins, ebullient red-berried fruit marked with superb acidity and vigour. Perhaps not a long-term Saint Estephe but very feminine and beautifully crafted. Tasted April 2011 - NM 91-93, Dec 16

Wine:  Moulis

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.-Emilion’s Clos Fourtet) for resurrecting this well-known estate - RP 90-92, NM 91-93, JS 92-93, JR 16.5, WS 88-91, Dec 16½, RPP 90-93

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

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 - WS 93-96, Dec 18½

Wine:  St Julien

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 cuvee 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. RP 95-97+, JR 17, WS 91-94, Dec 18, NM 88-90, RPP93-95

Wine:  Sauternes 375ml

This has quite a bit of sulphur on the nose at first, but it clears with aeration. It remains tightly-coiled, with lemon, honey, apricot and limestone, demonstrating fine minerality. The palate has great tension on the entry, quite spicy and nutty in style, with a vibrant, zesty finish. This is an exuberant Sigalas-Rabaud with great potential.- NM 91-93, JR 17, Dec 18.5