| | UGC 2010 - Dustin and I attend as Erica was out of town on business. The Whites were pretty excellent across the board, with an exception or two and some real standouts. For the reds we travelled, roughly, in this order: St Julien; Margaux; Haut Medoc; Moulis; Pauillac; Pessac; St Emilion; Pomerol; St Estephe.
Sauternes at the end.
Palate fatigue was an issue this year. Sampled 73 wines and due to the firm structure of 2010 it was a challenge - even with numerous food breaks. Bountiful and of great quality, very apparent but I could see new comers to Bdx being left a bit puzzled, as most of the wines are a bit brutish at the moment and you really had to look beyond some of the discomfort to focus on the quality underpinnings.
Writing this the morning after the event, without referring to my notes. The wines I recall stirring me (no particular order):
White - Pape Clement, Smith Haut Lafitte, Domaine de Chevalier, Malartic Lagraviere
Red - Rauzan Segla, Pape Clement, SHL, Figeac, Troplong Mondot, Leoville Barton, Pichon Baron, Pichon Comtesse
Dessert - Guiraud Whites - 2010 Château Carbonnieux Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Lighter in oak than peers. Reticent with some vanilla peeking through. Sample was a little cold. Slight effervescent sensation on the finish. Quite zippy.
- 2010 Château Bouscaut Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Damp basement and plenty of oak. Not for me.
- 2010 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Great body. Nice citrus and oak interplay. Solid finish, long. Marshmallow. Purchased.
- 2010 Château de Fieuzal Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
In terms of body and oak, in line with Chevalier. Fairly sharp finish.
- 2010 Château Rahoul Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves
Bright profile than some. Citrus and tropical. Not friendly in the mouth.
- 2010 Château de Chantegrive Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves
Firm, good tannin. Other incomprehensible things written I can't decipher...
- 2010 Château La Louvière Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
That nettle aspect I often describe. Firm with good structure. Needs time. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Larrivet-Haut-Brion Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
VGV. Broad and pleasing. I make reference to Chevalier. Will be interesting to see what unfolds.
- 2010 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Oak and nettle. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Lifted nose with mint. Medium bodied but light in sensation. Perfectly balanced. Pineapple. Long persistent finish. Big fan of this. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Olivier Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Only have had this at UGC events. Never a fan - too acidic. Not sure what happens to it with time.
- 2010 Château Pape Clément Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Near perfect? Extreme persistence with an elongated finish. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
More neutral and a little less expressive than Pape Clement. Great. Would purchase.
Left Bank Reds No surprise, all the reds had an abundance of tannin and structure, Pauillac was very typical and as a commune may have performed best overall?. There was lot's to enjoy in St Julien. Margaux was more structured than average and this seemed to create 2 groups of wines - some that were bitter and a bit much to handle at present; others were within the style of Margaux but supercharged. Lots of nice wine from this commune. The right bank had all the usual suspects performing well other than Pavie Macquin which seemed out of sorts. Pessac was drinking really well and was one of my favourite. - 2010 Château d'Armailhac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
I preferred this to Clerc Milon this year. This was firmer but I think in the long run will be a better wine.
- 2010 Château Clerc Milon - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
The higher percentage of Merlot makes this immediately more pleasing than d'Armailhac but I preferred the latter based on what will happen in the cellar.
- 2010 Château Batailley - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Prominent oak but well balanced and full. Would purchase.
- 2010 Domaine de Chevalier - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
By tradition, the first red of the evening. Low toned wood with a solid core of red fruit. Not as tannic as expected. I don't get terroir at this stage. (Purchased)
- 2010 Château Pape Clément - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
The high Merlot content adds seduction. Marvellous. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Smith Haut Lafitte - France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
More structure than Pape Clement. More my style but will need time. Purchased.
- 2010 Château Chasse-Spleen - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc
Nice medium body that was scented and supple. Will drink early. VGV. Purchased.
- 2010 Château Cantemerle - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Cedar with exotic notes. 2010 finish but otherwise a smooth and lighter styled wine. Will drink earlier. GV. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château La Lagune - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Very light entry, seemingly slips into the mouth. Soapy with some anise. Firm tannin. A bit bitter but not concerned. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château La Tour Carnet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc
Like a Righty. VGV. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château La Tour de By - France, Bordeaux, Médoc
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Brane-Cantenac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
A deep woodsy sensation on the nose. A sappy, fly repellant tinge. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château d'Angludet - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Was a great value at $49 - re-listed at $79 just makes me angry at the LCBO. Good fruit with a bubblegum aspect.
- 2010 Château Cantenac Brown - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Margaux was firing on all cylinders. No notes but would purchase this.
- 2010 Château Durfort-Vivens - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Got seafood like salinity on the nose and fresh hay. Quite interesting but bitter tannin.
- 2010 Château Dauzac - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Lacking.
- 2010 Château Desmirail - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Bitter. Could do better.
- 2010 Château du Tertre - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
A bit rustic.
- 2010 Château Giscours - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Kirwan - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Forward and a little more pleasing.
- 2010 Château Labégorce - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
No Notes but fantastic QPR.
- 2010 Château Lascombes - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Serious. Big nose, big tannin. Almost Pauillac like. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Malescot St. Exupéry - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Currently unresolved, tarry tannin but typical Margaux. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Marquis de Terme - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
A watery mid-palate. Pass.
- 2010 Château Rauzan-Gassies - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Limited notes - unique and would purchase.
- 2010 Château Rauzan-Ségla - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
No doubt, in the top 3 wines of the evening. Distinctive. Crazy florals on the nose and a soap aspect in the mouth. Highly recommended.
- 2010 Château Croizet-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Puzzlingly light.
- 2010 Château Haut-Bages Libéral - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Beychevelle - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Seemed to under perform in comparison to it's peers.
- 2010 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Gobs of fruit with solid tannin. A glimpse of greatness?
- 2010 Château Gruaud Larose - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Deep gravelly oak. Cigar. Unsettled finish. Will come together. VG.
- 2010 Château Langoa Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Friendlier than Lagrange but for $$ if you want something from this stable you might as well splurge and get Leoville.
- 2010 Château Léoville Barton - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
The top St Julien at the tasting. Distinguished. Great oak, smoke and char. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Léoville Poyferré - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
A respectable second in the St Julien line up. Turbid looking in the glass. Good cassis with some peppermint peeking through. Large drying tannins. A stoic wine that needs time.
- 2010 Château Talbot - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Good fruit but the slightest bit green. Acrid finish.
- 2010 Château Branaire-Ducru - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Soft texture and nose. Easy. Great, versatile claret. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Preferred Comtesse this year but both are aristocratic wines. Definitely the male in the relationship. Typical Pauillac. Exceptional. Perfect?
- 2010 Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
I preferred this to Baron, maybe because of the assault we had been under for the last 3 hours and this was a little easier to chew through. Both are exceptional and highly recommended.
- 2010 Château Lynch-Bages - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Found this to be very hard. Will likely be great but offered little pleasure at the tasting.
- 2010 Château Phélan Ségur - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Ormes de Pez - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Estèphe
No Notes
Right Bank Reds - 2010 Château La Couspaude - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Troplong Mondot - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
My favourite Righty of the night. Purchased.
- 2010 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Thick and dense. Typical offering of chateau. Pretty easy. Would purchase.
- 2010 Château Figeac - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
For Figeac showing really, really well. Not backward in the slightest. Exceptional.
- 2010 Château La Dominique - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Grand Mayne - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Pavie Macquin - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
Pretty austere and not at all in balance yet. Hopefully will come together. One of the top 3 Righties in 2009. Not this year.
- 2010 Château La Conseillante - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
In the top 3 Right Bankers. Needs some serious time sleeping but will be exceptional.
- 2010 Château Clinet - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
In the top 3 Right Bankers.
- 2010 Château Canon (Canon-Fronsac) - France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Canon-Fronsac
No Notes
Dessert Didn't take notes as was pretty exhausted by this point. Recall Guiraud being a standout, especially for price. Some variances in sweetness but found amount of botrytis to be fairly consistent and not overly prevalent. A solid year. - 2010 Château Bastor-Lamontagne - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Climens - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Coutet Barsac - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Doisy-Daëne - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Barsac
No Notes.
- 2010 Château de Fargues - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Guiraud - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
No Notes.
- 2010 Château La Tour Blanche Sauternes - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
No Notes.
- 2010 Château de Rayne-Vigneau - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
No Notes.
- 2010 Château Suduiraut - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes
No Notes.
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