Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2010
Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
Tasted January 25, 2013 by lumpyelbow with 1,202 views
Introduction
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
Flight 1 - Whites (13 notes)
White
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.
White
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.
White
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.
Flight 2 - Left Bank Reds (41 notes)
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.
Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
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)
Red
2010 Château Chasse-Spleen
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc
Nice medium body that was scented and supple. Will drink early. VGV. Purchased.
Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
2010 Château Durfort-Vivens
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Got seafood like salinity on the nose and fresh hay. Quite interesting but bitter tannin.
Red
2010 Château Lascombes
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Serious. Big nose, big tannin. Almost Pauillac like. Would purchase.
Red
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.
Red
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.
Red
2010 Château Léoville Barton
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
The top St Julien at the tasting. Distinguished. Great oak, smoke and char. Would purchase.
Red
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.
Red
2010 Château Talbot
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Good fruit but the slightest bit green. Acrid finish.
Red
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?
Red
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.
Red
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.
Flight 3 - Right Bank Reds (10 notes)
Red
2010 Château Figeac
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
For Figeac showing really, really well. Not backward in the slightest. Exceptional.
Red
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.
Red
2010 Château La Conseillante
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Pomerol
In the top 3 Right Bankers. Needs some serious time sleeping but will be exceptional.
Flight 4 - Dessert (9 notes)
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.
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