Bordeaux
Tasted Sunday, April 3, 2011 - Monday, April 4, 2011 by dcwino with 3,163 views
The 2010s show incredibly concentrated sweet fruit, high level of glycerin and noticeable tannins which makes the wines hard to evaluate. Based on small sample of the classified growths I am not quite sure whether I would have rated first growth clearly higher than the rest if I were to tasted blind. In terms of the right bank wines, there were several that were very special, ie very complex fruit expression and seamless silky palate.
As usual we were at the right bank on Sunday. Francois picked Kelly and I up and we had an impromptu visit at Chateau Valandraud.
During the EP, you have to taste like speedy Gonzalez. After a short session at Chateau Valandraud, we headed to Circle de Rive Droite tasting. We didn’t have much time but Kelly and I decided to taste the wines blind. There were 150 plus wines so we decided to taste St Emillion Grand Cru. We were only managed to taste 18 wines. In lieu of the very short time I was happy with the way I assess the wines. Chateau Château Péby Faugères really stood out as a step up from the others.
The lunch was held at Chateau Le Gay. We were greeted by always charming Madame Catherine Pere-Verge. As usual, she served a great home cooked lunch, a nice plate of incredibly silky foie gras torchon and tasty French jambon followed by a delicious lamb stew with pearl onions. She poured the 08 Minor de gay which was tasty, the 06 Le Gay which was surprisingly open and good then the 00 and the 90 Le gay both meriting around mid 90s.
Francois informed us that there will be a mini GJE session a few weeks back. We arrived at Chateau de Pressac, an impressive Chateau where we held the tasting. Francois told us that there is a surprise; double blind with four ringers. I started to regret what I had for lunch; a thick slice of foie gras torchon, a several slices of jambon, two servings of lamb stew, three Cannelés and a large piece of chocolate cake and a cup of double espresso.
I had a really bad sinus cold last year which lasted a couple months where I could not smell at all. A couple doctor friends told me that I could permanently lose my sense to smell which was really scary. BTW despite my passion for wine if I have to lose one sense it would be smell.
I have been tasting wine pretty well and I thought I got at least two or three right. When Francois announced that I got all four, I was extremely happy and relieved. My fellow GJE members Laurent Vialette and Christian Rogers got three each as well as one other GJE member. We also had to guess the vintage and the region and I guessed the 2005 and the right bank. It was the 2008 right banks mostly.
A short stop over to taste a few wines.
Most of Perse’s wines show as usual impressive concentrated fruit with a hint of licorice. I noticed very high level of tannins, eg after tasting Chateau Pavie Decesse my tongue got numb. I dare say these wines are bigger than the 05s.
Our final stop to taste the wines that Stephane Derenoncourt consults. I really like what Stephane is doing with the various properties as he really is making the wines that respect unique terroirs, ie the fruit concentration and style varies quite a bit. BTW Beausejour Duffau produced another monumental wine that is very similar to the 09.
The wines of Haut Brion are bigger, fresher and more masculine than last year. IMO, the 10 LMHB is a tour de force as Bob like to say where the 10 Haut Brion is more polished.
Another quick stop over. All the wines were showing Michel Rolland’s signature, very ripe, big, lush, jammy and very well integrated tannins except the Fombrouges. Based on my 09 EP TNs, I preferred the 09 PC, MF and PC blanc by a point or two. I rated the 10 La Tour Carnet and the Les Grand Chenes the same as the 09s with similar TNs. These two wines are well made wines that represent very good value.
Our lunch was at Chateau Lascomes and had a quick stop over at Chateau Rauzan Gassies to taste the 10 Rauzan Segla.
My last stop of the 10 EP before flying back home. GJE’s Lafite appointment was scheduled for the next day so no visit to Lafite and Latour.
It is a great vintage to buy the sub $30 wines from the right bank. If you plan to open the wines young and the top 40s in the next twenty years, I would go with the 09s as they will always drink well.
2010 Thunevin Mauvais Garçon / Bad Boy 91 Points
France, Bordeaux
(4/3/2011)
Cassis, blackberries, licorice, excellent concentration, very silky 90-92 pts.
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2010 Virginie de Valandraud 92 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(4/3/2011)
Licorice, blackberry jam, exceptional concentration, nice mineral component, silky, chewy but the fruit expression doesn’t show much finesse. 91-93 pts.
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2010 Château Valandraud 3 de Valandraud 88 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(4/3/2011)
Flower, medium to light body, good balance but nothing remarkable 87-88 pts.
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2010 Château Valandraud 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, St. Émilion Grand Cru
(4/3/2011)
Perhaps one of the biggest and most concentrated wines of the vintage other than Mr. Perse’s wine, licorice, crème de cassis, blueberry essence, it is hard to assess the finesse but certainly very impressive. 96-98 pts
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2010 Blanc de Valandraud Blanc 94 Points
France, Bordeaux
(4/3/2011)
Nice mineral component, sea salt, whie flowers, pear, excellenct concentration and length 93-95 pts
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