The estate said they liked this vintage because it was equally successful for white and red. This is a tart, juicy style of white Bordeaux. Refreshing.
Svelte and slender as Haut-Bailly always is, certainly the finest in the room from that perspective. But there is a sneaky structure. It leaves you with some serious furry tannins.
Pitch-black fruit complexion. This feels very slender and svelte on the entry and then some kind of tannin hand-grenade went off. Nice to be able to discern its shape through the structure and impressive how it manages to carry all that muscle without either drying out or fattening up, but this'll need some time.
This is really beautiful, easily my favorite of these if you were planning on opening one tonight. I guess it's built for younger drinking so it has that working for it. Even so, this brings to mind many lovely Palmers I've had, which is impressive for a second wine. This is just so feminine and elegant, like sliding into paper-thin cashmere. It's easy to drink, but there is structure here.
Was curious to see what the grand vin was going to do after such an impressive and Palmeresque alter ego. No doubt this is bigger, but it still has that red-fruited Palmer profile and the extra size doesn't come so much in weight, but in breadth - this is really expansive and three-dimensional. I had trouble deciding between this and Haut-Bailly for my favorite.
Probably the easiest to drink of these 2010s, owing to its glossy fruit veneer. The flavors aren't out of whack relative to the rest, it just has a lot more sheen to it which smooths over the structure. Very black-fruited complexion. I guess they all were, but this one more than most.
Poured after the Clerc, and it had similar polish and gloss to it and maybe an even more black-fruited complexion, but it had more stuff going on (more complexity or less integration? Maybe both) - just a lot of stuff jostling for notice, with a meaty and toasty edge.
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Cool new Art Deco label design on this 2010. (Actually they said the 2009 was the first to feature it.) This is really, really plush and just as deep as the left bankers, nothing in here would have clued me in we were crossing the river here. It's got a nuttiness to it probably from the oak.
2010 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
The estate said they liked this vintage because it was equally successful for white and red. This is a tart, juicy style of white Bordeaux. Refreshing.
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2010 Château Malartic-Lagravière
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Pretty good and already showing a hint of smoky Graves character, but totally outclassed by the Haut-Bailly.
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2010 Château Haut-Bailly
France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan
Svelte and slender as Haut-Bailly always is, certainly the finest in the room from that perspective. But there is a sneaky structure. It leaves you with some serious furry tannins.
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2010 Château Léoville Poyferré
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Saint-Julien
Pitch-black fruit complexion. This feels very slender and svelte on the entry and then some kind of tannin hand-grenade went off. Nice to be able to discern its shape through the structure and impressive how it manages to carry all that muscle without either drying out or fattening up, but this'll need some time.
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2010 Château Palmer Alter Ego
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
This is really beautiful, easily my favorite of these if you were planning on opening one tonight. I guess it's built for younger drinking so it has that working for it. Even so, this brings to mind many lovely Palmers I've had, which is impressive for a second wine. This is just so feminine and elegant, like sliding into paper-thin cashmere. It's easy to drink, but there is structure here.
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2010 Château Palmer
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Was curious to see what the grand vin was going to do after such an impressive and Palmeresque alter ego. No doubt this is bigger, but it still has that red-fruited Palmer profile and the extra size doesn't come so much in weight, but in breadth - this is really expansive and three-dimensional. I had trouble deciding between this and Haut-Bailly for my favorite.
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2010 Château Clerc Milon
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Probably the easiest to drink of these 2010s, owing to its glossy fruit veneer. The flavors aren't out of whack relative to the rest, it just has a lot more sheen to it which smooths over the structure. Very black-fruited complexion. I guess they all were, but this one more than most.
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2010 Château Pontet-Canet
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Poured after the Clerc, and it had similar polish and gloss to it and maybe an even more black-fruited complexion, but it had more stuff going on (more complexity or less integration? Maybe both) - just a lot of stuff jostling for notice, with a meaty and toasty edge.
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2010 Château Troplong Mondot
France, Bordeaux, Libournais, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Cool new Art Deco label design on this 2010. (Actually they said the 2009 was the first to feature it.) This is really, really plush and just as deep as the left bankers, nothing in here would have clued me in we were crossing the river here. It's got a nuttiness to it probably from the oak.
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