Château Margaux 2010

Chateau Margaux 2010

1er Cru Classé

Margaux

75cl.

- Delivery in 3-4 weeks -

- Not subject to discounts and/or promotions -

Condition and provenance guaranteed

Original wooden case of 6 bottles

Notes on the vintage:

Incredible as it may seem, Château Margaux 2010 is at least as great a vintage as 2009. Once again, the Cabernet Sauvignon made the most of this very dry and cool vintage. With as much as 90% in the blend, Cabernet makes the wine, giving it exceptional aromatic finesse, restrained power, and subtle freshness. Little space for Merlot (7%), Cabernet Franc (1.5%) and Petit Verdot (1.5%). The brilliance of these Cabernet textures is astounding.

Château Margaux 2010 is a giant, but it's not monstrous. It's pure magic - think classic, with a twist. Truly classic, thanks to its purity, finesse and soft, refreshing finish. Add to these qualities surprising aromatic complexity and exceptional potency and the result is an exceptional year. Technology and rigorous selection make it a “modern” wine, while its grandeur and charm ensure a timeless vintage of Château Margaux. Better to wait patiently, even if it's already hard to resist. (October 2018)

Climate
The winter was quite cold and dry, causing a certain delay in budding. The mixed weather conditions in spring made the flowering process uneven and caused some coulure in some of the old Merlot plots. Yet, as always, the great terroirs seem to have set their own agenda and ignored the vagaries of the weather, enjoying a fast and smooth flowering process with perfect results. On the other hand, Cabernet Sauvignon, so well suited to these lands, is not inclined to coulure.

From the end of June until the last grape harvest in October, we experienced, once again, the kind of drought typical of great Bordeaux vintages. In fact, while on the one hand the vines were spared from excess water, thus preventing unwanted foliage, they benefited from just enough humidity to favor ripening and improve the concentration of the berries.

While the weather conditions in 2010 resembled those of 2009 and 2005, the vintages are never quite the same. The summer of 2010 was as dry as that of 2009, but cooler. The absence of extreme heat combined with cool nights compensated for the drought and probably allowed some young plants from the great terroirs to reach a new qualitative threshold. It also enhanced aromatic character in all grape varieties, particularly in the Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet and allowed for the maintenance of excellent levels of acidity - the perfect complement to high levels of alcohol. (Collection started on September 22nd)

Reviews

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate : 99

"The 2010 is a brilliant Chateau Margaux, as one might expect in this vintage. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend hit 90%, the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and only 38% of the crop made it into the Chateau Margaux Paul Pontallier, the administrator, told me that this wine has even higher levels of tannin than some other extraordinary vintages such as 2005, 2000, 1996, etc. Deep purple, pure and intense, with floral notes, tremendous opulence and palate presence, this is a wine of considerable nobility.With loads of blueberry, black currant and violet-infused fruit and a heady alcohol level above 13.5% (although that looks modest compared to several other first growths, particularly Chateau Latour and Chateau Haut-Brion), its beautifully sweet texture, ripe tannin, abundant depth and profound finish all make for another near-perfect wine that should age effortlessly for 30-40 years."

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (205), March 2013

James Suckling : 100