En Primeur Wines

We are very excited to offer you a great opportunity to purchase en Primeur wines. En Primeur, also known as Wine Futures, is the method of purchasing wine before they are bottled and released onto the market.

All wines are sold Under-bond and will be subject to duty (currently £20.25 per 12/1) and VAT (currently 17.5%). Once the wine has been bottled, it will be shipped to our warehouse at approximately £7.00 per case. Once the wine has arrived in our warehouse, onward transport can be arranged. Rates of Duty and VAT are subject to change.

Wines are subject to availability, and are sold on a FIRST COME FIRST SERVED bases. Purchases are made in cases of 12 and prices are shown ex VAT.

If you are interested in investing in an En Primeur 2009 wine, please contact Guy Adams at our office on 0844 871 0040 or email orders@heritagewine.co.uk

En Primeur 2009

SAUTERNES

EP091005 Château Lafaurie Peyraguey, Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classé

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 90-93
Focused and very clean, with apple pie and crème brûlée aromas. Full-bodied and medium sweet, with a fruity finish. A little one-dimensional. .

Decanter : **** 17/20
Lovely, scented fruit and moderate richness, with very fruity acidity. There is less concentration than usual, in line with the vintage. Drink 2015-2033.

Neal Martin : 92-94
There is some SO2 masking the nose here, which is difficult to assess. However, the palate is well balanced with fine minerality, bright citrus fruit, orange zest, a touch of white peach and apricot, good tension towards the finish with a dash of lemongrass on the aftertaste. There is very good weight and botrytis on this Lafaurie Peyraguey that linger seductively.

Jancis Robinson MW : 17+/20
Quite deep gold. Looks very fat. Not very much nose, and sheer weight is its strong point. A bit chewy. This should give pleasure but it's not one of the most subtle. Raw pear juice. Bit of a boxer. Though with good acidity.

EP091006 Château Guiraud, Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classé Blanc

James Suckling - Wine Spectator:: 95-98
This rocks with botrytis, offering spicy almond, peach pie and dried apricot on the nose and palate. Full and very sweet, with a long finish. So much dried fruit. Oily and powerful. Some bitterness. 35 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 65 percent Sémillon.

Decanter : **** 17.5/20
A nose with scented fruit acidity and distinct botrytis richness; then the palate is richer and fatter than expected, with a pleasing freshness at the finish. Drink 2013-2033.

Jancis Robinson MW : 18/20
Interesting nose with a bit of an edge - really appetising as well as very sweet. I failed to spit this one - always a good sign. Very long and a good combination of structure, acidity and very ripe fruit. Tightly laced even if not the sweetest. Interesting smokiness on the nose.

HAUT MEDOC

EP091014 Château Senejac, Haut Médoc

Robert Parker : 89-91*
Run by the Cordier family, with the vineyard managed by Alfred Tesseron’s team at Pontet-Canet, this is the first vintage from their biodynamically farmed estate, and it is certainly the best wine I have ever tasted from Senejac. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, oodles of black currant fruit are intermixed with some licorice, underbrush, and foresty notes. Great fruit, a sumptuous, fleshy texture, and plenty of succulence and length make for a big, rich, nicely textured wine to drink over the next decade. (Tasted two times.)

Decanter : *** 16+/20
Fine floral yet quite discreet nose, elegant and poised, will be a lovely wine, a bit understated now. Drink 2013-18.

Jancis Robinson MW : 16+ /20
Mid dark crimson. Well balanced. Savoury and succulent with just a slight polish of 2009 over it. Not sweet at all. God stuff. Serious wine. GV

EP091012 Château Camensac, Haut médoc – Grand Cru Classé 1855

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 87-90
Currant and mineral on the nose and palate. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Needs a little more fruit concentration in the midpalate for such a top vintage.

Decanter : *** 16/20
Deep purple red, slightly smoky blackcurrant nose, well-extracted fruit with firmness and elegant Médoc finish. Drink 2014-20.
Jancis Robinson MW : 16 /20

EP091001 Château Cantemerle, Haut médoc – Grand Cru Classé 1855

Robert Parker : 92-94*
This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, with the Cabernet dominating, looks to be the best they have ever produced, even eclipsing the 2005. Dense purple in color, with extraordinarily elegant floral notes intermixed with raspberry, black currant, cherry, and spice box, it is medium to full-bodied, not massive, but again, very seamless, with beautiful precision, sweet tannins, and an endearing fleshiness and depth of flavor that are neither heavy nor fatiguing. This wine will be relatively approachable in 3-5 years and drink well for 25-30. (Tasted two times.)

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 88-91
Very pretty and aromatic on the nose, with currant and flowers. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a clean finish.

Decanter : *** 17/20
Deep purple red, very attractive nose of fragrant black fruits with elegant intensity, slightly smoky oak, finely textured, lovely classy southern Médoc. Drink 2014-22.

PAUILLAC

EP091011 Château Croizet Bages, Pauillac – Grand Cru Classé 1855

Robert Parker : 87-89

Decanter : *** 16/20
Black red, quite smoky, well-concentrated cassis nose, good depth of fruit and big fleshy wine, tannins still a bit raw. Drink 2015-24.

Jancis Robinson MW : 16.5/20

POMEROL

EP091002 Château Vieux Maillet, Pomerol

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 92-95
Extremely dark in color, with powerful aromas of blackberry and tar. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, rich finish. Intense and layered. Very well done.

Decanter : *** 15.5/20
Ripe, round and supple. Sweet on attack but balancing freshness. Grippy finish. Good, if a little one-dimensional. Drink 2014-2022.

Jancis Robinson MW : 16.5/20
Deep purple. Intense and floral with deep undertow. Very sweet and then a little charcoal-like chew on the finish. Lots of acidity. Embryonic but quite dramatic. Tarry finish.

SAINT EMILIONL

EP091008 Château Tauzinat L’Hermitage, Saint Emilion Grand Cru

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 90-93
So perfumed and pretty on the nose, with flowers and sweet berry. Full-bodied, with a silky texture, fine tannins and a balance of attractive fruit.

SAINT JULIEN

EP091009 Château Gloria, Saint Julien – Cru Bourgeois

Robert Parker : 91-93*
There have been many great Glorias over the years as this property consistently over-performs. The 2009 may be the finest yet produced. Loaded with notes of Christmas fruitcake intermixed with red and black currants, licorice, spice box, and blackberries, this inky/purple-colored wine is atypically full-bodied with a viscous texture, and loads of tannin, extract, and richness. Deep and layered, it will offer thrilling sipping over the next 25+ years. (Bottles of the 1982 I own are fully mature, but are not close to falling apart.) (Tasted two times.)

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 90-93
Crushed blackberries and fresh herbs on the nose. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, rich finish. Solid core of everything here. Right up there with the 2005.

Decanter : **** 17/20
Superb deep colour, seductively floral nose with wild violets, fresh, fleshy fruit with great depth and well-balanced length. Drink 2014-20.

Jancis Robinson MW : 17/20
Full, rich and explosive on the nose. Very subtle and well balanced and gorgeous. Dry not drying finish. The zest of St-Julen with a hint of white pepper and clove. Nice wine!

EP091016 Clos du Marquis, Saint Julien

Robert Parker : 91-93
Clos du Marquis is being positioned by Jean-Hubert Delon as a separate single vineyard wine rather than Leoville Las Cases’ second wine. The logic is simple. It has come from the same vineyard for over twenty years, and is not a true second wine in the sense that it is not made from Las Cases’ discarded cuvees. The 2009 Clos du Marquis (70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot) came in at 13.75% alcohol. It exhibits a deep ruby/purple hue along with sweet notes of creme de cassis, great purity, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and terrific texture as well as length. It should evolve for 20-25 years. (Tasted once.)

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 89-92
Raspberry and wild currant on the nose. Full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a long, pretty finish. Plenty of currant and mineral character. Builds on the finish. Tannic.

Decanter : **** 17/20
Black red, smoky nose with deep, rather discreet fruit, great purity, quite reserved, extremely elegant. Drink 2014-20.

Jancis Robinson MW : 17 /20
Too much Merlot in here, he says. Very deep crimson. Hint of smoked meat on the nose. Not as immediately charming as the Petit Lion on the nose though very sweet and Merlot on the palate. A little dry on the finish. Neither fish now fowl?

EP091017 La Croix de Beaucaillou, Saint Julien – (2nd vin du Château Ducru Beaucaillou)

Robert Parker : 88-90
Ducru’s second wine, the 2009 Croix de Beaucaillou, is a thrill to taste. Made from a single vineyard, it exhibits a dense purple color along with a creamy texture and loads of creme de cassis fruit intertwined with notions of charcoal, incense, and spice. Round, generous, and opulent, it can be drunk now or cellared for 15+ years. (Tasted once.)

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 89-92
Rose, mineral, currant and berries on the nose. Full-bodied, with firm and chewy tannins and a long finish. Polished and pretty. Could use a little bit more in the center palate, but very good indeed. Second wine of Ducru.

Decanter : **** 17/20
Black red, really good depth of fruit and totally polished Saint-Julien style with spice and grip due to high proportion of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink 2014-22.

Jancis Robinson MW : 16,5 /20
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot. From the centre of the appellation area and all the young vines too. Deep crimson. Lively and fresh on the nose. Sleek, polished, very sweet and frank – black fruits on the palate. 60% new oak. Dries out a bit on the finish. A little exaggerated. Cool and drying on the finish.

EP091018 Château Lalande Borie, Saint Julien – Cru Bourgeois

Robert Parker : 88-90*
The finest wine I have ever tasted from Lalande Borie, the 2009 (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc) displays lots of purity along with a boatload of black currant, raspberry, and black cherry fruit, no evidence of wood, broad, rich, deep flavors, and a velvety texture. It should drink well for a decade or more. (Tasted once.)

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 87-90
Wonderful aromas of flowers such as roses. Full-bodied, with firm and precise tannins. Fresh fruit, with a citrus undertone. Medium finish.

Decanter : *** 16/20
Purple red, deep fleshy, almost voluptuous fruit with good length and grip at the end. Drink 2013-18.

Jancis Robinson MW : 17/20
Very fresh and sappy nose. Sweet start but fresh and zesty. Chewy finish. Nice elegance and racy. Maybe not the longest lived wine. INAO decided to use Napoleonic system to identify parcels – soils quite different. Slightly green and sinewy on the finsh.

MARGAUX

EP091010 Château Marquis de Terme, Margaux - Grand Cru Classé 1855

Robert Parker : 89-91
The finest wine I have ever tasted from Marquis de Terme, this seamless beauty exhibits a dense ruby/purple color along with a big, sweet bouquet of licorice, seaweed, black currants, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins, a rich, concentrated mouthfeel, and a long, layered finish, it will benefit from 3-4 years of cellaring, and should evolve for 20-25 years. (Tasted two times.)

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 92-95
Blackberry and mineral on the nose, with hints of mint. Full-bodied, with superpolished and silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. All there. Best ever?

Decanter : **** 16.5/20
Fine black red, well-extracted red/black fruits, good vigourous expression and good future, perhaps more weight than finesse. Drink 2014-22.

Jancis Robinson MW : 17/20
Very dark. Intensely meaty nose. Colour stains the inside of the glass. Pretty strong oak influence but at least it’s savoury as opposed to sweet oak. Very ambitious indeed. Needs lots of time. Quite nervy. Long. A little exaggerated but not in supersweet mode, which is why I’m giving it the benefit of the doubt – but the doubt is there!

EP091007 Château Kirwan, Margaux - Grand Cru Classé 1855

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 92-95
Wow. A subtle yet fabulous burst of fruit on the nose, with currant, mineral and flowers. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fruity, beautiful finish. So pretty. Chewy. Big Kirwan.

Decanter : **** 16.5/20
Dense red, well-extracted Cabernet fruit with intensity and spice, quite broad and spicy on the palate, good structure and acidity, fruit and aging potential. Drink 2015-25.

Jancis Robinson MW : 16/20
Glowing crimson. Very sweet start. Something almost animal about this on the nose. Just a bit awkward in terms of oak – mellow and well seasoned enough?

SAINT ESTÈPHE

EP091013 Château Capbern Gasqueton, Saint Estèphe

Decanter : **** 17/20
Black red, classic Saint-Estèphe nose that blends power and finesse with a satiny texture and great depth, a very good wine. Drink 2014-20.

Jancis Robinson MW : 17.5/20
From the Calon-Ségur stable and very impressive! Blueish purple crimson. Very juicy and meaty. Lively fruit. Polished. Great vitality. Very much St-Estèphe on the finish. Minerals. But a quite amazing amount of sweetness on the front palate. Really wonderful expression of St-Estèphe 2009 – though not of St-Estèphe in most vintages. VGV (=Very good value)

GRAVES ET PESSAC

EP091004 Château Larrivet Haut Brion, Pessac-Léognan Rouge

Robert Parker : 91-93
Juicy red currant with subtle smoked herbs, truffle, and spice box jump from the glass of this dense ruby/purple-colored wine. Possessing silky tannins, seductive, ripe fruit with an opulent texture and no hard edges, but serious tannin lurking behind the wealth of fruit and glycerin, this is another classic Pessac-Leognan that can be drunk young or cellared for 20-25 years. (Tasted three times.)

James Suckling - Wine Spectator: 90-93
Blackberry and mineral on the nose, with dried flowers. Full-bodied, with very silky tannins and a long finish. This is racy and cool.

Decanter : *** 16/20
Dense red, leafy blackcurrant fruit, good density and good tannins, needs to soften the rather raw tannins. Drink 2015-20.

EP091003 Château Haut Bergey, Pessac Léognan Rouge

Robert Parker : 92-94
One of the best over-achieving, value-priced wines in Pessac-Leognan, Haut-Bergey’s vineyard enjoys a superb location near Malartic-Lagraviere and Domaine de Chevalier. Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Cabernet Franc and a dollop of Petit Verdot, the opaque purple-hued 2009 reveals a big, exuberant nose of charcoal, black currants, sweet cherries, and graphite. Dense and full-bodied, with beautiful purity, texture, and length, it should drink well for 20+ years. (Tasted two times.) P.S. I also tasted the brilliant 2000 Haut-Bergey in March, 2010, and it was still a youngster in terms of its development.

Decanter : *** 16/20
Black red, concentrated tobacco leaf cassis fruit, good concentration and vigour, has a greenness that needs to soften. Drink 2014-20.

En Primeur 2010

PESSAC-LÉOGNAN

EP10011 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge Pessac-Léognan

Robert Parker: 95-97 / 100
2010: A qualitative home run, right up there with the profound 2005 and more opulent 2009, Smith-Haut-Lafitte has turned in a remarkable performance in this vintage, but then again, so have many other chateaux. A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the wine has an inky/purple color and an extraordinary nose of graphite, blackberries, cassis, licorice, smoke, and camphor. The unbelievable skyscraper-like texture, stunning purity, and formidable intensity make for a remarkably rich, long, full-bodied wine that is classic Graves, but at the same time a staggering 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035+.

Jancis Robinson: 17 / 20
Savoury and appealing on the nose. Very fresh

Wine Spectator: 93-96 / 100
Really ripe, but with great focus, as linzer torte, blackberry, plum sauce and anise notes are woven tightly together, all carried by tar and graphite, with a long, seamless finish.

James Suckling: 95-96 / 100
Wonderful aromas of currants, berries and minerals. Very stoney. Full bodied, with an intense and dense palate structure. Loads of blackberries, sweet tobacco and hot stones. Long finish. We will see if it's better than the 2009 or not.

POMEROL

EP10006 Château le Gay, Pomerol

Robert Parker: 95-97+ / 100
2010: The 2010 Le Gay is another extraordinary achievement from proprietoress Catherine Pere-Verge, who purchased this estate in 2004. A tiny production of around 1,300 cases achieved 13.5% natural alcohol and the final blend was 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. An inky/blue/purple color is followed by a distinctive perfume of liqueur of rocks, blueberries, blackberries, truffles and a subtle hint of oak. Extremely tannic, full-bodied, structured, masculine and backward with abundant minerality as well as ferocious extract and intensity, this 2010 requires at least a decade or cellaring. It should keep for three decades or more.

Jancis Robinson: 17 / 20
Mid crimson. Extreme limit of ripeness. With attractive sweetness and freshness. Racy and polished. There is definitely enough freshness to keep this appetising. Unctuous with a strong line of terroir chew. Long. Another sample tasted open not blind seemed a little bit thick and Argentine but I hereby give it the beneft of the doubt.

Wine Spectator: 92-95 / 100
Rich but refined, with a pure core of raspberry, cherry and plum fruit. There's a gorgeous, silky feel through the finish. Very long. No heat here-it's all style.

James Suckling: 93-94 / 100
A beautiful solid core of ripe fruit, with coffee and light vanilla. Tobacco too. Full and dense, with polished tannins and bright acidity.

EP10019 Château Clinet, Pomerol

Robert Parker: 95 -98 / 100
A spectacular success in this vintage, this blend of 85% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Cabernet Franc achieved 15% natural alcohol. Sadly, there are only 3,400 cases primarily because of the small Merlot crop (yields were only 29 hectoliters per hectare). The wine's opaque purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of boysenberries, blueberries, black currants, licorice, truffles and a hint of asphalt. The wine possesses great intensity, a multidimensional mouthfeel, stunning glycerin and richness, and wonderful freshness as well as precision because of the vintage conditions. This massive Pomerol will age effortlessly for 30-35 years. Equaling what Clinet achieved in 1989 and 1990, it is the third successive great vintage for this estate.

Jancis Robinson: 16.5 / 20
Blackish crimson. Such ripeness it's almost cheesy on the nose. Then very firm on the palate - verging on inkiness. A real backbone here! This wine's two faces don't seem to be talking to each other yet. It may get there in the end

Wine Spectator: 92-95 / 100
Rich and fleshy, with a cocoa powder frame to the blueberry, raspberry and dark plum fruit. Long, with some muscle, yet stays graceful overall.

SAINT JULIEN

EP10001 Château Beychevelle, Saint Julien - Fourth-growth

Robert Parker: 90-92 / 100
Flowery blueberry, red and black currant fruit notes intermixed with a hint of damp earth emerge from this wine's moderate aromatics. Elegant with medium body as well as a classic Beychevelle style with high tannins and a more restrained structure, the elevated tannins suggest 7-8 years of cellaring will be necessary. It should keep for 25-30 years thereafter.

Wine Spectator: 91-94 / 100
Juicy, with a beam of cassis and spice bread, laced with smoke, graphite and crushed plum on the velvety finish.

James Suckling: 93-94 / 100
Mineral, lemon grass and berries on the nose. Full bodied, with ultra-fine tannins and a wonderful finish. Lasts for minutes. This is the best Beychevelle in years. Maybe decades.

EP10002 Château Gruaud Larose, Saint Julien

Robert Parker: 92-94 / 100
2010: This gets my nod as the finest Gruaud Larose since the 2000 and 1990. The opaque purple-colored 2010 exhibits copious notes of Asian plum sauce, spice box, creme de cassis, loamy soil and a beefy/meaty character. It is full-bodied, dense and powerful, with stunning purity and no evidence of brett (a characteristic of the great Gruaud Larose wines made in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s). Given the 2010's tannin profile, it will require 5-8 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades thereafter.

Jancis Robinson: 16 / 20
Dark polished crimson. Sweet black-cherry aromas. Oddly tarted up for a St-Julien. Just lacks a bit of depth and savour but it is certainly flattering and has applied its make-up very carefully. Awkward amalgam of assorted elements.

Wine Spectator: 93-96 / 100
Offers a serious core of kirsch, blackberry and plum sauce notes, with lovely, velvety tannins taking over the pure, violet-tinged finish, which has length and grace. Shows more elegance than most of its peers in this vintage.

James Suckling: 93-94 / 100
It like the finish on this wine with a blueberry, currant and citrus fruit character on the nose and palate. Full and chewy with ultra-fine tannins and a bright acidity.

EP10009 Château Léoville-Barton, St. Julien

Robert Parker: 91 - 93+/100
The 2010 Leoville Barton was almost impossible to evaluate because of its highly extracted, masculine, muscular style. However, it exhibits a dense purple color along with surprising amounts of oak, excruciatingly painful tannin levels, good acidity and a massive mouthfeel. One of the biggest, most backward wines of the vintage, forget it for a decade and drink it over the following 30+ years. Unfortunately, I have passed the age where it makes sense to buy a wine such as this.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 18.5/20
Fine concentration, quite understated at the start, then the purity and depth of fruit, classical Leoville Barton firm texture and length becomes plain, a wine that repays keeping.

James Molesworth – The Wine Spectator: 94 - 97/100
Dark and winey, with a terrific core of plum and macerated black currant fruit woven with a note of black cherry reduction. Tarry but polished. Grippy but velvety. And plenty long.

EP10010 Château Gloria, Saint Julien

Robert Parker: 91 - 93/100
Some serious tannin gives the wine grip, but this is a full-bodied, big, thick, well-proportioned, super-endowed Gloria that will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and keep for two decades.

Decanter: 17.5/20

Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com: 17/20
Very dense crimson. Tobacco and leather and very serious stuff. Dense and rich and sweet on the palate after a more classically styled St-Julien nose. Very appealing even if a little more astringent than a top St-Julien.Tasted blind 8 Apr: Dark and rich and very upright. Beautifully balanced, dry and cool without being austere of drying. The fruit is succulent and yet the framework is there. Very luscious indeed but very 2010. Very firm mineral finish. Long

A sensational effort, the 2010 Gloria may turn out to be the finest wine they have made since 1982, although the 2009 is a serious contender for that honor as well. A bigger than life as well as more backward than normal offering, the 2010 exhibits an inky/purple color along with an opulent display of black currants, jammy cherries, licorice, cedar and roasted herbs.

EP10018 Château Branaire Ducru, Saint Julien

Robert Parker: 93 - 95/100
Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has completed a decade of brilliant performances at this chateau across the Medoc’s Route de Vin from Beychevelle and a stone’s throw from Ducru Beaucaillou, St.-Pierre and Gloria. A fabulous effort, the 2010's notes of raspberry jam, black currants, crushed rocks and spring flowers are followed by a wine of impeccable purity, medium to full-bodied power, sweet tannin and stunning texture and length. With superb richness and beautiful overall equilibrium, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25 or more years.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 17.5/20
Lots of depth and already showing fragrance and complexity, perfect concentration and refreshing, harmonious length, another great wine from the château on top of its form.

Jancis Robinson MW- jancis robinson.com: 17/20
Very dark purple. Nice freshness on the nose. Very round and supple and polished. Opulent without being sweet. All assembled by end Feb with about 9% vin de presse. More approachable than most of the 2010s I have tasted so far. Fresh and the fruit almost disguises the marked tannins on the finish. Stricter selection than usual. Dry – very dry summer. 41 hl/ha compared to 47 hl/ha in 2009. Small berries.

James Molesworth – The Wine Spectator – Top Scoring Bordeaux 2010: 92 - 95/100
This has guts, offering dark fig, plum and cocoa notes carried by velvety but substantial tannins, with a very long, smoke- and plum sauce-filled finish that has well-embedded acidity.

EP10022 Château Ducru Beaucaillou, Saint Julien – Second Growth

Robert Parker: 96-98+
2010 Ducru Beaucaillou: Representing 45% of their total production, the 2010 Ducru will certainly compete with the efforts produced in 2009, 2008, and 2005. It hit 14% natural alcohol, compared to 13.5% in 2009 and 2008. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the wine has a surprisingly lower pH (3.62) than the 2009, or the 2005 for that matter. A truly remarkable wine, with a dense purple color and a beautiful nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers and crushed rock, this full-bodied, sensationally concentrated wine has massive richness, high but very sweet tannin, and stunning purity and depth. Proprietor Bruno Borie seems to have pulled out all the stops in turning out an absolutely compelling effort that is the essence of Ducru Beaucaillou. It should drink well for 30-40 years.

Jancis Robinson: 17 / 20
Since 2005 it is no longer a second wine but from a plot in the centre of the appellation with less estuarine influence. Very deep crimson. Deep crimson. Very rich and round. Suave and convincing. Lots of life and masses of fruit.

James Suckling: 99-100 / 100
I can't believe the precision and complexity in this wine. This is really amazing with minerals, berries, currants and blackberries. Full and extraordinary. It goes on and on and on. Tasted twice. Best ever from Ducru.

MARGAUX

EP10015 Château d’Issan, Margaux

Robert Parker: 94 - 96/100
Emmanuel Cruse has done a superb job at this moated castle on the southern approach to the appellation of Margaux. The dense blue/purple-tinged 2010 reveals notes of violets, blue and black fruits, a striking minerality, excellent purity, texture and length, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and noticeable but sweet, well-integrated tannins. It should drink well in 5-6 years and last 25-35.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 18/20
Fine fragrant nose, perfect extraction, already beautifully textured, great future, probably the best d'Issan yet.

Jancis Robinson MW- jancis robinson.com: 17.5/20
55% new oak. Very dark crimson. Heady and perfumed and very Margaux. More subtle on the nose. Very sweet start with good freshness. Tighter and introvert. Needs a long time. The grown-up version of Blason d’Issan. Lovely delicacy. Very fine tannins on the end but with Margaux polish.

EP10016 Château Brane Cantenac, Margaux

Robert Parker:: 93 - 96/100
After nearly two decades of mediocre performances, Brane Cantenac has been doing impressive work over the last decade. While the 2010 may not eclipse the 2009 or 2005, it is an exceptional wine from proprietor Henri Lurton. A dense purple color is accompanied by a floral-scented bouquet revealing notes of licorice, graphite and red as well as black currants. Layered, rich and concentrated, this impressively constructed, seamless Margaux has plenty of tannin, but it is buried under the extravagant fruit and glycerin. This rich, pure, authoritative 2010 should drink well young yet keep for 25-30+ years.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 18/20
Beautifully expressed Cabernet fruit, pure Margaux elegance that combines intensity and finesse, long flavours, excellent balance that shows up Brane's specific style.

Jancis Robinson MW- jancis robinson.com: 17/20
Very dark and concentrated. Exotic nose with some spice and aromas of old-ladies’ handbags. Really rather rewarding on the nose but on the palate it seems a little too sweet and soft. Then becomes a bit green and astringent. Awkward, though there are interesting elements here. Should come right in the end.

James Molesworth – The Wine Spectator: 90 - 93/100
A fresh, floral style, with violet and rose aromas followed by a mix of vibrant red currant and blackberry fruit. The dusty finish has good underlying acidity, keeping it racy.

HAUT MEDOC

EP10005 Château Senejac, Haut Medoc

Robert Parker: 87-90 / 100
2010: Pontet-Canet's brilliant proprietor, Alfred Tesseron, has begun to look after the wines of Senejac and the result is a tasty, elegant 2010 offering copious berry fruit notes intermixed with hints of cedarwood and spice. This cuvee should be drinkable upon release and evolve for a decade.

Wine Spectator: 89-92 / 100
Still compact, with a very briary, juicy core of plum, dark currant and braised fig, followed by a roasted tobacco edge on the finish. Offers lively acidity. Should unwind nicely.

PAUILLAC

EP10003 Château Haut Batailley, Pauillac

Robert Parker: 88 - 90/100
This is always the most St.-Julien-like of the Pauillacs (although occasionally Pichon-Lalande possesses a suave, St.-Julian character and less power than many Pauillacs). The dark ruby/purple-hued 2010 reveals sweet aromas of red and black currants, cedar and spicy background oak. It is an attractive, elegant, mid-weight wine with polished tannins as well as a restrained style. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 17/20
Very good depth of elegant Cabernet fruit and lovely fragrance and lift, a perfectly poised Haut-Batailley.

James Molesworth – The Wine Spectator: 90 - 93/100
The 2010 Ch. Haut Batailley is a ripe wine, with a lovely beam of cassis and blackberry well-harnessed by seamless acidity. The rounded, enticing finish has a dash of toasty vanilla that's well-embedded.

EP10004 Château Pontet Canet, Pauillac

Robert Parker: 96-100 / 100
2010: Pontet-Canet's 2010 harvest took place between September 29 and October 17 (this vineyard is one of the few in Bordeaux that is fully certified as biodynamic) and the final blend was 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that achieved nearly 15% natural alcohol. A remarkable, full-bodied effort (as was the estate's 2009 and 2008), like so many recent vintages from proprietor Alfred Tesseron, it is of first-growth quality (some may even argue that it eclipses several first-growths). Dense purple to the rim, it offers classic notes of creme de cassis, graphite, subtle smoke and spring flowers. Multidimensional with massive concentration as well as vivid purity, precision and freshness, this is another astonishing effort from an obsessive/compulsive proprietor who is doing everything right. On the downside, this 2010 will require a decade of cellaring and should evolve for 50+ years. It will be fascinating to drink it side by side with the 2009 and 2008.

Wine Spectator: 96-99 / 100
Seriously dense, with thickly layered fig paste, macerated black currant fruit, Kenya AA coffee and roasted tobacco. But really fresh and invigorating throughout, with mouthwatering iron and apple wood notes. Despite the power, this cuts like a knife from the start. When the Bordelais say precise, this is what they mean.

James Suckling: 97-98 / 100
What a nose of black currants, minerals and blueberries. Flowers too. Licorice. Full bodied, with a wonderful texture of super refined tannins and a long, long finish. A beautiful concentration of fruit and purity and precision. So clear and focused. Super, super long. The tannins and finish are all in balance. This is the first vintage completely certified for biodynamic. Like a Swiss watch - A Lange! 65 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 14 percent Merlot, 20 percent Cabernet Franc, 1 percent Petit Verdot.

EP10008 Château Grand Puy Ducasse, Pauillac

Robert Parker: 92 - 94/100
The recent resurrection and impressive quality emerging from Grand-Puy-Ducasse is obvious in their prodigious 2010. An inky/blue/purple color is followed by abundant notes of graphite, cassis and blueberry liqueur offered in an opaque, full-bodied, layered, structured wine. This prodigious Pauillac may be the finest wine ever produced at this estate, and is undeniably a sleeper of the vintage as it remains one of the finest values for a classified growth Pauillac. Give it 5-7 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25+ years. Bravo

James Suckling - jamesuckling.com: 92 - 93/100
Blueberry, currants and blackberries on the nose and palate. Full body, with velvety tannins and a long finish. Very well done here.

EP10012 Château Grand Puy Lacoste, Pauillac

Robert Parker: 93-96 / 100
The greatest Grand Puy Lacoste since the 2005, 2000 and 1990, the fabulous 2010 reveals all the hallmarks of this estate. It boasts a dense purple color along with classic notes of creme de cassis, blueberries, blackberries, crushed rocks and flowers, sweet tannin and an exceptionally full-bodied and multilayered mouthfeel as well as a boatload of tannin. Cellar it for a decade and drink it over the following three decades. Proprietor Xavier Borie's 2010 recalls the 2005.

Jancis Robinson: 17 / 20
Dramatically intense colour. But both samples I tried were a little bit tired. Sweet start but without great intensity on the mid palate. Very chewy end. Just a bit awkward and unfocused. Correct balance though with good Pauillac character. I'm just a little worried about the freshness of samples... (Stupidly, I had the chance to re-taste this chez Dourthe but was dashing for a plane and missed both it and its stablemate Haut-Batailley. I may well have underestimated this usually very reliable wine.)

James Suckling: 95-96 / 100
Lovely aromas already, with currants and blackberries. Full body, with very fine, yet dense tannins and a rich finish. Reserved and sophisticated. Noble tannins

EP10013 Château Lynch Bages, Pauillac – 5th Growth

Robert Parker: 95-97 / 100
2010: Over the last three vintages, Lynch Bages has returned with a vengeance after somewhat listless performances following their brilliant duo of 1989 and 1990. Much of the credit for this must go to Jean-Charles Cazes who has taken over for his father, Jean-Michel, one of the greatest ambassadors Bordeaux has ever had. The 2010 blew me away on each occasion I tasted it during my two week sojourn in Bordeaux. Tannic and concentrated, this huge Pauillac boasts an inky/purple color as well as impressive notes of creme de cassis, smoke, graphite and spring flowers. This dense, seriously endowed, monstrous Lynch Bages is reminiscent of some of the wines made at this estate in the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. It will require 4-5 years of cellaring and should be drinkable for 3-4 decades.

Jancis Robinson: 16 / 20
Very dark blackish crimson. Dense and superripe. Sweet black-cherry notes on the nose but rather awkward and tart on the palate. Rather 'styled' somehow. Not very well integrated. Really quite hard work with drying green notes on the end.

Wine Spectator: 95-98 / 100
This is densely packed, with loads of crushed fig, plum and blackberry. Shows ample tobacco, roasted apple wood and bittersweet cocoa notes as well, but stays defined, with a long, authoritative finish that delivers waves of grip, backed by even more grip.

EP10017 Château Pichon Comtesse de Lalande, Pauillac – Second Growth

Robert Parker: 92-95+ / 100
2010 Pichon Lalande: I tasted the 2010 Pichon Lalande on three separate occasions, two consistent and one that underperformed, hence the question mark. A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, it reveals an opaque purple color as well as a thick, unctuous style with fresh blackberry and cassis fruit intermixed with hints of graphite, herbs and coffee. The vintage's tell-tale minerality is present in this structured, tannic, backward effort. It will require 5-6 years of cellaring and should age for 25-30 years.

Jancis Robinson: 17 / 20
Tasted open 7 Apr: Very, very deep crimson. Savoury yet rich - a most attractive mix! Just a little raw; is there much Petit Verdot in this? (No, just 3%, and 7% Cabernet Franc.) Very drying tannins. Not sure it's quite a dense as it needs to be for the tannin content. Inky. The gap between grand vin and second wine seems unexpectedly narrow here this year. Perhaps this was just not a good day for the grand vin? I will taste it blind tomorrow

Wine Spectator: 92-95 / 100
Very sappy and intense, with mouthwatering acidity framing the cassis, violet and tobacco notes, followed by a supervibrant finish that features lots of cassis bush character. The Petit Verdot isn't as obvious on the nose as the 2000, which had 10 percent in the blend, but just as prevalent on the taut finish, where there's plenty of spice, drive and cut.

EP10021 Château Clerc Milon, Pauillac

Robert Parker: 91-93 / 100
The powerful 2010 is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc and the balance mostly Merlot except for dollops of Petit Verdot and Carmenere that achieved 14.5% natural alcohol - a record at Clerc Milon. An intense purple color is followed by notes of incense, creme de cassis and flowers and a broad, rich wine with superb purity, concentration and depth. This layered, expansive effort could turn out to be one of the finest this estate has ever made. Give it 3-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades.

Jancis Robinson: 17 / 20
Tasted 17 Feb: Lighter on nose than Armailhac. Tea-leaves freshness - more attenuated than Armailhac. Very crude and raw. Very, very young! The last vat finished its malolactic only very recently apparently. Will settle down. Tasted 8 Apr: Mid purplish crimson. Serious dry tobacco/leather spectrum notes on the nose. And then ripe black fruits. Really quite sweet and opulent on the palate. Those Cabernets seem just a tiny bit struggling up the hill to full ripeness... Bone-dry finish. (Score: 17 20-33) Tasted blind 8 Apr: Mid crimson. Pale rim. Very ripe nose. Very thick, ripe and dramatic. Loose and a bit formless with a dry finish. There's a little tart note in there which some people might find a bit much. Drying finish. Fades rather fast. But overall there is succulence. It is clear that a lot of work has gone into this. (Score: 17 18-30)

Wine Spectator: 93-96 / 100
Offers a more rounded feel, with cassis, black licorice and plum sauce carried by very supple but substantial tannins and terrific acidity. The long finish has a solid tarry edge.

James Suckling: 95-96 / 100
I can't remember tasting a young Clerc as exciting as this since the 1980s. Fascinating aromas of blackberries and currant jam. Very deep. Tar too. Full and very dense. It just tickles the tip of your tongue. So much there. 50 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 36 per cent Merlot, 11 percent Cabernet Franc, 2 percent Petit Verdot, and 1 percent Carmenere.

SAINT ESTÈPHE

EP10007 Les Pagodes de Cos, St. Estèphe

Robert Parker: 90 - 93/100
Possibly the finest Pagodes the estate has produced, as Jean-Guillaume Prats said, this 2010 is better than many vintages of Cos d’Estournel produced in the sixties and seventies. Forty-five percent of the production made it into this blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot that achieved 14.1% alcohol naturally. Plump and fat with an abundant concentration of black fruits as well as outstanding intensity, purity and texture, this beauty should drink well for 10-15 years.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 17/20
Big smoky cassis nose, spice and controlled fruit, impressive complexity.

(James Molesworth – The Wine Spectator: 92 - 95/100
This is sleek along the edges and dense in the middle, with ample crushed cherry, red currant and melted red licorice notes. A bright floral edge chimes in on the long finish. An impressive second wine. A little more Merlot than usual (62 percent Cabernet Sauvignon and 38 percent Merlot). Tasted non-blind.

EP10014 Château la Dame de Montrose, St. Estèphe

Robert Parker: 91 - 93/100
The estate’s second wine represents 36% of the production in 2010. Composed of two-thirds Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot, it is one of the finest examples of this cuvee I have yet tasted. Intense blueberry and cassis fruit intertwined with floral notes, a plump, unctuous texture and abundant fruit characterize this seductive, fleshy wine. Consume it over the next 10-15 years.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 16/20
Rich smoky cassis fruit, good middle sweetness and lift, less depth than expected.

Jancis Robinson MW- jancis robinson.com: 17/20
36% of total production. Very deep crimson. Lovely scented top note and then sumptuously round texture. Fresh and lively with good muscles. Excellent balance and really very flattering without being overripe or sweet. It finishes dry and minerally. Fine skeined. Really a very fine wine indeed – well done! Provided you don’t mind a lack of flesh in the middle...

James Molesworth – The Wine Spectator: 91 - 94/100
Bright damson plum, cherry and black currant fruit races along in this invigorating red, with mouthwatering acidity and a superfresh, iron-filled finish that has a nice rapier feel. Sleek and long.

EP10020 Château Cos d'Estournel, St. Estèphe

Robert Parker: 95 - 97/100
Representing 55% of the production and cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare, Cos d’Estournel’s final blend in 2010 is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and the rest tiny portions of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Compared to the massive 2009 (14.6% natural alcohol), the 2010 achieved slightly less alcohol, but also a lower pH, which accounts for its more tannic, backward, huge style. An inky/purple color is accompanied by aromas of damp earth, black currants, blackberries, licorice and charcoal. Firm, thick and super-concentrated, it is another outrageously impressive wine that will require 6-10 years of cellaring. It should keep for 30+ years. It is somewhat 2005-ish in its structure and palate impression.

Steven Spurrier – Decanter: 19/20
Exotic tobacco leaf nose, superb ripe fruit and a violetty lift, more controlled and more classic than 2009, a great wine by Château Cos d'Estournel.

Jancis Robinson MW- jancis robinson.com: 18.5/20
55% of total production. A real tonic. Very, very deep blackish crimson. Real energy and vitality and racy stuff. Pure, refined perfect Cabernet – pretty rich and alcoholic underneath but much, much drier and more appetising than either the 2009 - or the average Napa Cabernet, for example. Minerals and fruit in a lovely tincture. Such great texture and nobility. Racy thoroughbred Great balance and potential. Purity and energy - but you’ll need to wait so long for it!

James Molesworth – The Wine Spectator: 96 - 99/100
The 2010 Cos-d'Estournel offers a terrific panoply of dark tea, cocoa, savory herb and red currant confiture aromas. Remarkably dense, with loads of strapping dark fruit and tar in reserve. There's massive structure, yet this is rounded and so, so long. A huge wine in the making. This is going to compete with the elite of the vintage. A truly superb effort. Contains 1 percent Petit Verdot, for first time since 2005.