Damnation du Château Roques Mauriac, AOC Bordeaux 2010
17 (90) Recommended
contact@levieux-vignerons.com www.levieux-vignerons.com
This is a very smooth wine, delicious Cabernet Franc fruit (85% of the blend, founded out by 15% Merlot), with a soft white pepper edge, and completely smooth tannins. A real success in this vintage. There is perhaps a touch too much oak, makings things a little over sweet, but enough complexity to hold it.
vraoux@chateaux-castel.com www.chateaux-castel.com
53% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon,
15% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec. Lovely deep, intense damson colour, from the cabernets and Malbec, 13.5% alcohol, good intensity on the palate also, damson and bilberries, some good structure, not too drying.
Château la Freynelle, AOC Bordeaux 2010
16.5 (88) Recommended
www.vbarthe.com
Winemaker Véronique Barthe is the first girl born into the family since the French Revolution (now there’s an example of great back label info). This Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon blend has a sweet nose which suggests new oak. On the palate, it is well integrated and thoroughly enjoyable. Great example of 2010 success. 13.5% alcohol.
Château Motte Maucourt, AOC Bordeaux 2010
16.25 (87) Recommended
lucasromane@orange.fr
Not exactly shy and retiring at 14% alcohol, this blend of 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon provides a good warming glass, with full fruit, and a clear vanilla edge from the oak ageing. Firm tannins, could do with being open for a few hours of carafing before drinking. Should go a few years also. Very good value for the price.
Château Lauduc Classic, AOC Bordeaux 2010
16 (86) Recommended
m.grandeau@lauduc.fr www.lauduc.fr
Classic Bordeaux blend of 60% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 20 Cabernet Sauvignon. Very smooth, good cherry and dark plum fruit – an excellent example of easy-drinking affordable Bordeaux, from a well-respected producer.
Château Grand Jean, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15.5 (85) Recommended
www.vignobles-dulon.com
60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 500,000 bottles produced on average per year by Vignobles Dulon. Soft, good fruit, this is not a complex wine, but a very enjoyable one, that once again gets a vintage lift that the winemakers have taken full advantage of.
Ad Vitam Aeternam, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15.5 (85) Recommended
vin.advitam@orange.fr
90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, a full 15% alcohol. If you forgive the heat on the finish, there are rich chocolate flavours and damson juiciness to enjoy, the fruits of ripe grapes in a turbo-charged vintage. It’s big, modern, needs time.
Clarendelle, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15.5 (85) Recommended
s.martin@clarencedillonwines.com www.clarendelle.com
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Domaines Clarence Dillon, the owners of Château Haut-Brion. This is from their range of branded wines, and offers good dense fruit. A warming red, with clear structure, it would be a good accompaniment to easy-going food.
Château Joinin, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15.5 (85) Recommended
chateau.pipeau@wanadoo.fr
90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc from the owners of Château Pipeau in Saint-Emilion. The aroma majors heavily on roasted coffee beans, very strong, makes it modern and a little flashy. Might be a bit much after a glass, but enjoyable and dramatic. Suits the vintage.
Château Beau Rivage, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
f.casteja@borie-manoux.fr www.borie-manoux.com
Owned and produced by Borie-Manoux négociants, this comes in at 13% alcohol, and is a classic blend of Merlot and the two cabernets. A lighter style of 2010, fairly low acidity, but nicely blended, smooth tannins, easy drinking.
Château Pilet, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
scvjqueyrens@orange.fr www.chateau-pilet-vins-queyrens.fr
Easy-drinking wine from Vignobles Queyrens, clocking in at 13%, alcohol, from a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. There is some punch to the fruits, which smooths out to a soft mid-palate, spreading with summer fruits. The finish drops off a little, but this is good.
Vignes et Passion d’Excellor, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
vignerons.landerrouat@wanadoo.fr
Made by a cooperative cellar in Duras, just south of Bordeaux, but working with growers from the Bordeaux region, this has been packaged in a tall bottle, and has clearly gone for a modern, international feel. Chocolate, coffee, gentle toasting, damson jam… not exactly typical of Bordeaux, but enjoyable.
Château de Fontenille, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15 (83) Recommended
www.chateau-fontenille.com
Reliable, well-regarded wine from Stephane Defraine. Good, smooth fruit on the attack. 14% alcohol, which you do feel on the finish, pushing it a little out of balance. This is a good, modern style, very confident.
Château Pey la Tour, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15 (83) Recommended
contact@dourthe.com www.dourthe.com
Always a name to look out for in the search for ‘reliable, inexpensive’ Bordeaux. The blend here is 84% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, Subdued nose, definitely needs some time, but carafing/ giving it breathing space in the glass should be all you need.
Vinum Natura de Château Vallon de Brumes, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15 (83) Recommended
www.boissonneau.fr
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and franc, lovely name, and back label attests the grapes are in organic conversion (‘We guarantee: Grapes are cultivated without weedkiller, without chemical manures’). Rustic nose, fairly simple, but pleasurable. 13.5% alcohol.
Château Toutigeac, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15 (83) Recommended
toutigeac.vin@wanadoo.fr
Well executed blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% alcohol. Overall a gentle experience, there is good fruit here, if a little short on the finish.
Domaine de Valmengaux, AOC Bordeaux 2010
15 (83) Recommended
www.valmengaux.com
Made by Beatrice and Vincent Rapin, owners also of La Dame de Onze Heures in Saint-Emilion, this is a real find. Gentle for the vintage at 13% alcohol, the blend is 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and sauvignon. Clearly hard work going on here, from vines growing near to Fronsac.
Premius, AOC Bordeaux 2010
14.75 (82) Fair
www.ymau.fr
Branded Bordeaux from negociant house Yvon Mau, this is playing to the strengths of the vintage – rich fruit, barrel-toasted, vanilla-peppered oak, all a bit dramatic. Could settle into itself nicely.
Les Vignerons de Tutiac, Plaisir, AOC Bordeaux 2010
14.75 (82) Fair
www.tutiac.com
Sustainable vineyard management is insisted upon for all wine growers contributing to this wine, made by a cooperative in Marcillac, working with growers in Bordeaux. Good label, pretty fruits, no major faults.
Related Wine Report:
• Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur 2010-2011
• AOC Bordeaux 2011
• AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
• AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2011
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