AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

Château Galand, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16.5 (88) Recommended
www.chateau-galand.fr/store.html
Once owned by the Moueix family – and still family-owned, although now by Jean Galand, this is a standout wine, from grapes grown just outside Fronsac on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. Smooth texture, with touches of coffee and dark autumnal fruits, helped no doubt by the 5% of Malbec that is found in the Merlot-Cabernet Franc blend. Hand harvesting, oak aged in barrels. 14% alcohol.

Château Regaldo Saint Blancard, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16.25 (87) Recommended
muriel.rsb@wanadoo.fr
Lovely, gooseberry and redcurrant, from a blend of 57% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fresh, frank, lilting acidity. Like this a lot, it’s unforced but cheerful. A fairly hefty 14% alcohol, but well balanced, from hand harvested grapes.

Château Barreyre, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16.25 (87) Recommended
vraoux@chateaux-castel.com www.chateaux-castel.com
A family estate owned by Michel Giron which dates back to the early 18th century, and is located near to Macau in the Médoc. Good, smooth, tasty fruit flavours. Lovely caramel touches, and a soft finish, with well integrated tannins. A pick me up. The only hesitation here is the alcohol, at a full 15%ABV., but overall this is a successful wine. 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot.

Château de Parenchère, Cuvée Raphaël, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16.25 (87) Recommended
www.parenchere.com
Again, good quality, lovely rich strands of flavour, some dark chocolate, rich roasted coffee beans. The blend here is 70% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc. This is their top cuvée, named after original family owner Raphael Gazaniol, who bought the estate in 1958, returning to France after his family had spent 200 years as winemakers in North Africa. The wine spends 16 months in French oak, and should age well over the next five three to five years.

Le Secret de Lestrille, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16.25 (87) Recommended
contact@lestrille.com www.lestrille.com
Exotic, spices here, with touches of cinammon and cloves, showing a well-handled barrel toasting. Quite sweet on the palate, with clear potential. Like the soft but rich finish. Needs a little time in the glass to open up – great winemaking from Estelle Roumage. 100% Merlot. 14.5% alcohol.

Château Julian, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16.25 (87) Recommended
www.vignobles-dulon.com
Impressive quality, good smooth texture, clear persistency, some black spice, heavy tannins which dry things out a touch in the mid palate, but the finish is well supported by fruit. Potential. The vineyard is located in Entre-Deux-Mers, and owned by the Dulon family. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc. 13.5% alcohol.

Château Sarail la Guillaumiere, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16 (86) Recommended
faucheuxjyves@free.fr
Pleasant, good rich plum fruits, clear signs of the hot year and solid growing season of 2010. Touches of acidity keep things in balance. The blend is 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Château Le Luc Regula Bois Sacré, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16 (86) Recommended
www.leroidesvins.com (Château does not have its own website yet, but this is the owner’s site, where you can buy the wine)
Pretty mid-weight plum colour, there is clear oak on the nose but with a very light touch. This is an easy drinking style, very successful. Good clean summery fruits, not trying too hard. Blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, from this attractive château in the southern tip of Bordeaux, under new ownership of Dominque Destouches.

Château Le Grand Verdus Grande Réserve, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16 (86) Recommended
thomas@legrandverdus.com www.chateaulegrandverdus.com
Fourth generation of the aristocratic-sounding Le Grix de la Salle family is in charge at this Sadirac property. A high quality wine, managing to be both soft and rich, not aggressive but well structured. 13% alcohol, from 80% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc vines.

Château Jean Faux, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
16 (86) Recommended
www.chateaujeanfaux.com
Stephane Derenoncourt is the wine consultant at this good quality estate, located on the banks of the Dordogne river opposite Saint-Emilion, Smooth, ripe fruits, slightly exotic, with a passion fruit, cardamon edge to the flavours. Dramatic, but interesting. Partial micro-oxygenation during fermentation, malolactic fermentation in barrels. Certified organic since 2011.

Château Mahon-Laville, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.75 (85+) Recommended
chateaulaville@hotmail.com
Again, fairly promising nose, some oak, some toasting, that carries through to the palate. Almost swamped by the oak on the palate in fact, but there is some pleasant mocha-dipped cherry bursts here that keep things on track. A modern feel, confident. fun. 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Château Bellevue-Peycharneau, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.75 (85+) Recommended
www.bellevue-peycharneau.fr
Good firm fruit, rich plum colour. Bit high in alcohol on the attack, but fruit comes in to catch the mid-palate before it falls away. Overall, this is not too tannic, with a clean soft finish. Sweet black cherry fruits, slightly rustic, but overall good, from 15ha of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc vines.

Château Laronde Desormes, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.5 (85) Recommended
vitigestion@wanadoo.fr
A zippy, enjoyable wine. Hazelnut touches from the barrels or from ripe fruit tannins, but the overriding feeling is of smooth dark fruits. Not great persistency, but while it lasts, it’s very good.

Château Haut-Mongeat, Cuvée Isabelle, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
www.chateauhautmongeat.com (Online purchasing available)
Quality estate currently in conversion to organic farming. Their cuvee Isabelle (named after winemaker and owner Isabelle Bouchon) offers rich fruits and good grip, balancing the 14% alcohol. Some intense black spices, with the lush fruit of 100% Merlot.

Château de L’Aubrade, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
vinslobre@free.fr
Small estate owned since 1973 by Jean Pierre and Paulette Lobre, joined in recent years by their sons Jean Christophe and Gerard. The wine offers sweet cherry on the nose. Good weight, nice balance of fruit and acidity, with firm tannins. Not great complexity, but plenty to admire.

La Grande Dame de Château de Lavagnac, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
www.maisonriviere.fr
A 15th century estate close to Saint-Emilion, owned by Michele and Philippe Riviere, this good quality wine has impressive depth of fruit, and well defined layers of flavour. Clear ripe fruit here, with some ageing potential. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 50% new oak.

Costes du Château Féret-Lambert, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
www.feret-labonnelle.com
Bright purple colour, plenty of anthocyanins here, a colour more than worthy of the ripe 2010 vintage. This is meaty, textured and ambitious. Not perfect balance, alcohol a touch heavy. But it’s good, with impressive persistency. 14% alcohol, with a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes.

Château Lauduc Prestige, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
m.grandeau@lauduc.fr, www.lauduc.fr
Good, soft fruits, with some depth of flavour and clear tannins, but not over drawn out, some lightness in the overall structure. Vignobles Grandeau. 13.5% alcohol.

Château Malbat L’Authentique, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
www.chateau-malbat.com
Good, spicy, exotic, touch pinched on finish, but attack is lovely, quite elegant flavours, good silky texture. Vinified in stainless steel, then transferred into oak barrels for one-year ageing. Blend is 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Château Bois-Malot Nobilis, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
www.bois-malot.com
Attractive estate run by Jacques Meynard on the banks of the Dordogne river. This is perky, with good definition, dark blueberry muffin flavours, quite juicy. Some micro-oxygenation to soften the tannins.

Château Pierrail, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010

15.5 (85) Recommended
alice.pierrail@orange.fr www.chateau-pierrail.fr
Classy wine from Jacques Demonchaux. Touch of blue cheese on the nose. Tight tannins, this is almost green in the mid-palate, but manages to bring fruit back in strongly on the finish. Packed with well weighted dark blueberries. 85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc.

Château Landereau Prestige, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
www.vignoblesbaylet.com
Perfumed nose, which continues in intensity onto the palate, revealing touches of loganberry, some gooseberry, and clear burnt coffee beans. Alcohol high, oak high, creating a slightly dramatic feel to this wine. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, given a touch of micro-oxygenation to round the fruits, and 18months in new oak. Unfiltered.

Château du Lugagnac, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
www.chateaudelugagnac.com
Deeply fruited on the nose, plums and loganberry, with clear alcohol souring the effect. Still, on the palate this has potential just needs time. Good texture, it’s silky smooth with integrated tannins. 50% Merlot, 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot.

Château Panchille, Cuvée Alix, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
info@chateaupanchille.com www.chateaupanchille.com
Owned by Pascal and Geraldine Sirat, this wine has a sweet attack, with some evident new oak, giving a smoky edge of charcoal and liquorice. A blend of 95% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot, with some swirling spice on the finish. 6 months in stainless steel, 12 months in French oak barrels.

Château Gamage, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
www.chateaugamage.com
A pretty wine, not huge definition, but cheerful, juicy summer fruits, rustic and pleasing. Lovely full mid-palate, laden with rhubarb.

Château de Beau Rivage, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
www.chateau-beau-rivage.fr
Sharp but well defined fruit and clear black pepper spices from this Médoc-located vineyard owned by the family of Nadalié coopers. Needs time to open up, but has the three clear benefits of 2010 – freshness, fruit and tannins. One to keep for a few years, and decant before drinking.

Château de la Cour d’Argent , AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
denis.barraud@wanadoo.fr www.denis-barraud.com
Vignobles Denis Barraud. Ripe to over-ripe fruit on the nose, followed by a rich and alluring palate. This teeters on being too much, but has real sweetness to the fruit, and good potential. 14 months in barrel. Clearly needs time to open and settle. Pair with a juicy steak.

Château de Lisennes, Cuvée Prestige, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
contact@lisennes.com www.lisennes.com
Father and son winemaking team of Jean-Pierre and Jean-Luc Soubie. Good balance to this wine, although a touch underpowered for the vintage. A blend of 67% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc.

Château Lamothe-Vincent Héritage, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
f.vincent@lamothe-vincent.com www.lamothe-vincent.com
Distinct fruit flavours on display here, rich peppery spices, overall an exotic modern feel. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 14.5% alcohol.

Château La Mothe du Barry, Cuvée Le Barry, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15.25 (84) Recommended
joel.duffau@aliceadsl.fr www.vignoblesjoelduffau.fr
Rich, smooth texture, and pleasant well-ripened fruit on the palate. Nice weight, that carries through the wine, not dipping down in the mid-palate, but a touch hot on the finish. 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Château d’Arveyres, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15 (83) Recommended
jm.chatelier@wanadoo.fr
Fruit-filled blend of 99% Merlot and just 1% Cabernet Sauvignon, worked at full extraction to give bitter dark chocolate and coffee bean flavours. The effect is to concentrate the qualities of the vintage, taking it perhaps a little too far. Needs time to open up, could relax into itself.

Château de Ricaud, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15 (83) Recommended
contact@cvbg.com www.chateau-de-ricaud.com
Subdued nose, and over all this is rather tight, needs to open up in the glass before the flavours start to uncurl. Still tight, this is a tannic wine for the appellation, clearly has ambition, backed up by good fruit. Again, the 2010 vintage is showing what it can do across smaller appellations.

Château Lajarre, Cuvée Eleonore, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15 (83) Recommended
www.chateau-lajarre.com
Owned by doctor-winemaker Gregory Lovato since 2005, the extraction is full here, meaning that the fruit-acidity-tannin triumvirate of 2010 is in full force. This has attack, it has length, it is just a little full on the acidity in the mid palate. 70% Merlot, with the rest split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Potential.

Château Lescalle, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15 (83) Recommended
vitigestion@vitigestion.com
This is a pleasingly round wine, with chunky well ripened fruit. Some crab apple freshness creeping in on the finish. 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon 10% Petit Verdot. Vineyard located on the edge of the Margaux appellation.

Château La Tuilerie de Puy, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15 (83) Recommended
vignobles.regaud@wanadoo.fr
Good warming wine, with a steadfast nose, from the Regaud family at this pretty family estate. On the palate, this packs quite a punch on the attack, but the mid-palate is smooth and rich. Slightly rustic on the finish.

Château Brun Despagne Héritage, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15 (83) Recommended
contact@vignobles-querre.com www.vignobles-querre.com
A blue cheese touch on the nose, good fresh attack, tight finish. It works right up to the burnt caramel finish, which is a little bitter. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc – make sure you give this time to open, and pair with food. Definite potential.

Château Trocard, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
15 (83) Recommended
contact@trocard.com www.trocard.com
A reliable, well-regarded property that manages to consistently produce good drinking claret. This is a little drowned by the oak, and is a touch sour from the alcohol, but the black fruit flavours are hanging in there. One to carafe.

Château Tertre Cabaron, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
14.75 (82) Fair
www.chateau-tertre-cabaron.com
Five generations of the Dugrand family have made wine at this Entre deux Mers estate. Sweet, rich fruit on the nose, feels like a hot year, well ripened. A touch short on the finish, but this is gentle and pleasant. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in oak.

Château Sainte-Marie, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
14.75 (82) Fair
ch.ste.marie@wanadoo.fr www.chateau-sainte-marie.com
Again, a well-regarded estate that is a go-to name in most vintages. Slightly disappointed by the finish on this, which stops a little short. But sweet fruit in the mid-palate makes it worth the time.

Château Beaulieu Comtes de Tastes, AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2010
14.75 (81) Fair
g.detastes@lestapis.com www.vignoblescomtesdetastes.com
Sweet oak nose, clearly trying to entice you in to the fruit. Things are a little short overall, a little light on fruit for such a wonderful vintage, but this is charming and pretty. An easy-drinker.

Related Wine Report:
• Bordeaux & Bordeaux Supérieur 2010-2011
• AOC Bordeaux 2010
• AOC Bordeaux 2011
• AOC Bordeaux Supérieur 2011

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