2forTuesday – the 2010 Bordeaux Edition

2010 was the second consecutive outstanding vintage in Bordeaux. Wine Enthusiast rates both Médoc (99 points) and Saint-Émilion (97 points) as the second best vintage in the last 25 rated vintages (1993 – 2017) and fourth in the last 50.

I selected two wines from the Opimian Wine Club for the tasting.

2010 Clos Cantenac, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Contrôlée

Wine #1 is a 2010 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Contrôlée from Clos Cantenac

First of all, the bottle is “hefty” to say the least. It would make quite the weapon in a medieval battle. And the wine matches that heft. It is made from 100% Merlot.

Appearance: Deep purple

Nose: Pronounced dried black cherry with anise and violets. Secondary aromas of potting soil and smoke. Tertiary aromas of baking spices, dried black fruit, cigar box and vanilla.

Palate: Dry red wine with with medium acidity, high but soft, supple tannins with medium alcohol and medium (+) body. Pronounced flavours of dried black cherry, anise and violets mirror the aromas. Secondary flavours of potting soil and smoke balance out this wine and tertiary aromas of baking spice, dried black fruit, cigar box and vanilla from oak and bottle ageing are developing. This is a complex wine with a long finish emphasizing the dried fruit and cigar box. I poured my tasting glass with a Coravin so this bottle is heading back to my cellar alongside its 4 brothers as it has several years of ageing potential left.

2010 Château Tour St Bonnet, AOC Médoc, Cru Bourgeois

Wine #2 is a 2010 Château Tour St. Bonnet, Cru Bourgeois AOC Médoc. This is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 10% Petit Verdot.

Appearance: Deep ruby

Nose: Pronounced dried black cherry, black currant and graphite. Secondary aromas of mushrooms and smoke. Tertiary aromas of dark chocolate, tobacco and cedar.

Palate: Dry red wine with with medium (+) acidity, high supple tannins with medium alcohol and full body. Pronounced flavours of dried black cherry, black current and graphite mirror the aromas. Secondary aromas of mushrooms and smoke are accompanied by tertiary aromas of dark chocolate, tobacco and cedar from oak and bottle ageing. The finish is very long and is dominated by dried fruit, tobacco and smoke. A very complex wine that is very well integrated and still developing. Back to the cellar for this one as well.