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"Embarrassingly good" was the message coming from Bordeaux before we embarked upon our tastings of 2010, following 2009's 'Vintage of the Century'.
We have now tasted in excess of 200 wines and are delighted to report, free from embarrassment, that 2010 is, quite simply, another great vintage.
A temptation when tasting a great vintage is to denigrate the preceding year by comparison.
Make no mistake, 2009 is an outstanding vintage and re-tasting a number of wines in Bordeaux this April confirmed our original assessments,
and those of the critics. However 2010 is significantly different in style and a number of wines could turn out to be superior even to 2009.
Unlike the 'perfect' growing season in 2009, not too hot, not too dry, with everything in the right order and at the right time,
2010 was one of fits and starts. The season was dry throughout but warm days were interspersed with very cool days which produced an uneven
ripening but ultimately slow and steady. Crucially the preceding winter was very cold, allowing the vines a good rest and protection from bugs,
with plenty of rain to fill up the water table. Spring saw the weather fluctuate between cool and showery conditions and unusual heat,
followed by a drought that lasted from May until just before the harvest. July was hotter than August, but never excessively so, and a
cooler but dry September produced powerful tannins and maintained high acidity. A light flush of refreshing rain in early October gave the vines
a last push and the chateaux were able to harvest small, thick-skinned grapes that were highly concentrated and full of sugar, tannins and acidity;
the perfect recipe for great wines.
Like the 2009s, the 2010s are big, powerful, tannic wines. Both vintages are perfectly ripe and the major difference between them lies in the acidity.
2009 is delicious to taste young and is easy to understand. 2010 is a more sophisticated pleasure with higher acidities in the better wines giving them
wonderful freshness, elegance and aromatics. 2010 is a classic Bordeaux vintage; the wines will not drink as early as the 09s but should last a very
long time.
VIEW THE WINES
We are offering 2010 Bordeaux in bond, London City Bond, with arrival expected in approximately Spring 2013.
The minimum order is one dozen bottles and we would ask for payment on receipt of invoice.
Please advise any special bottling requirements at the time of placing your order otherwise all orders will be taken as bottles (75cl).
Delivery, duty & VAT charged at prevailing rates at time of clearance from bond.
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