2010 Bordeaux en primeur: Gazin, Guiraud, Suduiraut, Labadie, Raymond-Lafon
17/05/11
Yesterday afternoon came the highest-scoring red released so far. Chateau Gazin neighbours, among others, Petrus and L'Evangile. The past decade has seen this property return to the vanguard in Pomerol yet, as one of the appellation's biggest vineyards, prices are far below those of most of its peers. The 2010 is a muscular, tightly wound wine which will repay extended cellaring.
'Another remarkable effort from Gazin, the big, powerful, dense 2010 boasts an opaque purple color along with loads of black currant and kirsch-like fruit intermixed with licorice, caramel, mocha and toasty oak. This seriously endowed, broodingly backward cuvee requires 6-8 years of cellaring and should keep for three decades or more. Drink 2017-47. 93-95 points.' - Robert Parker, erobertparker.com
So you like Yquem? But you don't like to pay £500 a bottle? We can understand that. Then try Chateau Guiraud. Much has changed at this property since it was bought (for €20m) in 2006 by Robert Peugeot - the financial clout - and Stephan von Neipperg (of Canon-la-Gaffeliere), Olivier Bernard (Domaine de Chevalier) and Xavier Planty (the former manager), who provide the wine expertise. What hasn't changed is its location: the closest vineyard to Yquem. At its zenith, around the beginning of the twentieth century, it even challenged Yquem for supremacy in Sauternes. So it should come as no surprise to see this estate return to the top (Quarin's score for 2010 Yquem is 95).
'Devilishly gorgeous again this year! Superb nose: refined, floral, fresh and botrytised. Extremely detailed and beautifully laced suppleness on entry, then broad on the mid-palate. It feels like a Barsac up to the mid-palate. More typically Sauternes at the back of the mouth- compelling, rich and tasty. Splendid! Biodynamic farming principles have added a remarkable cachet to the cru this year. 94-95 points.' - Jean-Marc Quarin, quarin.com
Yesterday afternoon also saw the release of the excellent Suduiraut at a price 10% below last year's, and the bargain Labadie, which has just been awarded the Coup de Coeur for the Medoc by Jacques Dupont, one of the best French wine journalists, in Le Point magazine's 2010 coverage. This morning, Raymond-Lafon, the frequently overlooked but consistently excellent Sauternes. Finally, please note that, by popular demand, we are now accepting AMEX payments for en primeur orders, subject to a surcharge of 2%. /AR
Halves & magnums £10 extra per 9 litre case; other formats on request
View all 2010 Bordeaux en primeur