An underachiever for years until bought in 1997 by May-Eliane de Lencquesaing of Pichon Lalande, Bernadotte, is now unlocking its potential as part of the Roederer portfolio. May-Eliane admired the terroir because it neighbours Pauillac and indeed part of the land is Pauillac. What she also saw was that the best vines weren`t always planted in the right places. So there has been an increase in Merlot to take advantage of the clay undersoils, which is one of the reasons Bernadotte has done so well in the dry 2009 vintage. Never overstressed, the vines produced almost perfect grapes, making an outstanding wine of power, minerality and beautifully managed tannins, all supporting concentrated fruit. All picking is by hand and extraction is light, so the wine is enjoyable relatively young, even in a brilliant vintage like this.
- Producer
- Chateau Bernadotte
- Origin
- St-Sauveur, Haut-Medoc, Medoc, Bordeaux FRANCE
- Colour
- red
- Wine Style
- dry
- Dominant Grape
- Merlot
- Closure Style
- cork
- Maturity
- ready
- Bottle Size
- 75cl
- Case Quantity
- 12
- Wine Score
- 90-92* points, Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, April 2010
89-91 points, Neal Martin, erobertparker.com, April 2010
87-88 points, Jean-Marc Quarin, quarin.com, April 2010
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Media Reviews
Robert Parker
The finest La Bernadotte made to date, this 2009 is an undeniable sleeper of the vintage. Composed of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, it reveals a dense purple color along with a big, sweet kiss of black cherries, black currants, charcoal, and spice. With layers of fruit, decent acidity, freshness, and precision, and an opulent, fleshy, succulent style, it should drink easily for a decade or more. Tasted once. 90-92* points
This blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the best wines to yet come from this estate, owned by the proprietors of Pichon Lalande in Pauillac. Juicy, succulent, cedary black currant fruit intermixed with licorice, herbs and spice box are very pure, authoritative and substantial. Dark ruby/purple, medium to full-bodied and delicious, this wine should be drunk over the next 10-15 years. A sleeper. 89 points, February 2012
Neal Martin
This has a slightly disjointed nose at first, blackberry, a touch of smoke, something a little estuarine perhaps. Coalescing nicely with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied. firm tannins, good definition, a slight powdery texture, very fine clarity and sense of joie de vivre towards the symmetrical finish. Conservative but very well focused. Tasted March 2010. 89-91 points
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