Bordeaux 2010 @ Pei Modern 25/11/13

The last Bordeaux 2010 dinner was so good we did it all again three weeks later. Different wines and a new venue to keep it interesting and away we went.

Bordeaux 2010 recap.

Bordeaux 2010 saw a summer drought without the heat of 2003. There were cool nights and a cooler August which meant thick skins, rich colour and tannin and fresh acidity. Cabernet Sauvignon was favoured on the left bank with Merlot struggling on both sides of the river. The 2010s as a group showed excellent ripeness, great length, near perfect balance of fruit and acidity and careful oak handling. None of these wines had any hard edges and the ripeness they possessed was balanced, not overdone like in 2003. They are not ‘cheap’ but if you love Bordeaux and want wines to stock your cellar for the long haul, this is the wines from Bordeaux 2010. They are guaranteed to be a sound investment.

To calibrate

A glass of Domaine Pichot Vouvray Brut 2009 was just what we needed. Clean, crisp, appley, floral and stoney. Yum.

On an important side note, the food at Pei Modern was divine. If you haven’t been you should go check it out. Designed for us, the menu was thoughtful and delicious. Who has had hanger steak before? I hadn’t but I have a few times since. Check them out!

Then on to the main show.

Three right bank, six left bank and of course a mystery wine. We started with the modern, smokey, oaky blue and dark fruited Monbousquet Grand Cru Classé St-Emilion 2010. It had very sweet fruit and a nice structure. A modern classic of Bordeaux. Stepping up a level we moved on to Figeac Premier Grand Cru Classé B St-Emilion 2010 the most expensive wine on the table. Ripe cherries and dark fruits, mineral, oak, vibrant, silky, fine and just a hint bitter. It was a beautiful baby that needs 15 years plus to show what it is really capable of. Finally from the right bank was the dark, earthy, chocolate, herbal and spicy Gazin Pomerol 2010. It was charry, oaky, olives and dark fruits on the palate. It did build in the glass but perhaps could have used some more freshness. Perhaps following Figeac anything would come up wanting.

On to the left bank.

We started with one of my all time favourites Domaine de Chevalier Pessac-Léognan 2010. Smoke, minerals, red and blue fruits, violets. It was pretty, silky, long and elegant. Yet another winner from this Chateau. Next up was the oaky, flinty, herbal and toasty Malescot Saint Exupery Margaux 2010.  It offered plenty of flesh, silk, red berry fruit and perfume with some refreshing bitterness. The classic Chateau Sociando-Mallet Haut-Medoc 2010 followed up. Dark, intense, flinty and dusty. Quite tough at first but with time in the glass some silk started to show through.

The last flight.

Another favourite of mine, La Lagune Haut-Medoc 3rd Growth 2010 was true to form; plums, choco, vegetal, dry with rose petals. Clean, tart, red and plums, minerally, balanced. A very fine Bordeaux. For the first time in the two dinners we opened a second wine to the grand vin La Dame de Montrose St-Estephe 2010. Closed, dry, dark and dusty initially. Some of that gave way to red fruits, green herbs, smoke and hint of BO. The palate showed good silk, nice length, cherries and olives and a very dry finish. One can only imagine how impressive the Montrose Grand Vin is. The final Bordeaux was Clerc Milon 5th Growth Pauillac 2010 and it was stunning. Floral, red and blue fruits, dense, olives and oak. Silky, rich, juicy, had great length, was well balanced with fine tannins. Almost drinkable now, but don’t be fooled! It has a long time to go yet.

Finally the Mystery wine.

The hard to pick for obvious reasons; El CotoRioja Crianza 1981 which was a lovely melange of fresh and dried herbs, wet earth, fresh and dried flowers and cherry fruit. You could see through the browny/orangy wine but there still a lovely core of sweet fruit on the palate and the tannins were still holding up. It was a lovely drink that looked younger than its age and one I’d love to enjoy again in the near future.

Well, now a few of us have a much better idea about what Bordeaux 2010 is all about. Without a doubt there are some stunners: Troplong, VCC, Leoville Barton, Figeac, Dom Chevalier, Clerc Milon to name my favourites. If you want to get some in your cellar call me on 0418 230482 or Philip@thewinedepository.com.au because in time, the 2010s will go from strength to strength and when they start opening up you will never be able to drink enough of them.