Description

Bernadotte has a favourable situation with vineyards sitting next to the Pauillac appellation. Given the location you get an idea of what the vines will produce. Of their 35 ha half is Cabernet Sauvignon (not surprisingly) almost all of the rest is Merlot and small plantings of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

“Recently sold to a Chinese entrepreneur, in 2010 this estate produced a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 48% Merlot. The wine is deep and clearly a sleeper of the vintage, with loads of fruit, glycerin and extract. Its excellent purity and loads of spice box as well as red and black currants make for a delicious, impressively endowed wine to drink over the next 10-12 years. A member of the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Medoc.” Robert Parker 2/2013

Haut Medoc 

A catch all appellation that is about 60km long on the left bank of Bordeaux. There are few classified vineyards in this generic appellation and no discernible regional style. There are however, a handful of wonderful wines that are often overlooked, are great value and ultimately are great Bordeaux.

Cabernet Sauvignon

The noble variety of Bordeaux’s left bank. Firm tannins, a streak of acidity and punctuated by flavours of cassis, violets, spice and leather. The best examples can age for the long term. Although Cabernet does often require blending with Merlot, Cabernet Franc or Shiraz to fix the hole it has in its middle palate.

Merlot

It gets a tough time most of the places it is grown. But in Pomerol and Saint-Emilion Merlot not only dominates but makes some of the best wines in the world. Perfume, silky and plush. Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon season the wines with structure and acid but in some places, like Petrus they are almost not needed.

Cabernet Franc 

Is actually one of the parents of Cabernet Sauvignon… along with Sauvignon Blanc (oh! The name makes sense now!).  It is most famous for being the third most important grape in quality Bordeaux but also excels in the Loire Valley (where it lived before it went to Bordeaux), especially Chinon and Saumur. The wines are bright red in colour, highlight aromatic with raspberries, rose petals, violets along with tobacco, cassis and some herbal elements. The best examples can live as long as any great wine.

2010

Largely over looked after the amazing 2009s. Is this better than 2000, 2005, 2009? Is it more like the famous vintages to follow up the greats such as 1996 and 2001? All I know is that after tasting the first shipment of 2010s my customers requested a second tasting and fast. See Decanters notes of the vintage here.