Jeroboams - En Primeur Bordeaux 2010

Sunday – We’ve Arrived in Bordeaux

With Primeur week about to get under way and excitement and anticipation at a high we headed to Le Carre du Lac for our traditional Sunday meeting with Bill Blatch and Vintex.

 This early tasting provides a good opportunity to gauge the style of the vintage and a platform from which to judge the wines we would taste at our Chateau visits and UGC tastings later in the week.

It was clear from what we tasted here that 2010 has provided a different style to the sexy voluptuous wines we saw last year at 09 Primeur. In general the wines showed higher tannin levels, greater acidity and increased alcohol, all building blocks for high quality wines with structure and backbone for the long haul. Those Chateaux who were able to provide these components in proportion and with balance would certainly produce excellent wines.

Early successes from the reds and all round favourites included Tour De By, Haut Marbuzet, and Poujeaux (definitely all ones to keep an eye on) and we were certainly very keen to taste these again later in the week.

Following a delicious lunch on the terrace and some back vintages of Bahans Haut Brion the afternoons tasting finished as always with a wonderful selection of Sauternes & Barsacs. No surprises there as these appellations are the love of our host Bill Blatch. Having read some very positive reports on these appellations leading up to Primeur we were keen to see for ourselves just how good the sweet wines of Bordeaux would show this year. Standouts included Rieussec (no surprises), De Fargues and Suduiraut…..The value for money winner and not far behind the big names Doisy Verdrines.

Having just sampled this wonderful selection we were excited to taste Climens and d’Yquem later in the week.

With Vintex done and a definite understanding for the style of the vintage it was back to our Chateau (Clement Pichon) for a spot of dinner and an early night ready for a hectic day of Chateau visits on Monday….Leoville Las Cases first up for breakfast.