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<strong>2010</strong> <strong>BORDEAUX</strong> <strong>FUTURES</strong><br />
SAINT-ÉMILION<br />
RED WINE (CONT’D)<br />
FAUGÈRES<br />
Grand Cru<br />
TASTING NOTE: This estate, which was<br />
purchased a few years ago by Swiss<br />
entrepreneur Silvio Denz, continues to<br />
push the envelope and improve on what<br />
was already an impressive group of wines<br />
from previous proprietress Corinne<br />
Guisez. From a 50-acre vineyard in the<br />
commune of St.-Christophe des Bardes,<br />
the <strong>2010</strong> is a blend of 85% Merlot and<br />
the rest mostly Cabernet Franc and a<br />
small amount of Cabernet Sauvignon.<br />
Perhaps the most powerful wine ever<br />
made at Faugeres, it tips the scales at<br />
15% alcohol. Both Michel Rolland and<br />
Stephan von Neipperg consult at this<br />
estate. The <strong>2010</strong>’s dense blue/purple<br />
color is followed by notes of creosote,<br />
toasty new oak, licorice, blueberry liqueur<br />
and cassis. This dense, opulent, fullbodied,<br />
massive effort is surprisingly<br />
civilized and intense. It should drink well<br />
for 10-15 years. Score: 91-94 (RP)<br />
260026 (XD) 750 mL $56<br />
$168 per 3-btl lot<br />
FLEUR CARDINALE<br />
Grand Cru Classé<br />
TASTING NOTE: The greatest Fleur<br />
Cardinale since the 2005, the superpowerful,<br />
rich, opaque purple-colored<br />
<strong>2010</strong> exhibits beautiful floral notes<br />
intermixed with black raspberry, blueberry<br />
and boysenberry fruit as well as a hint<br />
of minerality. Exuberant and flamboyant<br />
with full-bodied richness, stunning purity<br />
and an impressive, textured mouthfeel<br />
and finish, this beauty should age effortlessly<br />
for 12-20 years. Score: 92-95 (RP)<br />
259028 (XD) 750 mL $63<br />
$189 per 3-btl lot<br />
30 VINTAGES • ORDER BY TELEPHONE TODAY!<br />
FOMBRAUGE<br />
Grand Cru<br />
TASTING NOTE: Dark and winey,<br />
with layers of black currant, fig paste and<br />
graphite pushed by slightly chewytextured<br />
structure. Shows a lot of muscle<br />
now, with plenty of flesh on the finish.<br />
Score: 90-93 (WS)<br />
258020 (XD) 750 mL $44<br />
$132 per 3-btl lot<br />
GRAND CORBIN-DESPAGNE<br />
Grand Cru Classé<br />
TASTING NOTE: Well-knit already, showing<br />
a fleshy edge to the plum sauce, blackberry<br />
and toast, with a nice graphite note<br />
lurking in the background. This has<br />
stuffing. Should unwind nicely. Score:<br />
88-91 (WS)<br />
257626 (XD) 750 mL $44<br />
$132 per 3-btl lot<br />
LA CONFESSION<br />
Grand Cru<br />
TASTING NOTE: Proprietor Jean-Philippe<br />
Janoueix has hit a bull’s-eye with both<br />
vintages of La Confession. The <strong>2010</strong>, which<br />
is a larger production wine given his<br />
acquisition of a large vineyard near both<br />
Lucia and Fonroque, has turned out to be<br />
a blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet<br />
Franc that tips the scales at a boisterous<br />
14.7% natural alcohol. Production is now<br />
up to approximately 2,600 cases. This<br />
is a sensational wine that I had on three<br />
separate occasions with identical results.<br />
Opaque purple, with an exquisite nose<br />
of blueberry liqueur, black raspberries,<br />
licorice, graphite, and forest floor, the<br />
wine has fabulous fruit, a multi-dimensional<br />
mouthfeel, full-bodied opulence, and a<br />
stunning finish. There is plenty of tannin,<br />
but I suspect the extravagant fruit and<br />
glycerin this wine possesses will make it<br />
approachable in its exuberant youth,<br />
yet carry it nicely for 15 or more years.<br />
Score: 92-95 (RP)<br />
259101 (XD) 750 mL $59<br />
$177 per 3-btl lot<br />
LA DOMINIQUE<br />
Grand Cru Classé<br />
TASTING NOTE: Probably the finest<br />
La Dominique made since the wonderful<br />
duo of 1989 and 1990, the explosively<br />
fruity, dense purple-hued <strong>2010</strong> offers<br />
notes of licorice, roasted herbs, truffles,<br />
black raspberries and blueberry liqueur.<br />
Full-bodied and unctuously textured<br />
with sweet tannin as well as good freshness<br />
and precision, it should drink well<br />
for 15-20 years. P. S. The final blend<br />
was 77% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc<br />
that achieved 14.5% natural alcohol.<br />
Score: 92-94 (RP)<br />
259978 (XD) 750 mL $74<br />
$222 per 3-btl lot<br />
LARCIS DUCASSE<br />
Grand Cru Classé<br />
TASTING NOTE: An excellent effort,<br />
stylistically, the <strong>2010</strong> comes as close to<br />
the 2005 as one will find. The wine was<br />
made from remarkably low yields of<br />
19 hectoliters per hectare and the final<br />
blend was approximately 75% Merlot<br />
and 25% Cabernet Franc. The late harvest<br />
(it finished during the third week of<br />
October) was managed impeccably by the<br />
dynamic duo of Nicolas Thienpont and<br />
Stephane Derenoncourt. This phenomenal<br />
terroir, situated with a south/southeast<br />
exposition on the limestone soils of the<br />
Cote Pavie, has produced a wine with<br />
great individuality. Its dense purple color<br />
is followed by notes of black currants,<br />
sweet cherries, garrigue, licorice and<br />
incense. Already complex, it reveals<br />
formidably endowed, full-bodied flavors,<br />
a skyscraper-like texture, marvelous<br />
depth, moderately high tannins and<br />
excellent precision as well as freshness<br />
(which gives the wine that 2005-like<br />
personality). This <strong>2010</strong> will require<br />
4-5 years of cellaring and should age<br />
effortlessly for 20-25 years thereafter.<br />
Score: 95-97 (RP)<br />
260687 (XD) 750 mL $119<br />
$357 per 3-btl lot
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