Primeurs 2010: Results (Part 0)

Dear readers, Today was the official start of the 2010 en primeur campaign for me. I’m sure you’ll understand that under the circumstances, with so many wines to appraise, postponing the chronicle to a later date is the wisest thing to do. Here is what came out of this very first en primeur tasting at the Cercle Rive Droite, where the line up included 100 red wines and around 10 whites. 2010 really becomes dry whites. They are deliciously aromatic and tasty and show enough ripeness and intensity. Beautiful scents of truffle remind me of the 2007 vintage. Red wines show no consistency. On the right bank, I believe Pomerol comes second to Saint-Emilion. And in Saint-Emilion, I personally put the estates on clayey- limestone soils in the lead; they boast a fresher, more precise, and more vibrant expression of fruit. For properties on the warmer graves soils, there is a risk of coming across cooked fruity notes. Let’s bear in mind that the drought may well have blocked the maturing process and so may be responsible for dryer tannins as well as for notes of both cooked and under-ripe fruit. On the whole, the reds are gratifying on the palate. They tend to be attractive and with no rough edges. The difference in standard therefore lies in the intensity of the savours – which might be dampened by late picking – and in the degree of complexity of the wine. The best wines boast a superb tactile feel on the palate with extremely elegant fat that may make some 2009 look rustic. I must say I did not expect such attractive entries and mid-palates, but I found no consistency in the quality of the finish. And that is precisely where the true challenge lies. I found many wines better than in 2009 - with a more sophisticated frame of tannins. Here are three crus that I have been particularly impressed by: CLOS DUBREUIL Saint-Emilion 17 // 92 A superb wine: even, deep, polished – obviously crafted with great care and skill. The best for the estate so far. CLOS PUY ARNAUD Castillon 16,5 // 90 A wonderful outsider that has never been so refined. FLEUR D'ARTHUS Saint-Emilion 16 // 88 - 89 The estate, which owns no plot on limestone soils, submitted a blend including 25% of cabernet sauvignon - instead of its traditionally more merlot blend. The result is a far more vibrant and lively wine, which has instantly been propelled into the exclusive club of elegant and superbly balanced wines. Latest update from the left bankSuperb.. LA LAGUNE 2010 – 16.75-17// 91-92 Dark colour. Delicate, elegant, fruity, ripe and powerful on the nose. La Lagune has never been so fat, so fresh and so vibrantly fruity- its texture almost oily and with refine tannins in spades to weave over and over again a tightly knit and beautiful length. A real stunner - absolutely impossible not to swallow. A blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, and 10% petit verdot. Natural alcohol content : 13°8. M. Moulin, the man at the head of the estate, believes such success can be explained by the outstanding quality of the merlot in 2010- superior to that of 2009; quality-wise, the cabernet sauvignon were similar in 2010 and 2009. Kind regards Jean-Marc Quarin ___________________________________________________________________________ © Copyright 2010.This publication is the original work of Jean-Marc Quarin Sarl, 10 allée de Ginouilhac, BP 40, Le Taillan-Médoc. France. - E-mail : jmquarin@wanadoo.fr. The news media and subscribing wine distributors, importers and retailers may use portions of this material (such as tasting notes, ratings or quotes) provided that it is not distorted, the proper wine and vintage are stated, www.quarin.com is given credit for the material utilized, and Jean-Marc Quarin (JMQ) is shown as the Copyright holder.

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Primeurs 2010: Results (Part 0)

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