Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Is 2010 the greatest vintage ever?
I am on a quest to find out.
Wow is this right banker a deep inky purple.

15%.
Trying to determine whether it is La Tour Carnet like.

I liked that wine, in a small blind tasting of the 2009, so looking forward your comments on the 2010.

Nic

I'm thinking 15% in 2010 may be different than 15% in 2009.

My initial impressions are positive nic.

The purple on this wine is so thick it leaves a purple film on the Riedel when you swirl it. Stunning.

What I'm liking about this wine is that, while it is high in alcohol, the heat seems to be integrated into a rich, structured, ripe, sweetly tannic wine. Should go well with the steaks we are having.

2010: Does this vintage present the best of what both JimHow and Jeff Leve look for in a wine?
My experience with 2010 is too limited so far to make that determination but I'm committed to finding out!

This wine is stunning.
I love it.
It is definitely not La Tour Carnet like.
It is very right bank, but in a good way.
One of the better right bankers I've had in a while.
15% but by no means "hot".
Thoroughly enjoyable, at under $50 I will buy more.
I've already commented on the spectacular purple/black color.
Flirting with "outstanding."
Makes me reassess what a 15 percent wine can be like.
I mean, I like a voluptuous right banker as much as anyone, as long as it is not over the top.
This is not over the top.
In fact, even at 15%, I wouldn't even begin to describe this as voluptuous.
Beautiful nose.
A very impressive effort .
Dare I say, it is "balanced?"
Will buy more.
94+ points.

Jim -- thanks for your notes and the enticing picture, you're making me thirsty! If you've had '05 Fleur Cardinale, how would you compare the two vintages? I loved the '05 on release and bought a bunch. Also, if you've had the '09 (which I haven't tried), how would that stack up vs. the '10 as well?

JimHow wrote:This wine is stunning. I love it.

Well Grasshopper, you are coming along! It's a really good wine. http://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/bor ... cardinale/

I've been telling you, 2010 is a Jim How kind of vintage. Not 2009. 2010.

I absolutely loved this wine.
It had tremendous stuffing but was not over the top.
I may even buy a case.
$47 per bottle at PJs.
Drinking well now and for 20 years.
The color is prodigious.
I don't remember having the 2005 or 2009, Pom, I may have had the 2005, I don't recall.
An enthusiastic 94+.
Again, I just really loved how the 15% alcohol in no way interfered. Full bodied but smooth nonetheless, nothing acidic or mouth-puckering, no high alcohol headaches.
I've had about nine or ten 2010s so far and have loved every one of them, from both banks.

I'll check If I can find find some here.

Jimhow liking Right Bank... What next?

Nic

Agree that this wine is fabulous. No brainer purchase.

I just ordered six more from PJs. I thought it was a stunner, a great example of what the right bank can achieve.

Six cases seems about right for as much as you like the wine, Jim. Well done; very well done indeed.

Lol, geez, didn't I read somewhere that they only produce 1200 cases per year?

It would seem to me based on the below post that production for the 2010 was 73,000 btls which would equate to approximately 6,000 cases.

http://www.mtouton.com/products/france/ ... -cardinale

The six bottles have arrived.
Now the question is, for how long should I cellar them?

It isn't a solid case, so you don't have to drink it all in the next two weeks, right?

My approach with a purple beast like this would be a bottle every two or three years to see how it evolves.

Tom, lots of empty slots in those racks... Hope that is not caused by killing the 2010's too soon!

i know, it is very pathetic.
I think I have about 800-900 bottles right now, down from a high of about 1500.
I think my racks hold about 1,000, and I have a bunch of cases stacked up.
I definitely need to replenish.

Buy, BD, BUY!