Continuing Saga of 2010

[Bacchus]

Reaction to the 2010 vintage continues to surprise. As we all know, it was hyped as the vintage of the decade, nay, century! However, as I pointed out in a previous posting, JR downgraded it significantly. A recent blind tasting of the wines of the Medoc appearing in Decanter magazine seems to reaffirm its greatness. Yet even this reaffirmation is interesting if not scandalous because of the relative position of the wines in the final ranking. The top five wines, rated at 95+ or 95, are not the firsts, as one might expect, or even the super-seconds, but, in order: Gruaud-Larose, Haut Batailley, Pichon Baron, Prieure Lichine, and GPL (okay, one super-second). The firsts are actually quite a ways back in the pack, all rated in the 90-91 range. The bargain hunter may have a fine time of it as even wines like Croizet Bages and Lynch Moussas are ranked higher than the firsts! Cantenac Brown is ranked 9th overall. That's a very far cry from JR's assessment of the wine, and much closer to BD's opinion.

http://www.decanter.com/wine/labels/344 ... #slideshow

[AlexR]

Ain't it nice when the hierarchy is all upset?

Means intelligent buyers can still find (relative) good values.

Of course, the same tasting held in 10/15/20 years might yield very different results.

Alex R.

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

Haut-Bat, eh?

They may have agreed on the "score" but two of the three panelists could not agree whether the wine is "far from elegant" or "wonderfully elegant." We're they not drinking from the same bottle at the same time or are these "experts" palates just that far apart?

[Comte Flaneur]

That often happens in Decanter tastings...the big guns are down with the also rans...but these are reputable tasters.

With 2010 Medocs you can't go wrong anywhere. Any estate will do. Good to see Gruaud Larose was top dog.

[JimHow]

I'm pleased to see the corroboration of Cantenac Brown.

[JimHow]

And buy as much 2010 Cantemerle as you can, I've had a couple more bottles recently, it is tremendous. 95+.