Holy mackerel is this '10 Fleur Cardinale a deep purple!!

[JimHow]

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

[JimHow]

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

[Nicklasss]

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

Nic

[JimHow]

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

My initial impressions are positive nic.

[JimHow]

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

[JimHow]

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!

[JimHow]

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.

[pomilion]

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?

[Jeff Leve]

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/

[DavidG]

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

[JimHow]

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.

[Nicklasss]

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

Jimhow liking Right Bank... What next?

Nic

[Carlos Delpin]

Agree that this wine is fabulous. No brainer purchase.

[JimHow]

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

[stefan]

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

[JimHow]

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

[jckba]

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

[JimHow]

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

[Tom In DC]

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.

[Carlos Delpin]

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

[JimHow]

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.

[stefan]

Buy, BD, BUY!