Pomerol
Pomerol had a great 2010 by and large, with some fantastic wines that seemed more consistent than in Saint Emilion. I tasted them either at UGC, direct at estates, the Cercle de Rive Droite and at a few negociant tastings, and both blind and non-blind, but seemed each time to come away with positive impressions. There were big alcohol levels, certainly, but the balance seemed to be there in most cases.
Ch la Croix Taillefer, Pomerol 2010
95% merlot, 5% cabernet franc, from 5.5 hectares of vines. Lovely vibrant nose. Not exactly chewy but very present tannins and heat. I like the power of this wine that is held in check by the acidity, but overall it has less impact than the others on display. However, it has a lovely sense of freshness that creeps up on you towards the finish – honestly, this is a vintage to never make snap judgements in. 90/100. Drink 2018-2028.
Fugue de Nenin, Pomerol 2010
92% merlot, 8% cab franc, this has a real sense of fresh fruit, ripe cherry and some good freshness, even if the finish is a touch shirt. Bht that msy npbe the price you pay for a fresh merlot in 2010, have to keep extraction down. 89/100. Drink 2018-2028.
Ch Nenin, Pomerol 2010
82% merlot, 18% cab franc. Kept fermentation temperatures low, 24 for most of fermrntation, and not going higher thsn 28. 33% new oak barrels. This really does hit up a level at tne end of palate. Great length, really an excellent step up from last year, plenty of fresh fruits, breaking rhrough the tannins. 13.9% alcohol. 94+/100. Drink 2020-2035.
Ch la Pointe, Pomerol 2010
Rich, deep fruit, some liquorice, very nice acidity coming into the mid palate. I get a slight touch of heat that sours a little as the wine comes into the finish, but it rights itself as the acidty comes back into play, and the final impression is of rich damsons and some gentle redcurrants. Impressive. 93-94+/100
Moueix taxsting - Overall, highly consistent and successful wines, Moueix clearly excelled in 2010
Ch Plince, Pomerol 2010
Chalkier tannins and certainly more present in the mouth than in the st emilions. A darker, richer and more brooding
feel overall, would put this away for a few years. Very good though, not shouting, but supremely confident. 92/100
Ch Lafleur Gazin Pomerol 2010
Again, these present, slightly chalky tannins, and firm dark fruited structure. This reveals itself a little less prettily than the others on display, but has clear potential. 90/100
Ch La Grave, Pomerol 2010
Much more modern take on 2010 here, altogther smoother, softer, more chocolate aromas, rich plum fruits. But tiny bit cloying, vanilla sweetness needs to be taken down just a notch. 89-90/100
Ch Bourgneuf, Pomerol 2010
Good firm tannins here, and a lovely seam of freshness, slightly gum curdling in a good
way; this is a classic en primeur sample (colourwise also, where many have been ruby not
crimson), that bodes very well for its future development. Nicely layered fruits, touch of
violets. Very enjoyable. 93/100 (NB, I tasted this at Cercle Rive Droite just over three weeks ago and it did not come out nearly so well (88). This highlights one of the great difficulties of en primeur - differing samples, differing evolution etc. I will give it the benefit of the doubt and keep the higher score...)
Ch Latour a Pomerol, Pomerol 2010
Good precision of black fruits on the nose and first attack. Rich red colour, lovely rich fruit tannins, and well integrated oak. A potentially lively wine. 92/100
Providence, Pomerol 2010
Classic 2010 - lovely balance of freshness, fruit and (barely perceptible) alcohol, great poise, the length unfolds itslef slowly and precisely. This is great, confident winemaking, absolutely delicious. blackberry crumble 94-95/100
Ch Certan, Pomerol 2010
This is the first one where the extraction is even obvious. Not a criticism, but it is slightly
less effortless. However, that translates into wonderful rich fruit, this is a big wine with plenty of rich complex layers, demanding attention. Voluptuous fruit, more of a 2009 style than some on display here. 94/100
Ch La Fleur Petrus, Pomerol 2010
Dark coffee on the attack here, some deep rich seams of fruit. Precision with ambition. This is less generous than some here, but clearly a hugely long life, and good redcurrant flavours alongside the black cherries, that concentrate the acidity Nd give it focus from mid palate onwards. 93-94/100
Hosanna, Pomerol 2010
Tight tannic structure, very firm ripe fruits, again clearly a huge life ahead, alcohol tingles a little on the finish, but there is not a feeling of heat so much as impact. Rich coffee flavours also become more evident as the wine unfolds, and it hangs on for dear life, so persistant it might need a restraining order. 95+/100
Ch Trotanoy, Pomerol 2010
Right from the first nose, you can feel the power in this wine, waiting to uncoil. Warm but rich and deep cedarwood, with red berries. again this spectrum of toasted barrel flavours, all worked deftly and to perfection so you barely notice, but enjoy the subtle caramel, mocha flavours against the firm byt smooth tannins and the lift on the finish. 95-96/100
Vieux Chateau Certan, Pomerol 2010
The yield in 2010 was 35hl/h, compared to last year of 42hl/h, but otherwise owner Nicolas Thienpont sees the two vintages as twins, just that 2010 is a more compressed, concentrated version of 2009. Unlike many people on the Right Bank, he felt his cabernet franc didnt reach their top potential, and instead that it was a Merlot year; reflected in the fact that the blend here is 86% merlot, 8% cab franc, 6% cab sauvignon. His 2nd wine (La Gravette de Certan) is 50/50 cab franc and merlot. Wonderful concentration and depth to the fruit, wonderful balance and, as with the very best wines of 2010, it is all the finish, that is where the acidity plays with you, and it is thrilling. But this is not the wine of the vintage for me, as many have said. I prefer Vieux Chateau Certan in its cabernet franc years. 94+/100.
Romulus, Lalande de Pomerol, 2010
Certified organic vineyard. Enjoyable rustic flavours here, hut alcohol is heading a little high. 97% merlot, 3% cab franc. 14.5% alcohol. 88/100. Drink 2018-2028. Bonne RiveLow yields, as with Romulus (35hl/h). He follows a technique that I keep hearing about (and some scoff at) of puting the red (ripe) merlot stalks to one side, after de-stalking by hand, then putting them back in for the fermentation itself. Malo in barrel then up to 36 months in barrel, so a good 12 months longer than most. Topped up, but not racked throughout the ageing. And to bottle unfiltered. This is big and powerful, clearly what he is trying to achieve with all those techniques, but it is not my style of wine. Still, can see there is freshness with the power here. 3.6ph after malo. 89/100. Drink 2017-2027.
Ch Sergant, Lalande de Pomerol 2010
Laurence and jean Francois Milhade. This has chalky tannins, but not drying, and a good lilting acidity on the finish. 70% merlot, 20% cab sauv, 10% cab franc. 90/100. Drink 2017-2027.
le Plus de fleur de bouard, Lalande de Pomerol 2010
Hold on tight, there is a whoosh of fruit and alcohol. I almost always prefer la fleur de bouard to the Pllus, and feel this year is no exception. I can feel the quality here, it holds you in a grip but blasts in some minty freshness. Certainly accomplished, but for me it is concentrated to the point of lacking a little joy. 91. Drink 2018-2028.
Ch La fleur de bouard, Lalande de Pomerol 2010
Far prefer the nose here, same blackberry, brambly fruits, some redcurrant, but immediately less alcohol coming off it. 80% merlot, 15 %cab franc, 5% cab sauv. This still has the acidity and fruit. Maybe a little less immediate impact, but I love the gooseberry and redcurrant finish (also tasted at Cercle Rive Droite, same score). 91++. Drink 2016-2026.