October 26th sees the first of the 2010 Bordeaux wines to come through Vintages. Naturally once again, 2010 is being heralded as one of the greatest vintages from Bordeaux in living memory. Gee, when have I heard that statement before? Given what I was able to taste, there was little that really impressed me. However, those people that read through my notes, hello mum, know there is always one or two wines on the release that warrant the trip to the LCBO on Saturday worthwhile. (click images to enlarge)

641555 CHÂTEAU LAMOTHE DE HAUX 2010 Côtes de Bordeaux $16.95
A bright wine full of blackcurrant, Ribena, Cassis, cherry and cedar with decent structure on the ripe and chewy palate, very new world styled wine, tannins are discernible, but non offensive. Find this wine

206631 CHÂTEAU CASTAING 2010 Côtes de Bourg $17.95
Dusty, with aromas of dried mushroom, cedar, plum and dried thyme. There is a good core of red and black fruit on the palate, acidity seems low, and some iron and mineral flavours surface on the finish. Find this wine

297945 CHÂTEAU LAROSE TRINTAUDON 2010 Haut-Médoc $26.95
Blending 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot has created a tasty wine that boasts aromas of hay, dark chocolate, sweet vanilla, blackberry, currant and dried Chinese mushroom. The rich and chewy fruit driven palate is ripe and tasty, a little low in acidity, but nonetheless it finishes long and the tannins are gentle. Find this wine

355891 CHÂTEAU LES TOURS DE PEYRAT VIEILLES VIGNES 2010 Côtes de Bordeaux – Blaye $18.95
Mix of blackcurrant, raspberry, mineral and lead pencil lead to a gutsy palate of red berries, big tannins and good acidity. Tasty, albeit tannic, but should only get better with time. Find this wine

199091 CHÂTEAU LACOMBE NOAILLAC 2010 Médoc $18.95
A meaty smoky almost bacon like note gives way to layers of dark fruit, cedar and a whack of oak. Its palate is creamy, showing some nice dark fruit, some sweetness and dusty tannin. Find this wine

171249 CHÂTEAU ROBIN 2010 Lussac-Saint-Émilion $17.95
Closed nose, struggles to show fruit, some earthy aromas come through, palate is thin, finish is lame and overall not a wine worth holding. Find this wine

606640 CHÂTEAU LA COURONNE 2010 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru $24.95
Nice bright aromas of red licorice, blackcurrant, black raspberry, cedar and dark chocolate. The palate is full, nicely balanced, showing spice, dried fruits, gripping tannins that once resolved will allow this wine to show its best. Find this wine

226043 CHÂTEAU RAHOUL 2010 Graves $29.95
Intense and earthy wet soil, a solid layer of black cherry, dried herb, plum and black raspberry. Although the tannins are tight, the fruit on the palate does prevail. Its finish has a prefect mix of sweet black fruit, mineral and dusty tannins. Find this wine

WINES FROM THE REST OF THE RELEASE.

280107 CHATEAU SMITH COLUMBIA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 Columbia Valley, USA $24.95
Decent wine showing cassis, dark cherry, forest floor and dusty dry soil, tasty palate, full of blackcurrant, the right amount of oak and cleansing acidity. Find this wine

209874 COLUMBIA CREST H3 HORSE HEAVEN HILLS MERLOT 2010 $21.95
Laden with red fruit, sweet spice, mocha and vanilla with a velvety texture, good fruit, caramel and milk chocolate on the finish. Find this wine

231613 GROVE STREET PINOT NOIR 2011 Sonoma County $19.95
Red cough candy, raspberry, sweet strawberry and red licorice are the feature performers on the nose. It has a solid structure, tasty fruit, good acidity and balance. It is tough to find good Pinot under twenty bucks, but this I believe is one of them. Find this wine

104208 TANGLEY OAKS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2010 Napa Valley, Lot #14 $25.95
A perfumed nose of dark fruit coulis, blackcurrant jam, clove and sweet oak, combine on the palate to produce a tasty wine that comes up short at present on the mid palate, but time in a decanter might just edge it on. It does show some character and lip smacking cassis on the finish. Find this wine

212126 MCMANIS CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2011 California $19.95
Sweet and flabby, made for the masses, no structure, no character, just a non-descript wine. Plus given the fact one has to try really hard to pay more than ten bucks for this south of the border, I for one will leave this wine to sit on the shelf. Find this wine

521021R FRANCIS COPPOLA DIAMOND COLLECTION IVORY LABEL CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2012, California $24.95
Heavy on the sweet oak, good concentrated dark fruit, red currant and spice lead to a well-rounded palate, clean acidity and a viscous texture. Not a great wine, it lacks any thrill factor, but certainly quaffable. Find this wine

287979 SMALL GULLY MR BLACK’S LITTLE BOOK SHIRAZ 2010 Barossa Valley, South Australia $17.95
This is one Ozzie Shiraz that will make my shopping list. It has alluring aromas of dark fruit, Asian spice, dried herbs, a touch of oak and the right amount of floral sweetness. The palate carries good balance, juicy fruit, cleansing acidity and some dusty cocoa on the finish. Find this wine

983650 DOMAINE DU VIEUX LAZARET CHÂTEAUNEUF-DU-PAPE 2010 $35.95
Takes some coaxing, but soon this wine boasts a lovely nose of Mediterranean spice, mineral, coal dust, black licorice and layer after layer of blackberry, raspberry, sage and red currant. Beautiful texture, fruit focused, some tannins and the right amount of acidity equals a keeper for those with the patients to endure the wait. Find this wine

713354 TRAVAGLINI GATTINARA 2007 $29.95
A touch of amber tone at the rim, prickly fruit aromas, with notes of tomato and mineral on the somewhat subdued nose, interesting, flavours of dried cherry and dusty drying tannins. Find this wine

171587 REMO FARINA LE PEZZE AMARONE DELLA VALPOLICELLA CLASSICO 2010 $34.95
A mix of blackcurrant, mocha and sweet cherry cola with sweet damson and plum carry to a palate with a pleasing degree of sweetness, silky tannin and decent acidity. Find this wine

023762 COTO DE IMAZ RESERVA 2005 Rioja $20.95
An inky concoction of pure blackcurrant, balsa, mocha and Mediterranean spice is more than just pleasing. Its palate echoes the purity of the fruit, adding a touch of mineral, iron and a shave or two of dark chocolate. A lovely bottle of wine that has yet to show its best, but it is bloody close. Find this wine

344226 VINOS SIN LEY “M” OLD VINE MONASTRELL 2011 Yecla $18.95
Dark fruits, blueberry, nut shell, pine forest and tar shine on the nose, its palate is big and clumsy, but the silky tannins do not overpower of the density of the fruit. A wine to put away and forget about for a couple of years. Find this wine

Cheers
CZ

Related posts:

1. Alan Kerr’s June 26th, 2010, Vintage’s Release – Tasting Notes
2. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 27th Release – Tasting Notes
3. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 13th Release – Tasting Notes
4. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 12th Release – Tasting Notes
5. Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 29th Release – Tasting Notes

2 Responses to “Alan Kerr’s Vintage’s October 26th Release – Tasting Notes”