Unbelievable as it may sound, Château Margaux 2010 is at least as great a vintage as 2009. Once again, the Cabernet Sauvignon made the most of this very dry and cool year. With as much as 90% in the blend, the Cabernet makes the wine, providing it with exceptional aromatic finesse, restrained power and subtle freshness. There is not much room left for the Merlot (7%), Cabernet Franc (1.5%) and Petit Verdot (1.5%). The genius of these Cabernet plots is astounding.
Château Margaux 2010 is a giant, but it is not monstrous. It is sheer magic – think classic, with a twist. Classic indeed, thanks to its purity, finesse and soft and refreshing finish. Add to these qualities astonishing aromatic complexity and outstanding power and the result is an exceptional year. Technology and stringent selection make it a “modern” wine, while its magnitude and charm ensure a timeless Château Margaux vintage. It better to wait patiently, even if it is already difficult to resist. (October 2018)
Margaux
Climate
Winter was quite cold and dry, causing some delay in the budding. Mixed weather conditions in the spring made the flowering process uneven and caused a little coulure in some of the older Merlot plots. Yet, as always, the great terroirs appear to have set their own agenda and ignored the vagaries of the weather, enjoying a fast and homogenous flowering process with perfect results. Then again, the Cabernet Sauvignon, which is so well suited to these lands, is not very prone to coulure.
From the end of June until the last grapes were harvested in October, we experienced, once again, the type of drought typical of great Bordeaux vintages. Indeed, while on the one hand, the vines were spared any excess of water, thereby preventing unwanted foliage, they benefited from just enough moisture to favour ripening as well as enhance concentration in the grapes.
While the 2010 weather conditions were reminiscent of 2009 and 2005, vintages are never completely alike. The summer of 2010 was as dry as 2009, yet cooler. The absence of extreme heat combined with cool nights compensated for the drought and probably allowed some of the great terroirs’ young plants to reach a new quality threshold. It also favoured the aromatic character in all grape varieties, particularly in Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet and enabled the maintenance of excellent acidity levels – the perfect foil for high levels of alcohol. (The picking began on 22nd September)