Vintage 2010: 15 Years Later

2010 was one of those rare, blessed vintages in France, where almost every region enjoyed a warm, sunny summer with nights cool enough to ensure the grapes retained that all-important freshness. It’s long been established as among the finest of the century for Bordeaux, but for these well-structured wines, only now are we really beginning to see the full potential of the year emerge.

In Pauillac, neighbors Lynch-Bages and Grand-Puy-Lacoste both produced outstanding wines, with Grand-Puy-Lacoste perhaps a hair ahead in terms of readiness to drink. On the Right Bank, Figeac is one of the wines of the vintage and is entering its drinking window at age 15.

Elsewhere in the wine world, Clos Rougeard’s Saumur-Champigny 2010 is in fine fettle today, a testimony to the success of this vintage in the Loire Valley. And on the far side of the world, how about some Penfolds? Not Grange this time, but instead the St. Henri Shiraz, a South Australian blend of 100% Shiraz that sees only old oak. Rich, deep and velvety, it is great to see an Australian legend like this with bottle age for such an attractive price.