Critic Notes
Sweet and floral with an undercurrent of bramble and damson. Firm and sappy with a good dollop of dense silky fruit. Perhaps just a little rustic but should be super-silky in 10 years. Very pure and long.
Score: 17.5-/20FINE+RARE
du Tertre is the product of a blend from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. This is unique for the property as they usually include between 10% and 20% Cabernet Franc. This assemblage created a perfume of tobacco leaf, fresh herb, and blackberries. This elegant, medium/full bodied is filled with sweet cassis, ripe tannin, floral sensations ending with soft textures and ample freshness in the finish. winecellarinsider.com
Score: 91-93/100Jeff Leve
The du Tertre has no Cabernet Franc this year, made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, the highest ever. The harvest started 28th September until the middle of October. Two samples, the first at the chateau discounted as it had been open too long. The second at the UGC has a very obdurate nose, tightly coiled and not as flamboyant as its peers, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. Blackberry, sous-bois, tobacco and a touch of graphite, good definition but it does not muster the same vivacity as Giscours. The palate is very tannic and a little austere, a hardness to the tannins that will soften with barrel age, nice grip, taut and just a little peppery towards the dry finish. Very classic in style and incongruous to many of its peers, but I think this could surprise a few people in bottle. I look forward to re-tasting it. Tasted April 2011. Neal Martin erobertparker.com
Score: 91-93/100Neal Martin
This is velvety and very juicy with a blueberry, mineral and wet weather character that has hints of black truffles. Full and rich. Best du Tertre ever. Muscular. Not rustic like in the past. 70 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 percent Merlot and 10 percent Petit Verdot. jamessuckling.com
Score: 91-92/100James Suckling
Beautifully balanced Cabernet fruit, florality, ripeness and good firm length all in perfect balance. Drink 2017-30. Steven Spurrier, decanter.com
Score: 17-/20Decanter
This is textbook Margaux, with a supple, velvety feel and a stylish core of plum, red currant and black cherry fruit laced with perfumy spice and followed by lightly dusty tannins. James Molesworth, winespectator.com
Score: 90-93/100Wine Spectator
With 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot, a deep dark colour fulfilled the impression of being full-bodied and very promising. At first taste it was attractive, suggesting apricot and dark soft fruits, quite acid with medium rough tannins. Though the mid palate felt no more drama, the consistency persisted to a long finish. In its ready accessibility and charm it will realise a happy early maturity from 5 to 10 years times.
Score: 16.5-/20Ivor Davies
Blueish purple. Very ripe and concentrated with lots of acidity though perhaps not the absolute freshness of fruit that there is on some other Margaux 2010s. Dramatic wine! jancisrobinson.com
Score: 16.5-/20Jancis Robinson
Showing better from bottle than from barrel (which makes sense, given that I seemed to be in a minority when judging it from barrel), the 2010 du Tertre has a nice dark plum/garnet color, a slightly more evolved style than most Margaux, hints of cedar, licorice, black olive and black currant fruit with some flowers and subtle smoky wood in the background. Medium to full-bodied, round, generous and ripe, the words “sexy” and “opulent” come to mind when smelling and tasting this beautiful Margaux. Drink it over the next 15 or more years. Feb 2013, www.robertparker.com
Score: 90-/100Robert Parker
The 2010 du Tertre is a fairly deep ruby in colour, with aromas of fresh blackcurrants, blueberries and violets, followed by lifted and elegant balanced flavours fruit on the palate. However, I expected the 2010 to be more generous and felt that these flavours were lacking somewhat in the mid palate, and that the wine was a little short. Overall, then, a disappointing du Tertre given its stellar performance over the past 5 years. asianpalate.com
Score: 88-90/100Jeannie Cho Lee MW
