2010 Faugeres

The estate’s most abundant cuvee of about 5,000+ cases is the 2010 Faugeres, a blend of 85% Merlot with the rest mostly Cabernet Franc and just a small quantity of Cabernet Sauvignon, all bottled unfined and unfiltered. It is another St.-Emilion hitting 15% natural alcohol. Tiny yields of 22 hectoliters per hectare and a late harvest that went into the third week of October have resulted in a stunningly concentrated wine with notes of crushed rock, blue and dark red/black fruits, some camphor, incense and, for lack of a better description, a smell of acacia flowers. A sexy, opulent and full-bodied wine that seems to have more in common with the 2009s than most 2010s, this wine can be drunk out of the gate, but will certainly hit its stride in 3-4 years and last for up to 15. Feb 2013, www.robertparker.com

Robert Parker    Score: 92/100