Dense ruby/purple, it tips the scales at 15% natural alcohol and was bottled unfined and unfiltered. Full-bodied in texture, it offers up loads of blueberry, blackberry and raspberry fruit intermixed with some cedar, vanilla and a touch of spring flowers. Impressively built, with good acidity and light tannin, this is a superb example of wine that reaches its prime in 3 or 4 years and lasts two decades. It’s right up there with their brilliant 2005. Feb 2013, www.robertparker.com
Robert ParkerScore: 95/100
Fleur Cardinale From an 18 hectare, clay and limestone vineyard, located next to Valandraud and across the street from Faugeres, Florence and Dominique Decoster put a lot of effort into their 2010, starting with reducing their yields to 36 hectoliters per hectare. With its deep color, cassis, blackberry, licorice and jammy liqueur aromas exude from the glass. This full bodied wine offers layers of opulent dark fruit ending with a fresh, licorice, blackberry, dark cherry and chocolate finish. From an assemblage of 78% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 7% Merlot, the wine reached 14.5% alcohol. This is the best wine from the estate since the outstanding 2005. For consumers not familiar with this property, they remain one of the top Bordeaux wines combining price and quality. winecellarinsider.com
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar InsiderScore: 93-95/100
Dark chocolate and blackberry character with beautiful polished tannins and full body. This is gorgeous. jamessuckling.com
James SucklingScore: 92-93/100
A dense, slightly chewy version, with a broad swath of roasted fig, espresso and black currant confiture pushed by additional charcoal and roasted tobacco notes. This is plenty fleshy and dense, with an encore of anise and plum at the very end. A bit raw still, but everything's there. This estate is quietly putting it all together. James Molesworth, winespectator.com
Wine SpectatorScore: 91-94/100
Rich, ripe and decadent, this wine just oozes sumptuous fruit. Plum and berry aromas and flavour. Bold, firm tannins. James Lawther, decanter.com
DecanterScore: 17/20
Sweet and rich and round and hugely flattering. This wine has managed to keep the vitality in without excessive dry tannin. Really well done! Lovely finish. Very distinctive. Very readable and transparent. jancisrobinson.com
Jancis Robinson MWScore: 17/20
This wine has ripe plum and dark berry fruit flavours with good density and concentration and attractive floral notes. The finish is fairly long and the tannins are firm and ripe. This well made St Emilion will keep for at least a decade or two given its tannin and dense flavour profile. asianpalate.com
Jeannie Cho Lee MWScore: 88-90/100
This is extraordinarily over-ripe on the nose with prune, crème de cassis and blueberry jam. The palate is full-bodied, a low acidity blockbuster Saint Emilion that overwhelms the senses. Very sweet and cloying on the finish at the moment. I will seek another sample down the line. Tasted March 2011. Neal Martin erobertparker.com
Neal Martin
Bordeaux / France