Wine Review 2010

Lot # Wine Year M D Comment
3988 Château Plaisance, 2005 8 9 Although the vintage produced very ripe fruit, this has a
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur solid wedge of tannin holding it back.
3989 Château Tour de Gilet, 2005 8 8 How typical of the Petit Verdot grape. It has produced tons
AOC Bordeaux Supérieur of black fruit, but the tannins are slow to release their hard
and firm grip. Will improve further.
3990 Château Maurac, AOC Haut Médoc, 2005 8 9 Old vine Merlot produced a big tannic wine in the early stages
Cru Bourgeois of development, but the fruit softness has come through. Now
it is deliciously comely.
3991 La Fleur d’Or, AOC Sauternes 2002 8 9 Bill Blatch buys and blends small lots of cuvées and this is
the result. Fine honey. Ripeness. Flowers, peaches and many
spoons of sugar. A fine, golden coloured, sweet dessert wine.
3992 Château de Malle, AOC Sauternes, 2003 8 8 One of Sauternes’ great properties. Totally sweet.
Deuxième Cru Classé Balanced. A symphony of sugar with a high level of zesty acidity.
3993 Bordeaux, Clos Sainte Anne, Vintex, 2005 8 9 Tasted and selected over a lunch of fresh lampreys in the
Founders’ Choice farm kitchen. It was superb in the cask, but with the onset of
supple maturity, the Merlot is making the quality clear. Very
fine wine. Can be enjoyed now.
3997 Château Richemont Rouge, 2005 10 10 The second wine of the property. Not very intense,
AOC Bordeaux but it is pleasant and wholesome.
3998 Château de Sours Rouge, 2005 8 8 Very good structure managing to tie the components
AOC Bordeaux neatly together, especially the ripe cassis flavoured Merlot fruit.
3999 La Source Rouge, AOC Bordeaux 2005 7 8 Concentrated. Fat. Although the palate is still very firm, the
fruit is all there. Readily available, but well supported by the
stringent tannins.
4003 Château Fongaban, 2004 10 10 Drink this year.
AOC Côtes de Castillon
4004 Château Lafon, AOC Listrac-Médoc, 2003 10 10 Very enjoyable and fruity. Nice harmony of flavours.
Cru Bourgeois
4005 Château Haut Cabut, 2004 9 9 Coffee, chocolate and dried fruit. Time to use and enjoy,
AOC Côtes de Blaye it is fully mature.
4006 Château Labadie, AOC Médoc, 2004 10 10 Very enjoyable dose of dry fruit. The tannins are just a
Cru Bourgeois touch dusty, but that is a normal function of aging. There
should be no concerns.
4008 Château de Cauze, 2004 7 7 Seems to be locked in a “no progress” mode. The tannin is still
AOC Saint-Émilion Grand Cru tight, the fruit hidden; it may always remain rather dry on the
palate.
4009 Château les Bois Noirs, Liquoreux, 2006 9 10 This was an unusal wine for Michel Baucé to produce.
Sainte Foy de Bordeaux He is normally a red wine man, but this rarity is very
successful and full-bodied. It is ready to enjoy.
CHÂTEAU PIqUE-SÈGUE
The property was originally purchased to allow Philip Mallard to indulge in his pastime of breeding pedigree Limousin cattle. But the
planting of vines above the meadows started the Opimian relationship when Marianne Mallard introduced her juicy rosé. Since then we
have come to appreciate all of the wines and different appellations that can, and are, produced on this large estate, which is one of the
pre-eminent producers of the Bergerac region.
4011 Château Pique-Sègue Blanc Moelleux, 2006
AOC Côtes Montravel
9 9 Rich and sweet. A very fine dessert wine.
4013 Château Pique-Sègue Rouge, 2005 9 9 Little changed over the past year. It is soft, supple and
AOC Bergerac enjoyable now.
4014 Château Dauzan La Vergne, 2004 8 8 A very fine, stylish wine. Perfect spicy nuances. Roses,
AOC Côtes de Bergerac coffee and a touch of liquorice.
4015 Terre de Pique-Sègue, Anima Vitis, 2003 9 9 Lovely. Supple. Entirely ready, what grip remains is needed
AOC Montravel to balance the lush fruit.
Wine Review 2010
1