Friday 13 May 2011

Bordeaux 2010 - Chateau Providence

Posted by Julian Campbell, Buyer


Right at the heart of the plateau in Pomerol lies Providence, a beautifully restored, elegant Chateau surrounded by ten acres of vines. Neighbours include exalted names such as Hosanna and Certan de May. Although a relative newcomer, Providence has been heaped with praise by Robert Parker, James Suckling, Jancis Robinson et al and is quickly establishing itself as one of the leading properties in the commune.

For many years the estate was owned and managed by the Dupuy family, who tended the vines with devotion, but lacked a little technical savoir faire. JP Moueix, ever alert to a good opportunity, spotted the potential and purchased the estate in time for the 2005 vintage. Since then the cellar and tank rooms have been rebuilt, the chateau has been blasted until it gleams and the Moueix team have implemented several changes in the vineyards. The results are staggering. Now that the Moueix team are achieving the full potential from the vineyard, the wines are consistently amongst the best performers in this star studded commune. The cépage is typically 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, grown on the well suited clay and gravel soils of the plateau.

The 2010 is a sensational wine with wonderful tension and minerality. We found it even more stylish than the flamboyant 2009; a truly seductive, harmonious and aristocratic Pomerol. Bravo.

'Resurrected by Christian Moueix, Providence is made in a muscular, macho style with considerable minerality as well as dense plum, blackberry and black currant fruit, a formidable quantity of tannin and stunning depth and richness. The classic 2010 is similar in style and personality to that of the great Moueix estate of Chateau Trotanoy. Forget it for 5-6 years and drink it over the following 25-30 years. 92-94+/100`. - Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate #194.

Monday 9 May 2011

Bordeaux 2010 Video: Charles Chevallier, Chateau Lafite

Posted by Julian Campbell, Buyer
The director of the hottest Chateau in Bordeaux talks to Hew Blair and gives a very interesting, succinct comparison between 2009 and 2010. If you wanted to describe the differences between the two vintages in a single sentence you'd be hard pushed to do it better than this...

Sunday 8 May 2011

Bordeaux 2010 - Un Mot

Posted by Julian Campbell, Buyer
We asked some of the greatest names in Bordeaux the impossible question, namely to sum up their 2010 vintage in a single word. Never normally a set of winemakers to be short of words, this simple question provoked some thought provoking answers, and no shortage of umms and errs..

Featuring the men and women behind: Lafite, Latour, Margaux, Cheval Blanc, Yquem, Ausone, Calon Segur, Montrose, Ducru Beaucaillou, Grand Puy Lacoste, Evangile, Conseillante, Le Pin, Petrus, Tertre Roteboeuf, Providence, Lynch Bages, and many more...

p.s. It is quite a large file so you might want to give it a minute or so to load up.