98
Jeb Dunnuck Tasting Note
Reminding me slightly of the 1996 and maybe the 2019) with its purity and precision, the 2010 Château Margaux offers a classic bouquet of red and black currants, green tobacco, sandalwood, spring flowers, and lead pencil shavings. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully concentrated on the palate, with ripe tannin and integrated yet notable acidity, this is as classic and regal as Margaux gets, and while it has a terrific sweetness of fruit and ripeness to its tannins, it needs another 4-5 years to hit true prime time and is going to evolve for another 30 years or more. Drink 2026 - 2057
99
Wine Spectator Tasting Note
A major step up. The final blend is 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, with only 7 percent Merlot and 1.5 percent each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This is only the second vintage this decade to contain as much as 90 percent Cabernet, along with the 2006. The wine is superfocused and racy, with torrents of red cherry, raspberry and red plum fruit. Again, despite the obvious weight, it has terrific mouthfeel as it glides effortlessly across the palate, while fantastic perfume develops on the finish
97
Vinous Tasting Note
The 2010 Château Margaux performed far better at this horizontal than at Farr's blind tasting a few days later. It has a beguiling bouquet, highly perfumed with crushed violets infusing the blackberry and crushed strawberry scented, hints of pencil box and cedar emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is a wonderful sense of symmetry here with a silky elegant finish that is amazingly persistent. It is one of the best wines that Paul Pontallier ever made. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines Spirits 10-Year On tasting. 2025-2060
100
James Suckling Tasting Note
A phenomenal nose of roses, violets, and other flowers. Subtle yet rich raspberries and currants. It is 90 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. The is a curious wine, almost ethereal. It is all in the front of the palate with ultra-fine tannins. It is full and very, very rich but it is forever balanced and in harmony What a wine. It is a pinpointed wine. So cerebral. It sends shivers down my spine. Incredible.
98
Wine Advocate Tasting Note
Paul Pontallier was rattling off some interesting statistics about Chateau Margaux. The 2000 (a great, great wine) was 13.1% natural alcohol, the 2005 13.1%, the 2009 13.2%, and the 2010, the highest ever measured, 13.5%. That is still nearly one degree less than the Pauillac first-growth of Chateau Latour at 14.4%. This blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc (representing only 38% of the total production) has the classic, quintessential Margaux character of spring flowers, almost cool-climate precision, medium body, and a seamless integration of tannin, wood and alcohol. The blue and black fruit characteristics are present, and the wine restrained. The most measured and polished of all the first growths I tasted, it is also less concentrated than any of the other first growths, but the elegance is classic. The harvest finished on October 15, which was not their latest by any means. This is one of the few first growths of 2010 where the tannins are remarkably delicate and sweet, and the softness of this wine will provide magical drinking at a relatively early age, yet its balance and concentration will carry it for 20 or more years. Drink: 2011 - 2031
