2010 Vintage wine

2010 Vintage wine

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2010 is one of the rare vintages to have reached its peak on both sides of France in the same year. In Bordeaux, a hot and dry summer followed by cool nights produced reds of great precision: ripe fruit, firm tannic structure and high acidity that promises a very long ageing potential. In the Rhône Valley, that same balance between power and freshness shaped deep and refined wines from north to south. These are the two regions to target first, with Château Giscours leading the way in Margaux and Clos des Papes for Châteauneuf-du-Pape; Burgundy and the southern terroirs complete a selection entirely focused on wines for ageing. To place 2010 among the other great years, refer to our Vintage Guide.

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Read our article on the 2010 vintage

Read our article on the 2010 vintage
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Vintage Guide

Vintage Guide
Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux

Grands Crus Classés de Bordeaux

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The F.A.Q

Is the 2010 vintage a good one?

Yes, without reservation. 2010 ranks among the greatest recent years, successful on both banks of Bordeaux as well as throughout the Rhône Valley. The reds combine ripe fruit, a firm tannic structure and high acidity: it is this trio that explains their exceptional ageing potential. The downside of this power is that the wines are often closed in their youth and benefit from decanting or further cellaring, as is the case with Château Léoville Poyferré. It is a vintage that requires patience, better suited to the cellar than to immediate opening.

Which Bordeaux classified growths should you favour in 2010?

The Médoc leads the way: the concentration and tannic firmness of the year are fully expressed in the Bordeaux classified growths, particularly in Pauillac, Saint-Julien and Saint-Estèphe. The slight advantage of 2010 goes to the left bank, driven by a generally higher proportion of cabernet sauvignon; Saint-Émilion and Pomerol nonetheless deliver very fine results on their clay-limestone soils. The dry whites of Pessac-Léognan complete the picture with remarkable freshness. When buying, look first to the structured wines of the Médoc if you are seeking the longest ageing potential.

What gift to give with a 2010 wine?

A great 2010 wine is ideally suited to marking a special occasion: a wedding anniversary, a promotion, a birth, or the year a couple met. As these bottles retain a long ageing potential, they can be enjoyed today after decanting or kept for several more years. To give a bottle linked to a birth year in particular, choose the vintage that corresponds to the date to be celebrated. A wine for keeping such as a 2010 combines the pleasure of tasting with the value of a memory that stands the test of time.

2010, a vintage with two peaks: Bordeaux and the Rhône Valley

Few years succeed in producing both great Bordeaux and great Rhône simultaneously. 2010 is one of them: the same combination of ripeness and freshness yielded, in the west, firm and precise red Bordeaux, and in the south-east, deep and refined Rhône wines. Here, region by region, is what the vintage is worth and where to start depending on your aim — near-term drinking or building a cellar.

Bordeaux 2010: the Left Bank at its peak

A hot and dry summer, tempered by cool nights, concentrated small, healthy berries. The result is reds with a dense colour, ripe fruit and a tight tannic structure, supported by high acidity that guarantees long ageing. The profile is more classical and firmer than 2009: the wines are often closed in their youth and demand patience. The balance tilts slightly in favour of the Left Bank, where the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon brings structure and length, but the finest clay-limestone terroirs of the Right Bank are not far behind.

In the Médoc, the firmness of the year is illustrated at Saint-Estèphe with Château Lafon Rochet, with its upright and refined style. On the Right Bank, Saint-Émilion lines up superb successes: Château Larcis Ducasse on the limestone slopes, the finesse of Château Canon La Gaffelière and the precision of Clos Fourtet on the plateau. The dry whites of Pessac-Léognan, lifted by the coolness of the nights, extend the success of the year in the Gironde.

Ageing potential: still young, the 2010 Bordeaux demand patience — decant at length for drinking today, or cellar for a few more years for collectors.

Rhône Valley 2010: north and south in harmony

After a cold and wet winter, a long and steady summer with cool nights delivered one of the greatest recent vintages of the Rhône, in red and white alike. In the north, the Syrah of Côte-Rôtie, Cornas and Saint-Joseph combines deep richness with a fresh finish that ensures longevity. In the south, coulure reduced Grenache yields at Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but the long ripening periods produced concentrated yet balanced wines, with whites of outstanding quality. A notable feat of the year: Guigal's trio of Côte-Rôtie wines each received perfect scores in the Wine Advocate.

The southern Rhône expresses itself at the highest level with Château Rayas and the well-seasoned Grenache of Domaine Henri Bonneau, historic icons of Châteauneuf-du-Pape. In the north, the mineral Syrah of Domaine Auguste Clape embodies the rigour of Cornas, while the Côte-Rôtie wines of Jamet and Ogier confirm the depth of the northern sector in this vintage.

Ageing potential: more approachable than the Bordeaux at the same age, the Rhône 2010s can already be enjoyed after aeration; the great cuvées from both north and south will keep well for another good decade.

Burgundy 2010: the precision of a small harvest

A difficult flowering reduced volumes, which worked in favour of quality: the grapes ripened slowly while retaining a beautiful acidity. The reds rest on a balanced triangle of fruit, tannin and acidity, with a dominance of red fruits (cherry, raspberry) and very few vegetal notes. Fresher and more classical than the 2009s, they offer serious ageing potential. The whites, marked by discreet touches of botrytis (the "noble rot"), display a somewhat more exotic style; provenance and storage conditions are worth verifying.

For this vintage, the Burgundy selection is more focused and centres on a few rare bottles, notably in Vosne-Romanée, the beating heart of the Côte de Nuits, where the elegance and tension of the year are fully expressed.

Ageing potential: the classical reds are opening their drinking window at village level, while premiers and grands crus benefit from further waiting; for the whites, a reliable provenance is advisable.

Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence 2010: richness and balance

In the South, 2010 produced rich and powerful wines, yet held together by an acidity that gives them freshness and length. It is a fine year for the high-altitude terroirs of the Languedoc and for age-worthy cuvées, where solar ripeness never tips into heaviness.

Les Terrasses du Larzac finds its fullest expression at Mas Jullien, a benchmark of the appellation, while the Domaine de la Grange des Pères, in the Hérault, and a white from Domaine de Trévallon, in Provence, round out the southern offering of the year with sought-after artisan wines.

Ageing potential: already pleasurable to drink, the best wines of the South from 2010 will keep serenely for several years; open them alongside generous, hearty food.

Buy a 2010 wine from SoDivin

To build a cellar around 2010, two priorities stand out: the Left Bank Bordeaux, for their structure and very long ageing potential, and the great Rhône wines, both north and south, for their immediate depth. The former demand patience or extended decanting; the latter can be appreciated sooner. Burgundy and the southern terroirs add rarer bottles to the selection. To compare 2010 with other great years and refine your choice, consult our Vintage Guide.

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