Haut Medoc Wines

wines

Opulent red. Intense aromas of currants, cigar tobacco and berries. Full-bodied, with a solid core of silky tannins and a long finish. Well-made. Best after 2008. 42,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WSA wine at its peak now, with tobacco, berry and spice character. Some oyster shell as well. Full and decadent. Soft and silky-textured. Drink now. Needs decanting.James Suckling | 90 JSMedium ruby. Blackberry, black cherry, toasty oak and musky espresso on the nose. Sweet, dense and pliant, with a layered texture and considerable early appeal. Lush but nicely delineated. Finishes with ripe tannins and lingering flavors of dark berries and espresso.Vinous Media | 87-90 VM

Deep medium ruby. Black cherry, violet, licorice and bitter chocolate on the nose. Intensely flavored and rather sinewy, with firm acids framing the fruit. Quite backward and firmly tannic, but has the material and structure to age nicely. Finishes with a note of espresso. This chateau has been making consistently strong wine in recent years.Vinous Media | 88-90 VMA wine with delicious berry, nutmeg and fresh tobacco character, with just a hint of vanilla. Medium-bodied, with silky tannins and a long finish. Impressive. Very fine. Much better than from barrel. Best after 2008. 25,415 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

No written review provided | 94 VMA big, generous wine, with sweet black fruit flavors that show well with the acidity and the fresh, open tannins. For a wine from 2002, this has richness and good ripe flavors. There is depth as well as power, and this can certainly be counted one of the success stories of 2002.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WE

A spectacular nose of spring flowers, forest floor, raspberry and bluer fruits is followed by a medium-bodied wine displaying shocking elegance (a characteristic not generally associated with this big, rich vintage). This pretty 2003 has achieved full maturity and is unlikely to get any better, so drink it up.Robert Parker | 90 RP

Undoubtedly one of the two star properties in Moulis. Its quality is impeccable: a Cabernet-dominated wine, with superrich black currant flavors that retain great structure and aging ability. Enjoy this wine in 5–10 years.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

Wow. This really shows wonderful depth and complexity on the nose with blueberries, fresh flowers and hints of stones. It’s full-bodied, with ultra-refined tannins and a long, long finish. Gets better and better with age: gorgeous now but will improve for many years to come. Excellent.James Suckling | 93 JSTasted at BBR’s 2005/2009 tasting in London. This is a great 2005. The Cantemerle is developing a very attractive, lifted nose with more cedar and crushed stone, hints of freshly rolled tobacco and briary. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, gentle grip, leading to a foursquare but precise finish that does not dare put a foot wrong. Sedate at the moment but sure to open up with time. Classic Bordeaux.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 91 RP-NMShows blackberry and plum skin aromas, with hints of vanilla. Medium- to full-bodied, with soft, velvety tannins and a pretty, fruity aftertaste. An elegant, balanced style. Lingers on the palate. Best after 2012. 33,330 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

This is very tight and closed still but shows a beautiful line of tannins and freshness. It’s full-bodied,with structure and length. Light tea. Powerful and long. Needs a year or two to open and soften. Better in 2016.James Suckling | 95 JSA final blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot from the Frey family, the 2005 is a gorgeous La Lagune, and one of the first great ones under the Frey administration. This wine has a dense ruby/purple color, a beautiful nose of sandalwood, black raspberries, and cassis, silky sweet tannin, medium to full body, and a textured, long, pure mouthfeel and finish. This wine is probably 3-4 years away from prime-time drinking, but it should evolve gorgeously for another 20-25 years.Robert Parker | 94 RPHomemade blackberry jelly fruits are the beauty of this powerful but elegant wine. The acidity frames the fruit like an aura, giving a complete picture.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2005 La Lagune has an attractive bouquet with plenty of blackberry, raspberry, minerals and dried flowers, the oak neatly integrated. This blossoms nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannin, just a little chewiness on the front end but considerable weight and concentration at the back. Like many 2005s there is a solid backbone to this wine, to wit, a La Lagune built for long-term ageing. There is firm grip on the finish and as such it needs another two or three years in bottle. Tasted at the La Lagune vertical at the château.Vinous Media | 92 VM(Château La Lagune, Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, Red) Surprisingly engaging, the La Lagune showcased accessible blackcurrant fruit on the nose with stylish hints of smoke, pepper, and fresh leather. The texture was silky and plump, with enough tannic grip to give it a lingering finish. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot. (Drink between 2021-2040)Decanter | 92 DECBlack in color. Blackberry, currant, sweet tobacco and hints of coffee follow through to a full body, with supersilky tannins and a long, chewy yet polished finish. The best in a long time from this producer. Best after 2014. 8,330 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS(Château La Lagune) I had tasted an example of the 2004 La Lagune in New York in September and I was really very worried that the dense and charmless ’04 was indicative of a new direction for the property, rather than simply a swing and a miss. However, the 2005 is excellent and a terrific vintage of La Lagune in the making. The blend in ’05 here is fifty-five percent cabernet sauvignon, thirty-five percent merlot and ten percent petit verdot, and the vintage was raised in fifty-five percent new oak. Fermentation techniques here remain fairly traditional, and the wine’s malolactic is done in tank. The nose on the ’05 La Lagune is deep, cool and classic, as it offers up notes of dark berries, black cherries, leather, tobacco, a fine base of dark soil tones and a fair bit of well-integrated new oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, deep, complex and nicely reserved on the attack, with fine mid-palate depth, ripe tannins and good length and grip on the complex and classic finish. Another château to believe in. (Drink between 2016-2050)John Gilman | 91 JG

The 2005 Sociando-Mallet is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc picked between September 19 and October 6. It has a very well defined bouquet of red currant, cranberry and wild strawberry fruit; pressed white flowers emerge later, along with a hint of truffle. The medium-bodied palate shows wonderful definition, good cohesion and a touch of spice and black pepper. The tannins are very fine and focused, and the finish fans out wonderfully. I remember being impressed with this out of barrel, and 13 years later it is seriously fulfilling its potential. Tasted at the vertical tasting at Sociando-Mallet.Vinous Media | 94 VMThis continues to be a firm and structured red with lots of slate, wet-earth and blackcurrant character. Full body, polished, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Give it time. Better after 2021.James Suckling | 93 JSIt’s hard not to admire the brilliant Jean Gautreau, who has run this great terroir and estate (just to the north of St-Estèphe’s Château Montrose) with meticulous perfection for decades. The 2005 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc. Offering beautifully sweet crème de cassis and blueberries, this is concentrated essence of blue and black fruits, with some underlying minerality, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning texture, length and purity. This is superb Sociando Mallet, with surprisingly sweet tannin, which is even more remarkable in this vintage of high and occasionally hard tannins. Give it another 4-5 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 30 years.Robert Parker | 93+ RP

The 2006 Cantemerle was the "surprise package" of the blind tasting at Farr Vintners’ horizontal. It has a conservative nose with rosemary and undergrowth scents that open nicely in the glass, but retain a sense of classicism. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, lightly spiced red berry fruit, sage and white pepper, quite persistent on the finish, which feels very pure. What an outstanding 2006 Claret - a Cantemerle that punches well above its weight. Tasted April 2016.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 92 RP-NMVery attractive with complex aromas and flavors of berry, mushroom and spice. Black truffle too. Full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Very fine.James Suckling | 91 JS

Having just had the 2005 La Lagune, which I think is the greatest La Lagune I have ever tasted, the 2006 certainly loses some prestige in comparison, but this is an outstanding wine and further evidence of just how strong this estate’s wines have become. Sweet plum and red and black currant fruit, intermixed with notes of resiny pine forest and forest floor as well as a hint of barrique, are followed by a wine with gorgeous depth, an attractive, medium-bodied texture, a fresh, poised personality, and a moderately long finish. This is another beauty, not weighty, but pure, savory, and capable of lasting 15 or more years, although it is accessible already.Robert Parker | 91 RPThis is racy for a 2006 with plenty of tobacco, berries and hints of mushroom. Light, stylish earthy character. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a pretty finish with lovely tension. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 91 JS

This is an impressively complete wine, the fruit right in context with the dark, dry tannins. All the elements are in place, from the initial juicy fruit to the soft, fresh close.This is an impressively complete wine, the fruit right in context with the dark, dry tannins. All the elements are in place, from the initial juicy fruit to the soft, fresh close.Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Poujeaux has an attractive bouquet with plenty of lovely blackcurrant and raspberry fruit interlaced with cedar and tobacco notes. The palate is medium-bodied with good grip in the mouth, impressive substance and a tightly-coiled, saline finish that suggests this might surpass expectation. It certainly did mine. One to look out for. Tasted January 2016.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 91 RP-NM(Château Poujeaux (Moulis)) Following on the heels of the beautiful 2005 Poujeaux, the château has turned out a gorgeous example of the 2006 vintage as well. The wine this year was aged in a very measured thirty percent new oak, and the result is one of the loveliest examples I tasted from the Médoc in ’06. The bouquet is a superb blend of cherries, dark berries, tobacco, herb tones, coffee, a lovely base of soil and a discreet framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is medium-full, deep and classically balanced, with a fine core of fruit, firm tannins, excellent focus and truly exceptional length and grip on the complex and very classy finish. Despairing about the modern spin of most left bank claret- time to take a bottle of ’05 or ’06 Poujeaux out for a test drive. This is a terrific example of the vintage from a château that has always traveled a bit below the radar, but who has a long and excellent record for aging gracefully. A lovely 2006. (Drink between 2016-2040)John Gilman | 90+ JG

(Château Poujeaux, Moulis-en-Médoc, Bordeaux, France, Red) This is a rather lovely Médoc, if a touch more restrained that some others here. There is richness to the fruit, but it is tighter, with layers of bilberry and cassis and cedary oak, with attractive menthol notes on the finish. Ready to drink.Decanter | 90 DE(Château Poujeaux (Moulis)) Following on the heels of the beautiful 2005 and 2006 Poujeaux, the château has turned out another very strong effort in the 2007 vintage. Because of the low yields of 2007, the wine was aged in a slightly higher percentage of new oak in this vintage than was the case in 2006, with thirty-five percent of the barrels new this year, in comparison to thirty percent last year. The bouquet is deep, complex and very classy, as it offers up scents of cassis, currant leaf, tobacco smoke, lovely soil tones, a touch of cedar and a lovely, discreet topnote of violets. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, complex and quite traditional in terms of shape and reserve, with fine mid-palate depth, great balance, moderate tannins and lovely length and grip on the polished finish. Just a classy bottle of young claret from a tough vintage. (Drink between 2015-2040)John Gilman | 90+ JGThat it was possible to soften the somewhat aggressive tannins of 2007 is shown in this smooth, rich wine. It is certainly a wine for early drinking, but it has ripe berry fruit and fresh acidity, with well-judged tannins.Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE

Gorgeous ripe fruit character, with loads of blueberries, blackberries and flowers. Full body, with velvety tannins and a fruity, fresh, grapefruit aftertaste. Really beautiful. Best ever from here. Best after 2018.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2009 Cantemerle finally shows the potential that it displayed out of barrel. It has a delightful, well-defined bouquet with blackberry, cedar and tobacco aromas, vigorous with impressive delineation and class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, and a taut line of acidity. Fresh and vibrant with a poised and quite tensile finish. This is a wonderfully crafted 2009 Left Bank. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 93 VM(Château Cantemerle) In contrast to the hot and rustic personality of the 2010 Cantemerle, the 2009 is a superb example of this excellent terroir in a ripe and buxom vintage, and this wine is quite strong. The superb nose shows far more purity than its 2010 counterpart, wafting from the glass in a generous mélange of cassis, sweet dark berries, tobacco leaf, lovely, dark soil tones, cigar wrapper and a bit of smoky new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, plush and primary, with a fine core, ripe, chewy tannins and very good focus and grip on the long, youthful and very well-balanced finish. This is a lovely, broad-shouldered Cantemerle in the making, but give it plenty of time in the cellar to blossom. (Drink between 2025-2075)John Gilman | 92 JGVery structured wine, with black currant fruit and dense acidity. The tannins are dark, firm, solid. This is a fine wine from Cantemerle, reveling in the richness of the vintage.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEReaders looking for the more ethereal, elegant side of Bordeaux need search no further than Cantemerle, one of the estates in the very southern end of the Medoc. Dense ruby/purple (nearly opaque), this wine offers up notes of lead pencil shavings, spring flowers, raspberries and black cherries. The wine is ethereal, medium-bodied, and by no means a blockbuster, but long and intellectual. However, the tannins are present, and the wine is certainly capable of putting on weight with time in the bottle. Give it 3-4 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25+ years.Robert Parker | 91+ RPThis broad, fleshy style delivers toasty spice and tobacco notes up front, followed by dark cocoa, crushed plum and mulled blackberry fruit flavors. This really stretches out nicely in the glass, with alluring dark fruit and a velvety feel. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2017. 33,330 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

Fabulous aromas of licorice, flowers and blackcurrants follow through to a full body with wonderful silky and caressing tannins and a long, flavorful finish. It’s complex and exceptional. Better in 2018 but so enjoyable to taste and drink now.James Suckling | 96 JSFloral and precise fruit, with blackberry-skin character and mineral undertones. Full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a fresh, clean finish. Long and tight. Racy. Lovely texture. 60 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 25 percent Merlot and 15 percent Petit Verdot. This property is really on a roll now, delivering racy and structured reds; it gives much more freshness and character to the wine.Wine Spectator | 93-96 WSIt is not unusual that the 2009 La Lagune is a spectacular effort given the fact that this estate has been making terrific wines over the last decade or more. It boasts a dense purple color as well as a beautiful perfume of blueberries, mulberries, cassis, white chocolate and subtle toasty oak. Notes of Chinese black tea, cedarwood and forest floor also make an appearance in the singular aromatic and flavor profiles. This sumptuous, full-bodied La Lagune possesses low acidity, abundant but ripe, sweet tannin and a long, 45-second finish. Give this beauty 5-7 years of bottle age and drink it over the following three decades.Robert Parker | 95 RPThe greater power and intensity that comes from the 2009 vintage is hugely seductive, lending an extra dimension to a wine that feels similar in shape and feel to the brilliant 2005. Again, it’s the brambly blackberry fruits that are so striking, and the unfussy way that it builds through the palate and hangs on. A yield of 45hl/ha. 50% new oak. Drinking Window 2020 - 2040Decanter | 93 DEC(60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 10% petit verdot): Deep, bright ruby-red. Sexy aromas of currant, underbrush, leather and toasty oak. Plush, seamless and sweet; full-bodied but not heavy. Pliant flavors of currant, plum and earth expand to fill the mouth. Finishes with broad, fine tannins and sneaky building length. Classic Old World claret from a ripe year: velvety, sweet and long.Vinous Media | 92 VM

This dense purple wine displays notes of charcoal, subtle toast and white chocolate as well as blueberry and blackberry liqueur intermixed with hints of graphite and licorice. Dense, full-bodied, unctuously textured, and quite long and thick, this concentrated, impressively endowed wine is silky-textured and already accessible. However, I suspect its best days are at least 5-7 years ahead of it. It should keep for a minimum of two decades.Robert Parker | 92 RP(a blend of 62% merlot, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 3% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc): Saturated, bright red-ruby. Lively aromas of cassis, blackberry, licorice and mint. Moderately sweet and vinous, with ripe, well-integrated acidity and graphite minerality giving lift to the very rich flavors of dark berries, chocolate and sexy oak. This dense, concentrated wine really calls for five years of cellaring and is built for a graceful evolution in bottle. Looks to be the top vintage yet for this Bernard Magrez wine.Vinous Media | 91 VMFirmly dry wine, solid with many firm, wood-derived tannins. It gives bitter coffee and cranberry juice flavors, but also manages to retain freshness.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WEA linear wine with very good fruit and plum characters. Full body with firm tannins and a mineral and fruit finish. Better in 2016.James Suckling | 90 JSStrange initial bouquet with hints of wild berry fruit. Calms down a bit on second glance. Evidence of a lot of Merlot fruit but some discordant notes from wood gtannins which dry the palate.Not totally harmonious, may improve with time but seems a bit clumsy now. Slightly hard on the finish.Decanter | 90 DEC

The 2009 Potensac has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, melted tar, black tea and graphite scents. Nicely defined it maybe a little conservative given the growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity. Classic in style with fine graphite and cedar notes towards the finish. Enjoy this now and over the next decade. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits’ Ten Year On tasting.Vinous Media | 92 VMMaybe this isn’t quite as stunning as the brilliant 2010 Potensac, but it’s a ripe and very classic Médoc with great cassis fruit, medium body and supple tannins making for a very flexible food wine. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)James Suckling | 92 JSShows smoky new wood and black currant fruit. This is a structured wine, powerful, while preserving just the right balance of acidity. It’s dark and dense in character, yet with great freshness.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEDrinking at point now, but with another decade of life ahead of it, the 2009 Château Potensac offers a classic, mature nose of red and black currants, cedary herbs, tobacco, and flowers. It shows the ripe, powerful style of the vintage yet has remarkable freshness, ripe, polished tannins, a kick of minerality, and a great finish. Beautifully done, you’ll be happy if you have bottles of this in the cellar.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JDServed blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Potensac ‘09 is one of my favourite wines from Jean-Hubert Delon in recent years. It has a generous, floral bouquet with black cherries, boysenberry and dried violets that is well-defined and Margaux-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. Good weight and density here. Solid, fine structure, good breeding - this is an excellent wine. Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90 RP-NMOne of the value wines in the line up, from the Delon stable, this is enjoyable if notably shorter on the finish than some of the more concentrated wines. It has clear spice notes, and enjoyable hedgerow fruit with a blackberry and cedar character. Ready to drink. Drinking Window 2019 - 2034.Decanter | 90 DEC

A wine with blueberry and mineral aromas follows through to a full body, with fine tannins and a juicy finish. Best for years from here. Needs at least three years of bottle age to soften. Could be better than 2009 in the long run.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2010 Cantemerle is vigorous and open on the nose, a mixture of red and black fruit with cedar and humidor scents. I admire the focus and detail. The palate is rounded in texture on the entry. This is a plumper, richer, more fruit-driven 2010 with a lush finish on the context of the growing season. You could broach this now, although I would prefer to leave it another three or four years. This is another excellent wine and candidate for most over-performing cru this vintage. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.Vinous Media | 93 VMPlush dark fruit in aroma and flavour, with plenty of extract and a firm tannic base, yet smooth and slick in texture. Still a touch chewy; leave a while. Drinking Window 2019 - 2029.Decanter | 92 DECA great success for this southern Médoc chateau, this is fine, elegant and perfumed. It bursts with a black fruit flavor, balanced by smooth tannins and acidity. It’s a wine for medium-term aging over the next six years.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WETasted at BBR’s 2005/2009 tasting in London. This is a great 2005. The Cantemerle is developing a very attractive, lifted nose with more cedar and crushed stone, hints of freshly rolled tobacco and briary. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, gentle grip, leading to a foursquare but precise finish that does not dare put a foot wrong. Sedate at the moment but sure to open up with time. Classic Bordeaux.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 91 RP-NMOffers a sappy feel, with deliciously pure notes of kirsch and blackberry preserves. Lightly toasted spice and singed anise accents lead to the long, graphite-fueled finish. Should age gracefully.Wine Spectator | 91 WS

This shows an enchanting nose of roses, violets and other flowers. It’s also fruity but very subtle. A full-body, super-structured red with an excellent backbone of ripe yet firm tannins. Goes on for minutes. Don’t touch for five or six years. Try in 2019.James Suckling | 96 JSBrambled menthol and spice, this is elegant and juicy and has plenty of life ahead of it. Showcases the aromatic complexity that comes with age at La Lagune, as the campfire and gunsmoke edging of Cabernet Sauvignon on gravel begins to come to the fore, but the tannins in this excellent vintage remain muscular at 11 years old. 50% new oak. A yield of 30hl/ha. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040.Decanter | 94 DECAnother great success from proprietress Caroline Frey, the 2010 La Lagune provides an essential drinking experience, with notes of Asian plum sauce, mulberries, kirsch liqueur and black currants. The wine also exhibits a savory, rich smokiness and subtle lead pencil shaving notes. Full-bodied and pure, combining both elegance and power, this is a brilliant, very approachable effort that should hit its stride in 5-7 years and last for at least two decades. Think of it as a hypothetical blend of the 2005 and 2009. Kudos!Robert Parker | 94 RPThe 2010 La Lagune has a vigorous bouquet with blackberry, briary and tobacco aromas, quite feisty compared to its peers, then settling down and manifesting more red fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. This builds nicely towards a cohesive, silky smooth finish with a pinch of white pepper on the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.Vinous Media | 93 VMThis is tangy, with red currant, roasted mesquite, sanguine and tobacco notes. Already shows range and definition, with solid grip.Wine Spectator | 89-92 WS

Wonderful aromas of blueberries, currants and flowers follow through to a full body, with ultra fine tannins and a gorgeous finish. Best Potensac in years. Even better than the 2009.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2010 Potensac has a high-toned, airy bouquet with balsamic and Hoisin infusing the black fruit. The palate is well defined with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is something just a little “Oriental” about the style of this Potensac that delivers impressive body and grip on the finish. Very fine. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.Vinous Media | 91 VMFirm and prominent yet dusty tannins show one side of the richness of the vintage. The other is the ripe, black fruits, with acidity in fine balance. This estate, under the same ownership as Léoville las Cases, is serious Médoc, needing to age.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WESolid, if a bit chunky, with cocoa and ganache coating a core of black currant and blackberry fruit that hangs through the muscular finish, where a warm paving stone note rings out. A touch austere, but the stuffing is there for cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2020. 16,666 cases made. — JMWine Spectator | 90 WS

Aromas of blueberries and raspberries with hints of flowers. Full body, with fine tannins and a clean, fresh finish. So delicious but better in 2016.James Suckling | 92 JSFull red-ruby. Bright aromas of dark raspberry, licorice, minerals and espresso are lifted by a floral high note. Juicy, spicy and sharply delineated, with excellent energy to the ripe, complex flavors of dark berries, lead pencil and spices. This very fresh wine shows a very firm spine to support a leisurely evolution in bottle without coming across as austere today. An excellent and serious Poujeaux.Vinous Media | 91 VMDark and enticing, with a subtle smoky frame around the core of mulled plum, black currant and blackberry fruit. The long, graceful finish is inlaid with flecks of charcoal, black tea and singed sandalwood. Best from 2014 through 2022. 25,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 91 WSThe final blend in this vintage was 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, tipping the scales at 14% natural alcohol. The wine is outstanding. Rich black raspberry and black currant fruit intermixed with some graphite and floral notes are followed by an opulent, fleshy, full-bodied wine with impressive concentration, texture and length. Moreover, the 2010 can be drunk early on in life or cellared for 15 or more years.Very close in quality to the brilliant 2009, this wine is the superstar of the appellation of Moulis. The estate is now owned by the Cuvelier family, who have overseen a major turn-around in quality at the famous St.-Emilion classified growth of Clos Fourtet. They have gotten this large vineyard of nearly 180 acres into top form as well. The vineyard is under the direction and management of two of the brilliant consultants of Bordeaux, Stephane Derenoncourt and Nicolas Thienpont, and they are doing a terrific job. The good news for consumers is that there are approximately 300,000 bottles of this brilliant wine from Moulis, which still sells at a fair price.Robert Parker | 90 RPSolid, chunky wine, with a fine juicy element showing through in the aftertaste. It has weight, structure, a dense texture, and balance.Wine Enthusiast | 90 WE