Robert Parker’s scores on the 2010 vintage of Bordeaux: “Cabernet Sauvignon has done exceptionally well”

Robert Parker has released his scores for the 2010 vintage of Bordeaux. He made some general comments on the 2010 vintage in Bordeaux:

“I do not think it would be fair or prudent to say that 2010 exceeds in overall quality what was produced in 2009, 2005 or perhaps even 2000. However, it is unquestionably another great vintage. While Bob Dylan may have been talking about his own country when he wrote the song With God On Our Side, it sure looks as if fate has smiled on Bordeaux in an extraordinary way for much of the last decade with four great vintages (2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010). Moreover, the quality of the other vintages in that decade is very good.“

” If 2009 stood out for the historic richness and potential of the Médocs and some Graves and Pomerols, 2010 seems relatively homogeneous throughout Bordeaux. The Cabernet Sauvignon has once again done exceptionally well, while there may be a handful of Merlot-based wines where the tannins are unusually rustic and excessive, by and large this is a great vintage in every appellation. As time elapses, I do believe it will be the Cabernet Sauvignon-based wines that put on the most weight and reveal the greatest nuances.”

This year Parker rated 12 wines with the potential for 99/100 point scores (compared to 20 wines last year).

La Mission Haut Brion (98-100)

Lafite-Rothschild (98-100)

Latour (98-100)

Petrus (98-100)

Ausone (98-100)

Haut Brion (98-100)

Pichon-Longueville Baron (97-99+)

Mouton-Rothschild (97-100)

Pontet-Canet (96-100)

Montrose (96-99+)

Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) (96-100)

L’Eglise Clinet (96-100)