Bellevue 2010

I rated this wine far higher from barrel. I only had a chance to see this wine once and the final blend of 98% and 2% Cabernet Franc was rigid, closed, tannic and not strutting its stuff. I didn't detect anything off in the bottle, but this certainly seemed to have far more potential when tasted it from barrel. The fact that co-owner Hubert de Bouard is involved says to me that I'm probably off-base rather than the wine, but that's the way it tasted, and all I can do is report that. Unfortunately, there just wasn't the time or opportunity to re-taste it.

This wine comes from a fabulously located 18-acre estate in what is considered one of the finest neighborhoods of St.-Emilion, sandwiched between such chateaux as Angelus, Beausejour Duffau, and Beausejour-Becot

There is a touch of ostentatious on this supremely ripe, gregarious bouquet with ravishing dark cherries, cassis and blueberries. The palate is sweet on the entry. Saturated tannins, ripe Morello cherries, strawberry and vanilla leading to quite an oaky finish. Very seductive but perhaps not quite as cerebral as recent vintages. Tasted April 2011.

A beautiful core of ripe fruits and berries, with currants and spices. Full and silky. Very polished

Very dark crimson. Lively. Muscular and confident but pretty chewy on the end. Very firm!

Incredible power and concentration. Possibly shades the '09 in this respect. Saturated blue-black colour. Dense, ripe fruit - essence of red fruit. Rich and concentrated on the palate but with minerally freshness. Firm tannic frame. Will need time. Drink 2020-2035.