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Potensac 2010

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Médoc
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Potensac

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2010 is a winner again and a sleeper of the vintage. A blend of 52% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest a whopping 21% Cabernet Franc (which is unusual in this part of Bordeaux) has loads of cedar, wood, sweet cherries, some damp earth and a hint of strawberry liqueur in a medium-bodied, elegant style meant for consuming over the next decade or more.

Leave it to Jean-Hubert Delon to make a second wine from his northern frontier territory of Potensac, for decades one of the most reliable and value-priced wines of Bordeaux.

88
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (205), March 2013

The 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. Drink: 2022-2040

91
Neal Martin, vinous.com (Squaress &), April 2020

This is one of the fruitiest Potensacs that I remember, with loads of blueberry and currants. Full and velvety. Plenty going on underneath

91/92
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2011

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Potensac features notes of baked red and black cherries, mulberries and leather with wafts of dried herbs and charcuterie. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a chewy texture and tons of freshness giving the red and black fruit a boost on the finish. 2020 - 2033

87
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

Still quite purplish. Nicely evolved nose with some biscuity appeal. A little light but everything is in the right place. GV 14%
Drink 2016 – 2030

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2020

Well structured, Englishman's claret. Classic balance and bright acidity from this Northern Medoc property owned by Leoville Lascases. This has a smoky nose with hints of candied black fruit. On the palate there is plenty of density with some firm tannins to match. Quite austere and finely tuned. This is really proper claret with balance and structure.

90+
Farr Vintners, April 2011

The nose has an attractive brightness and this freshness is there on the start of the palate. Sweet blackcurrant enriches the middle and there is a nice weight of flavour towards the back. Although not that complex it has real charm.

88/91
Derek Smedley MW, April 2011
90
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2011

Dense blackcurrant fruit, still backward, but much more class than its Médoc neighbours and a very good future. Drink 2015-25.

16.5
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2011
Read more tasting notes...

Traditionally made, yet exhibiting some modern touches such as ripe fruit, the 2010 Potensac is another sleeper of the vintage from this estate, owned by Jean-Hubert Delon, the proprietor of Leoville Las Cases. Classic Bordeaux notes of red and black currants, earth, and spice box are well-presented in this deep ruby/purple-colored, medium-bodied wine, which should drink nicely for a decade or more.

87/89
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011

The Potensac '10 is a blend of 42% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot including 9.3% vin de presse. It offers 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.55. There is just a slight sense of sur-maturité on the nose perhaps from the Merlot, just a hint of prune. Not over the top but it is just there. The palate is full-bodied with succulent grippy tannins...a huge Potensac that is redeemed but very silky finish. Long in the mouth, one of the few 2010's that actually reminds me of the 2009. Tasted March 2010.

89/91
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2011

Very dark crimson. Rich and scented and very ripe black fruit on the nose. Loose texture - much more so than I would have imagined for this property in 2010 - with tightening tannins only on the very end. Almost painful levels of tannin and acidity on the finish. Bit of a trial to taste at this stage. Were stones macerated in the fermentation vat? A lesson in austerity.

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2011
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.