Nicholas Silvers - 2010 Bordeaux

I have had the privilege of tasting these wines on a couple of trips to Bordeaux in 2011. My first impression during premier week was WOW! for the Chateau that performed. I want to take nothing away from the 2009s. They were amazing wines and that can be said accross all spectrums. However, while not every Chateau had this success in 2010, those that did (and there were many) have made wines that will outperform the 2009s now and certainly in the long term. They are amazingly balanced and became moreso throughout 2011 and have all the key components required for aging classic Bordeaux: Fruit, acidity, tannins. While the 2009s are going to be flashy and sexy and drink well early and for many years, the 2010s are the wines additional generations will be able to look back on and cheer about for many decades. Please keep all of this in mind that I have a strong preferrence towards classic style wines rather than a more modern style, over extracted style. A few of my top pics include but are certainly not limited to: Pontet Canet (tasted multiple times and always wine of the vintage for me), Pichon Baron, Leoville Poyeferre, Petit Mouton (best ever), Pavillon Rouge (best ever), L'Eglise Clinet, Brane Cantenac, Cantenac Brown, Angelus, Haut Brion, La Mission HB, Ducru, L'Evangile, Latour, Lafite, Montrose, and Cos (much preferred over 2009). These are certainly not the only ones but were the clear standouts for me.