Chateau Charmail 2010

90 THE WINEADVOCATE: "This is a terrific wine from another estate that has a consistent record of excellence for close to two decades. The blend in 2010 is 50% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Cabernet Franc with just a touch of Petit Verdot. This wine became famous because of its extraordinarily long, pre-fermentation cold soak of over two weeks. This continues under the new administration, and the alcohols achieved in 2010 are at 14.2%. The wine is a big, rich, sleeper of the vintage with loads of blackberry and floral-infused blueberry fruit. Sitting across from Sociando-Mallet, this estate is certainly well-located, resting on well-drained, gravelly soils with some veins of clay running through them. The 2010 is medium to full-bodied, pure, quite fragrant and capable of lasting at least a decade." Drink: 2013 - 2023 - Robert M. Parker, Jr. 90 ANTONIO GALLONI: "Medium red-ruby. Cassis, licorice, fresh herbs, flowers and a suggestion of leather on the complex, inviting nose. Suave and silky in the mouth, with harmonious acidity enlivening the dark berry flavors and drawing out the finish. Lovely dry but ripe wine with a smoky note on the end. Seems gently extracted for this chateau, and all the better for it." - Stephen Tanzer - Jul 2013. 90 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "From a blend of 50% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, this has nice fleshy textures, sweet black cherries, licorice, plums and ripe tannin in abundance. This should age for a decade or two with little trouble. This is an outstanding Bordeaux value wine." 17 RENÈ GABRIEL: "Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Süssliches Nasenbild, Brombeeren und Kokos, mittlere Fülle zeigend. Im Gaumen sehr fein und delikat, wirkt dadurch leichter als üblich. Die Finessen machen das wieder wett, aber etwas mehr Aromendruck wäre schon schön. (17/20). 12: Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubiner Rand. Für den Jahrgang erstaunlich rotbeerige, etwas Cassis-, aber auch Johannisbeeren, da ist auch etwas Florales dabei. Im Gaumen zeigen sich Honigspuren und zarte Rosinentöne von überreifem Traubengut, wirkt geschliffen und ist im Finale noch kernig. War vielleicht auch ein schwieriges Muster, welches wir kurz vor der Abfüllung auf dem Weingut degustierten. Also lassen wir (noch) mal die Primeurbewertung."