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Welcome to our 2010 Bordeaux Futures Offering!
Note added on March 7, 2012
As the last week with the 2009 Bordeaux has shown, there is no better time to buy Bordeaux Futures than during the futures campaign. Price and availabilty are really the only reasons to pay some 18-24 months in advance (less now for 2010s) for Bordeaux, and those two factors are even more at play with an amazing vintage like 2010.
We know that it seems to be the "Vintage of the Millennium" every other year, but in the case of 2010, the hype is more than justified, as it was in 2009, 2005 and 2000.
How good of a deal is it to buy on futures? Just ask someone who bought 2009 Smith Haut Lafitte for $95 a bottle from us in 2010. We sold our last available cases in the past seven days for $150 a bottle. That's quite a savings! Yes it got 100 points from Robert Parker, but take a wine like 2009 Bad Boy (Mauvais Garcon), for instance. This modest Bordeaux from our friend Jean-Luc Thunevin is a great bottle of wine and a heck of a deal at our current sale price of $17.99 per bottle. If you bought a case during the futures campaign? $13.50 a bottle. That's a savings of over $50 a case.
Look, we've been selling Bordeaux Futures since the 1966 vintage. We know what we're doing, and we handle the process 100% professionally from beginning to end. We have direct relationships with our negociants in Bordeaux. We buy direct and pass the savings on to you. That may sound cliche, but it's true. The prices will almost never be lower than they are during a futures campaign so we encourage you to take advantage while you still can. We still have about 35 chateaux available, most in fairly limited quantities. Once they're gone, the odds of re-acquiring them at the same price — if they're even still available — are just about zero.
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Click on any wine name to jump down the page and read more about that wine.
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WINE |
WINE |
PRICE PER
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| CHATEAU |
ADV. |
SPEC. |
CASE |
BTL |
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| BELLE-VUE - Haut Medoc (Sleeper) |
87-89 |
88-91 |
240 |
21.00 |
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| CARBONNIEUX (RED) - Pessac Leognan (VTP) |
91-93 |
89-92 |
420 |
36.00 |
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| CARONNE STE. GEMME - Haut Medoc |
- |
- |
198 |
17.50 |
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| CERTAN DE MAY - Pomerol (VTP) |
91-93 |
95-98 |
1,788 |
149.00 |
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| CLOS MANOU - Medoc |
- |
87-90 |
330 |
28.50 |
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| CLOS NARDIAN (WHITE) - Bordeaux |
88-90 |
89-92 |
420 |
36.00 |
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| COS D'ESTOURNEL - St. Estephe (VGW) |
95-97 |
96-99 |
3,576 |
299.00 |
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| CROIX DE LABRIE - St. Emilion (VGW) |
94-96 |
- |
1,050 |
89.00 |
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| DE SALES - Pomerol |
- |
89-92 |
375 |
32.00 |
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| DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU - St. Julien (VGW) |
96-98+ |
- |
2,895 |
249.00 |
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| DUHART MILON - Pauillac (6pk) (VGW) |
94-96 |
92-95 |
870 |
149.00 |
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| DUTRUCH GRAND POUJEAUX - Moulis en Medoc |
- |
- |
219 |
19.00 |
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| GIGAULT "VIVA" - Prem. Cotes de Blaye (Sleeper) |
88-90 |
87-90 |
204
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18.00 |
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| HAUT BRION - Pessac Leognan (6pk) (VGW) |
98-100 |
96-99 |
6,570 |
1,099.00 |
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| HOSANNA - Pomerol (6pk) (VGW) |
94-96 |
95-98 |
1,299 |
219.00 |
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| LA MISSION HAUT BRION - Pessac Leog. (6pk) (VGW) |
98-100 |
95-98 |
5,994 |
999.00 |
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| LAFITE ROTHSCHILD - Pauillac (6pk) (VGW) |
98-100 |
96-99 |
8,970 |
1,495.00 |
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| LAFITE ROTHSCHILD "CARRUADES DE LAFITE" - Pauillac (6pk) (VTP) |
91-94 |
93-96 |
1,995 |
339.00 |
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| LAFLEUR GAZIN - Pomerol |
87-89 |
92-95 |
564 |
47.00 |
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| LE CONSEILLER - Bordeaux Superieur (VTP & Sleeper) |
90-92 |
- |
171 |
15.00 |
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| LEOVILLE BARTON - St. Julien (VTP) |
91-93+ |
94-97 |
1,479 |
125.00 |
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| LES ASTERIES - St. Emilion (VTP) |
91-94 |
91-94 |
1,299 |
110.00 |
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| L'EVANGILE - Pomerol (6pk) (VGW) |
96-98 |
94-97 |
1,974 |
329.00 |
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| MARSAC SEGUINEAU - Margaux |
- |
- |
219 |
19.00 |
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| MOUTON ROTHSCHILD "PETIT MOUTON" - Pauillac (6pk) (VTP) |
90-93 |
91-94 |
1,125 |
189.00 |
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| PAVEIL DE LUZE - Margaux |
- |
- |
258 |
22.00 |
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| PEDESCLAUX - Pauillac |
- |
90-93 |
450 |
39.00 |
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| PEZAT - Bordeaux Superieur |
86-88 |
86-89 |
129 |
11.00 |
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| PUY BLANQUET - St. Emilion |
- |
- |
276 |
23.00 |
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| REYNON (RED) - Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux (Sleeper) |
87-88 |
88-91 |
162 |
14.00 |
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| SAINT PAUL - Haut Medoc |
- |
- |
168 |
14.50 |
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| THIEULEY - Bordeaux |
85-87 |
- |
114 |
10.00 |
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| THIEULEY "RESERVE COURSELLE" - Bord. Super. (Sleeper) |
87-89 |
- |
159 |
13.50 |
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TOUR ST. BONNET - Medoc (Sleeper)
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87-88 |
- |
147 |
13.00 |
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| VALANDRAUD - St. Emilion (6pk) (VGW) |
94-96+ |
95-98 |
1,848 |
315.00 |
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| VALANDRAUD (WHITE) - Bordeaux |
87-89 |
90-93 |
519 |
44.00 |
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| VIEUX CHATEAU MAZERAT - St. Emilion (6pk) (VTP) |
92-94 |
91-94 |
399 |
69.00 |
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| VIRGINIE DE VALANDRAUD (WHITE) - Bordeaux |
- |
89-92 |
270 |
23.00 |
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- a wine ending in (Sleeper) is a "Sleeper of the Vintage" in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2011)
- a wine ending in (VTP) is one of the "Vintage's Top Performers" in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2011)
- a wine ending in (VGW) is one of the "Vintage's Greatest Wines" in Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (May 2011)
- case prices are for 12 x 750ml bottles unless otherwise noted
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You read our Blog from Bordeaux, saw our thoughts on the 2010 vintage, and now...it's time for some wine!
After spending ten full days touring Bordeaux in mid-April and tasting about 500 wines from the 2010 vintage (many of them multiple times), we feel we have an excellent perspective on what appears to be a great vintage.
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"2010 exceeds 2009 in record setting alcohols, but, paradoxically, it is the fresh acids, lower pHs and massive tannins that have dictated more precision in the mouth despite the record alcohol levels these wines attained. While massive and highly extracted, the 2010s are also fresh and incredibly pure. Moreover, they will enjoy astonishing longevity."
-- Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate (May 2011) |
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"It's now quite clear that Bordeaux has a compelling duo of vintages in the pipeline. Compared to the round, fleshy, flattering '09s, the '10s provide a stark contrast, with super-racy acidity, powerful yet fresh tannins and ripe, muscular fruit. Overall, I rate the vintage at 95–98 points for both the Left and Right Banks, and 91–94 points for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac."
-- James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (April 2011) |
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For those of you unfamiliar with "Bordeaux Futures" or for those who just need a little refresher course, here it is...
Bordeaux is unique in the way it offers its wines. Each year, as winter turns to spring, the wine world turns its focus to Bordeaux when the most recent vintage is ready to taste out of barrel. After the first organized tastings are completed, usually in early April, we wait until each chateau releases their price to the Bordeaux negociants (wine brokers) throughout April, May and June. Negociants in turn distribute the wine to the entire world. Luckily for us, and for you!, we're able to import these wines directly, thus providing you with excellent prices and world-class selection. All the while, the wines are still maturing in barrel. After about 18-24 months each chateau bottles their wine and the wines we've bought are shipped to our warehouse. Voila.
Why buy these wines in advance?
There's really only two reasons to buy Bordeaux Futures, price and availability. The prices of these wines will never be as low as they are today. In most vintages, and especially in great vintages, the prices can rise dramatically in the roughly two years it takes for us to receive the wines. Availabilty for many wines, in great vintages like 2010, can be scarce at best. Buying them during the Futures campaign is often the only way to ensure you ever get any. The Futures campaign might also be the only opportunity you have to get the wines bottled in the size format you desire.
Why buy Futures from Calvert Woodley?
We've been buying and selling Bordeaux Futures since the 1966 vintage and we know what we're doing. From the first wine we purchase during the campaign till the last bottle is resting comfortably in your possession, we make sure that every step of the process is handled properly and professionally. We have long established relationships with negociants and chateau owners through repeated trips to Bordeaux. CW co-owner Ed Sands established these relationships some 45 years ago and introduced son Michael to everyone he knows. Ed is still actively involved in the business, especially the Bordeaux portion. Despite the fact we're buying and selling wine 18-24 months before it's bottled, we never offer you wine on speculation. We purchase the wine first, through our most trusted sources, and offer it to you only after we've received confirmation.
A few key points about CW's Bordeaux Futures Offering:
1 - All orders are subject to written confirmation
2 - Prices are subject to change
3 - Payment due at the time the order is confirmed. DC sales tax will be collected at time of pickup, at the tax rate at time of pickup. There is no sales tax on shipped orders.
4 - Approximate delivery is Fall 2012-Spring 2013
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All Bordeaux Futures can be purchased online, by the bottle or by the case. After clicking "Add to Cart" simply enter the number of bottles you'd like to purchase and click "Update Quantities".
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Click here to see our
2010 Sauternes Futures Offering
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| 2010 Château Belle-Vue - Haut-Médoc (Pre-arrival) |
| We've been following Belle-Vue for years and this is another great one. It has a dark purple color and an exotic and spicy nose with a hint of vanilla. The tannins are dense, but sweet and round. It has excellent concentration of fruit. (tasted twice)
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"One of the finest over-achievers in the southern Medoc, Belle-Vue is a 36-acre vineyard situated close to Giscours. The 2010's final blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and a whopping 20% Petit Verdot hit 13.5% natural alcohol. The wine boasts a dense purple color along with sweet black currant, cherry, licorice and barbecue smoke notes, medium body, supple tannins and a refined, elegant, lusty style. It is the kind of low level Bordeaux that sells for a song and will make consumers happy."
(Sleeper of the Vintage)
87-89 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Rounded and enticing, with a mix of crushed blueberry, plum and raspberry fruit backed by spice and toasty vanilla hints. Not shy about the toast, but there's plenty of fruit as well."
88-91 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $21.00 | | | Case Price (12): $240.00 |
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| 2010 Château Caronne-Ste.-Gemme - Haut-Médoc (Pre-arrival) |
| Our friend, owner Francois Nony, just keeps raising the bar at Caronne! A perennial winner, his 2010 has a nice bit of blackcurrant in the nose, with well-integrated, ripe tannins. There are attractive Medoc earth flavors that carry through into a long and elegant finish. (tasted twice including once at the chateau)
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"This has a lifted nose of blackberry, smoke, soy and a touch of hot gravel stones. Moderate definition, this comes across as a little broody at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky smooth entry, quite masculine and tannic, just missing fleshiness on the finish that would have balanced it up. Maybe this will come in time? Hopefully....I still appreciate the charm of this wine. Tasted April 2011."
87-89 points -- Neal Martin, erobertparker.com
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| Bottle: $17.50 | | | Case Price (12): $198.00 |
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| 2010 Château Certan de May - Pomerol (Pre-arrival) |
| "This estate, which enjoys a fabulous location on the high plateau of Pomerol with neighbors such as Lafleur, Vieux-Chateau-Certan, Petrus and La Fleur Petrus, should produce even greater wines. While I long for a return to the fabulous Certan de Mays of the early and mid-eighties, the 2010 is an impressive effort. Aromas of black fruits intermixed with an iron-like character, soil, oak and earth undertones emerge from this full-bodied, masculine, borderline rustic wine. With abundant concentration as well as elevated tannins, this Pomerol will require patience. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2030+."
(one of the Vintage's Top Performers)
91-93 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Shows stunning depth and drive, with a deep well of blackberry and plum sauce and a lush structure. Superlong, with spice and anise echoing on. A tremendous young wine in the making."
95-98 points -- Wine Spectator
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| 2010 Château Cos-d'Estournel - St.-Estèphe (Pre-arrival) |
| Jean-Guillaume Prats has once again led Cos d'Estournel to rarified air. This powerful, classically-styled wine has very fine and elegant tannins which are well-integrated, extracted, but balanced. Long and intense. Excellent.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"Representing 55% of the production and cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare, Cos d’Estournel’s final blend in 2010 is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and the rest tiny portions of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Compared to the massive 2009 (14.6% natural alcohol), the 2010 achieved slightly less alcohol, but also a lower pH, which accounts for its more tannic, backward, huge style. An inky/purple color is accompanied by aromas of damp earth, black currants, blackberries, licorice and charcoal. Firm, thick and super-concentrated, it is another outrageously impressive wine that will require 6-10 years of cellaring. It should keep for 30+ years. It is somewhat 2005-ish in its structure and palate impression."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
95-97 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"This offers a terrific panoply of dark tea, cocoa, savory herb and red currant confiture aromas. Remarkably dense, with loads of strapping dark fruit and tar in reserve. There's massive structure, yet this is rounded and so, so long. A huge wine in the making. This is going to compete with the elite of the vintage. A truly superb effort. Contains 1 percent Petit Verdot, for first time since 2005. Tasted non-blind."
96-99 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $299.00 | | | Case Price (12): $3,576.00 |
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| 2010 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - St.-Julien (Pre-arrival) |
| We didn't think the 2010 wines of Ducru Beaucaillou could top the wines we had on our amazing visit to Ducru last year, but we were wrong. This was one of the greatest wines we tasted on our trip, maybe THE best. An exotic and sexy nose leads to intense flavors of cassis, blueberry and blackcurrant on the palate. The flavors seem to last forever. Outstanding.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"Representing 45% of their total production, the 2010 Ducru will certainly compete with the efforts produced in 2009, 2008, and 2005. It hit 14% natural alcohol, compared to 13.5% in 2009 and 2008. A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the wine has a surprisingly lower pH (3.62) than the 2009, or the 2005 for that matter. A truly remarkable wine, with a dense purple color and a beautiful nose of creme de cassis, spring flowers and crushed rock, this full-bodied, sensationally concentrated wine has massive richness, high but very sweet tannin, and stunning purity and depth. Proprietor Bruno Borie seems to have pulled out all the stops in turning out an absolutely compelling effort that is the essence of Ducru Beaucaillou. It should drink well for 30-40 years."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
96-98+ points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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| Bottle: $249.00 | | | Case Price (12): $2,895.00 |
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| 2010 Château Duhart-Milon - Pauillac (Pre-arrival) |
| "This large estate (190 acres) has been on a qualitative rise for nearly a decade. A classic Pauillac, the opaque purple-colored 2010, a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, reveals beautiful notes of creme de cassis, licorice, tobacco leaf and forest floor. Bigger and more muscular than most previous vintages, this full-bodied Pauillac possesses stunning density as well as intensity. Atypically high in alcohol for this property, it requires 5-7 years of cellaring and should age effortlessly for 25-30 years."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
94-96 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"This plump red offers black tea, warm ganache, fig and black currant confiture notes backed by a smoky finish, with pillowy but lengthy tannins. Acidity then rushes in at the very end, adding more length. An impressive step up for this wine."
92-95 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $149.00 | | | Case Price (6): $870.00 |
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| 2010 Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux - Moulis-en-Médoc (Pre-arrival) |
| Over the past few vintages this property has been making excellent wine and the 2010 is another winner. One of the first 2010s we tasted, it showed the true markings of the vintage with dark black color, lively acidity and serious but well-integrated tannins. A core of rich, black cherry and plum fruit will make this enjoyable within a year of release but it should sing in five to seven.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois primeur tasting. This has a light but well defined bouquet with dark fruit: blackberry, mulberry and a touch of candied orange peel. The palate is medium-bodied with gritty tannins on the entry, just a little pinched and angular towards the finish but it should improve by bottling. Tasted April 2011."
87-89 points -- Neal Martin, erobertparker.com
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| Bottle: $19.00 | | | Case Price (12): $219.00 |
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| 2010 Château Gigault - Cuvée Viva Premières Côtes de Blaye (Pre-arrival) |
| This medium to full-bodied red has attractive aromas of roasted fruit with nice black cherry and ripe plum flavors that surround a good, sturdy structure. The finish is fresh and long.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"A consistent overachiever, Gigault Cuvee Viva's 2010 (100% Merlot fashioned under the guidance of Stephane Derenoncourt) was made from yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare and achieved 14% natural alcohol. Fat and plump, it offers abundant aromas of coffee beans, plum sauce and black cherry jam as well as a lush, hedonistic personality. Although not complex, it delivers lots of fruit, glycerin and thrills. Enjoy it over the next 3-4 years."
(Sleeper of the Vintage)
88-90 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Open and fleshy, with a friendly core of grape, plum and boysenberry fruit backed by just enough lightly firm toast for support. Should be another solid value for this estate."
87-90 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $18.00 | | | Case Price (12): $204.00 |
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| 2010 Château Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan (Pre-arrival) |
| "Following a harvest that finished on October 10, Haut-Brion produced a 2010 that should turn out to be one of its all-time greats ... an amazing feat given what they have accomplished over recent vintages. A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc that came in at 14.6% alcohol, the 2010 boasts an opaque purple color as well as a gorgeous perfume of scorched earth/burning embers, blueberries, black currant liqueur and crushed rocks. Full and opulent with nobility, finesse, purity and elegance, this amazing effort possesses extraordinary levels of extract as well as formidable, but sweet, well-integrated tannins. It requires 8-10 years of cellaring and should drink well for 50+ years."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
98-100 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Sappy, dense and packed, with layers of kirsch, melted licorice snap, anise and black tea. Just as dense, if not more so, on the finish, with extra tar, violet and blackberry confiture. There's massive grip on the back end, but this is velvety and caressing. Easily the most backward of the first-growths at this stage."
96-99 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $1,099.00 | | | Case Price (6): $6,570.00 |
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| 2010 Château Hosanna - Pomerol (Pre-arrival) |
| "There are approximately 1,500 cases of this 80% Merlot/20% Cabernet Franc blend. Owned by Christian Moueix, Hosanna was carved out of the old estate of Certan Giraud with the finest parcels going in to Hosanna. The dense purple-hued 2010 exhibits a sweet bouquet of melted chocolate, black raspberries, black currants, coffee and Asian plum sauce. Full-bodied and rich with serious tannin, good acidity and alcohol that must be pushing toward 14.5%, it will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and should last for 20-25 years."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
94-96 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Almost flashy, with stunning fruitcake, licorice, blueberry and plum sauce flavors. There's lots of definition already, with a gorgeous chocolate-filled finish. Merlot with 30 percent old-vine Cabernet Franc."
95-98 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $219.00 | | | Case Price (6): $1,299.00 |
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| 2010 Château L'Evangile - Pomerol (Pre-arrival) |
| "As I have been predicting, the Rothschilds are pushing l’Evangile to the highest level of the Pomerol hierarchy. Composed of 88.8% Merlot and 11.2% Cabernet Franc, the 2010 achieved 14.7% alcohol naturally, making it one of the few 2010s with lower alcohol than its 2009 counterpart (the 2009 had 15% alcohol and the 2008 had 14.5%). Most of that is due to the superb ripeness and the high concentration of Merlot in 2010. The berries were extremely tiny and the drought and cool nights in August and September gave the 2010 a lower pH and higher acidity than the 2009. For example, the 2010's pH is 3.7, the 2009's is higher and in 2000 it was 4.0. The dense purple-colored 2010 exhibits massive levels of black raspberries, Asian plum sauce, truffles and cassis. The wine is unctuously textured and remarkably fresh with a weighty richness (much like the 2009) but greater delineation. A marvelous effort, it, along with the 2009, may turn out to be one of the two greatest wines made by l’Evangile. The 2010 should drink well young yet last for three decades or more."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
96-98 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Gorgeous raspberry ganache, fig and boysenberry fruit is liberally laced with fruitcake and graphite. Superracy, with linzer torte and red licorice taking over the finish. Very long, with lots going on here already."
94-97 points -- Wine Spectator
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| 2010 Château La Mission-Haut-Brion - Pessac-Léognan (Pre-arrival) |
| "One of the most powerful La Missions ever produced, the 2010, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, achieved 15% natural alcohol (even higher than the 2009's 14.7%). Nevertheless, the pH is normal which gives the wine an extraordinary precision, freshness and vibrancy despite its massive size. A blue/purple color is followed by a classic nose of blueberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and crushed rocks. This monumental, full-bodied, incredibly rich La Mission-Haut-Brion will need a decade of cellaring and should last for 40-50 years. It is slightly fatter and creamier than its sibling rival, the 2010 Chateau Haut-Brion."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
98-100 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"This is loaded, with a torrent of pastis, crushed plum, blueberry and boysenberry fruit, backed by tarry tannins and a long, spice- and graphite-filled finish. Big, but very, very sleek. Highest percentage of Cabernet ever for La Mission (62 percent)."
95-98 points -- Wine Spectator
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| 2010 Château Lafite Rothschild - Carruades de Lafite Pauillac (Pre-arrival) |
| "Composed of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot and a dollop of Cabernet Franc, the beautiful 2010 Carruades de Lafite may turn out to be one of the finest yet produced (although I still have a weakness for the brilliant 2003, which is drinking beautifully at present). Notes of charcoal, black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, herbs and cedar are all present in this full-bodied, opulent, stunning second wine. It will be drinkable upon release and should last for 20 or more years."
(one of the Vintage's Top Performers)
91-94 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Remarkably tight, offering black currant and sanguine notes laced with sandalwood and roasted fig. This is also tight-grained on the finish and is really long, with the acidity just going on and on. Only 10 percent new oak."
93-96 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $339.00 | | | Case Price (6): $1,995.00 |
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| 2010 Château Lafite Rothschild - Pauillac (Pre-arrival) |
| "This exceptionally rich, thick Lafite came in with the highest level of natural alcohol (13.5%) ever achieved at Lafite Rothschild. To put that in its proper context, the 2009 and 2005 were 13.3% and in the hottest Bordeaux summer ever recorded in over 200 years, the 2003 achieved 12.8%. A blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and 16% Merlot, all harvested between October 9 and 14, the 2010 exhibits an extraordinarily dense color, an unctuous texture and sweet black currant fruit intermixed with graphite, charcoal and truffle notes. A director Charles Chevalier told me, between July and the October harvest, Bordeaux had its driest weather since 1949, but it never got excessively hot. Hence the tiny berries, freshness and extraordinary precision of Lafite Rothschild. This superb effort will undoubtedly shut down slightly once it is bottled despite a pH of 3.8. It needs no building up because much of Lafite Rothschild has now become an obsession with the wealthy Chinese and most of it will undoubtedly be consumed before it ever hits its prime. Ideally, it should be cellared for 10-15 years and drunk over the following 50+ years."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
98-100 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"This is all guile and elegance now, with sleek, perfumy black tea, currant and crushed fig fruit, laced with subtle smoke, incense and tar. Just as you think it starts to fade, the acidity kicks in on the finish and brings everything back for an encore."
96-99 points -- Wine Spectator
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| 2010 Château Lafleur-Gazin - Pomerol (Pre-arrival) |
| "This low level Pomerol reveals medium to full body, a masculine structure, a dense ruby/purple color and sweet notes of black currants, crushed rocks, smoked game, herbs and earth. Medium to full-bodied with moderately high tannin, it will benefit from 2-4 years of cellaring and should keep for 12-15 years."
87-89 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Juicy, with a muscular core of blackberry and fig. Lots of acidity is nicely buried on the smoke- and spice-filled finish, where a hint of plum skin lends an ever-so-slightly chewy edge."
92-95 points -- Wine Spectator
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| 2010 Château Le Conseiller - Bordeaux Supérieur (Pre-arrival) |
| "An undeniable sleeper of the vintage, this dense ruby/purple-colored 2010 over-delivers in every wine tasting category. With plenty of fruit, body and purity as well as complex notes of charcoal, black currants and sweet, jammy cherries, this substantial, delicious, silky textured Bordeaux Superieur should provide plenty of pleasure during its first 5-6 years of life."
(Sleeper of the Vintage and One of the Vintage's Top Performers)
90-92 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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| Bottle: $15.00 | | | Case Price (12): $171.00 |
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| 2010 Château Léoville Barton - St.-Julien (Pre-arrival) |
| From the brilliant Anthony Barton comes another classic Leoville Barton. This 2010 has a complex nose, tight structure, super length, and classic St. Julien berry-fruit. It should age nicely for at least 10-15 years.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"The 2010 Leoville Barton was almost impossible to evaluate because of its highly extracted, masculine, muscular style. However, it exhibits a dense purple color along with surprising amounts of oak, excruciatingly painful tannin levels, good acidity and a massive mouthfeel. One of the biggest, most backward wines of the vintage, forget it for a decade and drink it over the following 30+ years. Unfortunately, I have passed the age where it makes sense to buy a wine such as this."
(one of the Vintage's Top Performers)
91-93+ points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Dark and winey, with a terrific core of plum and macerated black currant fruit woven with a note of black cherry reduction. Tarry but polished. Grippy but velvety. And plenty long."
94-97 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $125.00 | | | Case Price (12): $1,479.00 |
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| 2010 Château Mouton-Rothschild - Le Petit Mouton Pauillac (Pre-arrival) |
| "A blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest primarily Merlot, this may be finest second wine Mouton Rothschild has yet produced. The selection process is unquestionably severe, and the 2010 Le Petit Mouton is even higher in alcohol than the grand vin. Abundant cassis, supple tannins and more near-term pleasure can be found in this full-bodied, rich, impressively endowed effort. Enjoy it over the next 10-15 years."
(one of the Vintage's Top Performers)
90-93 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Offers a solid, muscular beam of raspberry and red currant, with sweet spice and tobacco in the background. The round finish of roasted vanilla is nicely integrated already, and this nicely rounded overall. Tasted non-blind."
91-94 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $189.00 | | | Case Price (6): $1,125.00 |
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| 2010 Château Pédesclaux - Pauillac (Pre-arrival) |
| We were skeptical at first, too, but we kept hearing rumors about the new and improved Pedesclaux. Turns out they were right! Saturated and intense, with flavors of blackcurrant and cassis, this Pauillac is nicely-balanced, with excellent length.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"Vibrant, racy and long, this supervivid red has great cut, with raspberry, red currant and iron notes. Pure and stylish, with a lovely floral hint hanging on the finish. Bravo on the turnaround going on here."
90-93 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $39.00 | | | Case Price (12): $450.00 |
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| 2010 Château Thieuley - Bordeaux Rouge (Pre-arrival) |
| We've been carrying the Thieuley wines forever and they're always consistently good. Lots of upfront fruit leads to a nice, clean finish. The concentration is there but the tannins are soft so it should be drinking well early.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"One of the most consistent values in Bordeaux has long been Chateau Thieuley. Their 2010 is a soft, classic Bordeaux revealing notes of berry fruit, tobacco leaf and spice box. Drink this medium-bodied effort over the next 3-4 years."
85-87 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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| Bottle: $10.00 | | | Case Price (12): $114.00 |
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| 2010 Château Tour St. Bonnet - Médoc (Pre-arrival) |
| Year after year this is one of our favorite inexpensive Bordeaux. It has attractive aromas of black cherry and blackcurrant, with lots of up-front fruit on the palate. It's well-balanced with an easy-drinking style that won't require long-term aging.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"A well-known, perennial sleeper of the vintage, Tour St.-Bonnet's wines are always well-made, under-valued and taste like a mini-version of the well-known Pauillac, Grand-Puy-Lacoste. The dark purple-colored 2010 offers copious amounts of blueberry and black currant fruit, a richly fruity mouthfeel, admirable texture and sweet tannin. Enjoy it over the next 5-6 years."
(Sleeper of the Vintage)
87-88 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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| Bottle: $13.00 | | | Case Price (12): $147.00 |
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| 2010 Château Valandraud - St.-Emilion (Pre-arrival) |
| One of our Top 5 wines of the vintage, this dense and extracted red has really fine tannins, with aromas of blackcurrant and cassis and flavors of espresso with hints of vanilla. The flavors seem to go on forever!
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"A brilliant effort from Jean-Luc Thunevin (Bordeaux's so-called 'bad boy' or bete noire), the dense purple-colored 2010 Valandraud exhibits notes of black currants, sweet cherries, licorice, incense and hints of forest floor and oak. This complex, full-bodied, powerful St.-Emilion oozes with extract and sweet, well-integrated tannins. It should drink well for 20+ years."
(one of the Vintage's Greatest Wines)
94-96+ points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Dense, with layers of fig paste, blackberry confiture and fresh boysenberry fruit flavors carried by dense, serious tannins that are still really velvety in the end. Extra spice, cocoa and black tea fill in the background. Impressive."
95-98 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $315.00 | | | Case Price (6): $1,848.00 |
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| 2010 Clos Manou - Médoc (Pre-arrival) |
| This deep, dark wine has a wonderful nose of blackberry jam. It's a rich and saturated style of Medoc, with terrific balance and a complex, fresh finish.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"This has a solid core of black cherry preserves and dark plum fruit, with a liberally toasty vanilla frame. There's solid fruit, if a touch shy on complexity."
87-90 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $28.50 | | | Case Price (12): $330.00 |
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| 2010 Clos Nardian - Bordeaux Blanc (Pre-arrival) |
| This white was a new discovery for us from one of Bordeaux's rebels, Jonathan Maltus. A classic blend of 40% Semillon, 40% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Muscadelle, it has incredibly concentrated, fresh flavors of white peach and honeysuckle with a touch of beeswax. Though the wine is made in 50% new and 50% one year old barrels, the oak is well-integrated and impeccably balanced.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"A strong effort, this blend of equal parts Sauvignon and Semillon as well as 10% Muscadelle exhibits lots of honeyed tropical fruits and assorted citrus in its medium-bodied, fresh style."
88-90 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Tangy at first, with thyme and chive hints giving way quickly to riper melon and peach notes. Persistent, with a lovely salted butter edge on the finish. Sneakily long."
89-92 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $36.00 | | | Case Price (12): $420.00 |
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| 2010 Pezat - Bordeaux Supérieur (Pre-arrival) |
| Also from the innovative Jonathan Maltus, this easy to drink bargain has sweet, cherry-like fruit in the nose. It has bright and lively flavors that are balanced nicely with soft tannins. Lots to enjoy here.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"An excellent effort from Jonathan Maltus, this value-priced, lower-level Bordeaux is normally a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. The 2010 is exactly what one expects from an inexpensive but well-made Bordeaux. Soft tannins, deep berry fruit, a nice, medium-bodied, fleshy texture, and clean finish all make for a delicious wine to drink in its first 3-4 years of life."
86-88 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"Pure, with a lightly firm damson plum and pomegranate frame to the core of blackberry and blackcurrant. A mineral edge is starting to show on the finish."
86-89 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $11.00 | | | Case Price (12): $129.00 |
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| 2010 Valandraud - Bordeaux Blanc |
| There's less than 300 cases of this produced! This big, rich white is made by Jean-Luc Thunevin's wife Murielle Andraud, who is in charge of the whites at Valandraud, and we think this is her best ever. It's 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Semillon and 15% Sauvignon Gris. Wonderfully exotic with a nice, long finish.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"This white exhibits tart, high acid, lemon and citrus fruit and a medium-bodied, zesty style."
87-89 points -- Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
"This has a very Burgundy-like bouquet with good definition and poise with lime, grapefruit and a distant scent of oyster shell. The palate is well balanced with good acidity, a little more weight than the Jean-Luc's No. 2, but clean and crisp. Tasted April 2011."
89-91 points -- Neal Martin, erobertparker.com
"This has nice cut, with salted butter, blanched almond and lemon verbena notes racing along, backed by flashes of quinine and honeysuckle. The flesh is there, so this should plump up nicely."
90-93 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $59.99 | | | Case Price (6): $330.00 |
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| 2010 Virginie de Valandraud - Bordeaux Blanc |
| Made by Jean-Luc Thunevin's wife Murielle Andraud, who is in charge of the whites at Valandraud, this crisp, clean white has lemony aromas and nice citrus flavors in the mouth. Made from 60% Semillon, 35% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Sauvignon Gris, there are just 500 cases produced of this lovely white.
-- CW Wine Staff (April 2011)
"This has an attractive lifted bouquet of lime, kiwi fruit and green apple with good definition and lift. The palate is crisp on the entry with bright lime and citrus fruit, slightly leesy towards the finish but good tension and length. Fine. Tasted April 2011."
87-89 points -- Neal Martin, erobertparker.com
"Fresh and direct, with a beam of lemon zest and chamomile, followed by a tangy, unadorned finish."
89-92 points -- Wine Spectator
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| Bottle: $34.99 | | | Case Price (6): $192.00 |
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** Important Notice **
While we always strive for perfection, Calvert Woodley can't guarantee that the information accessible via this website is 100% accurate, complete or current. That is, sometimes we make mistakes! We appreciate your understanding.
Wines listed in this e-mail and on our website are subject to prior sale. Your order is not confirmed until you receive an invoice from our Office.
Have you moved? Changed your phone number? Let us know! Please call the WineLine at (202) 966-0445 so we can stay in touch. |
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