Magdelaine 2010

Mid crimson. Very heady nose - quite intense. Lovely sumptuous fruit. Very forward. Very fine tannins almost disguised by the plumpness of the fruit. Perhaps not for the very long term? Sappy and refreshing. Not straining to impress.

The richness of the black fruits is balanced by red fruited freshness. Ripe tannins add to the sweetness on the mid palate but towards the back there is enough freshness to give a lift to the finish.

Sweet, ripe berry fruit nose - open and showy. Supple and round on the palate. A minerally, calcaire nuance on the finish but seems a little heavy and ponderous. Drink 2018-2030.

This is the second time in the last few years that I have had the opportunity to taste the 2010 and 2009 Château Magdelaine bottlings side by side, and much to my surprise, I again preferred the 2010 version. This is not to say that either one is a good Magdelaine, as both of these vintages are relatively flawed by the heat and drought conditions of their respective years. But, today, the 2010 is less alcoholic than the 2009 and that counts for something. The ripe nose offers up scents of cassis, dark berries, menthol, cigar ash, chalky soil tones, tobacco leaf and a nice touch of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and only a touch hot on the backend, with a plush core, ripe tannins and a long finish. This is still quite a number of years away from drinking with generosity, but it is not too bad, when viewed in the context of this difficult vintage. 2033-2075.

Normally one of the most elegant, kirsch-laden wines of the appellation, this property (owned by the Moueix family) has produced an opaque purple-hued 2010 revealing lots of minerality intermixed with deep, black raspberry and black cherry fruit, a rich, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and abundant tannin. Along with the 2009, the dense 2010 is one of the richest Magdelaines I have ever tasted. However, it will require patience, so cellar it for 5-6 years and enjoy it over the following two decades.

A lucid garnet/ruby colour, there is just a touch of herbaceousness on the nose of this Magdelaine that merely lends intrigue. Dark berried fruits, a touch of warm roof tiles on a summer's day, a faint touch of truffle emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a citric-thread of acidity on the entry, quite sharp and pointed at the moment, leading to a tensile, almost peppery finish. This is an intriguing Magdelaine that I feel will show better after bottling (as it always does.) Tasted April 2011.