Le Bon Pasteur 2010

A fleshy, full-throttle wine with lots of mocha, kirsch, mulberry, and plum, their 2010 displays a smorgasbord of aromas, a full-bodied mouthfeel, terrific purity, density and even a hint of lead pencil shavings and subtle toasty oak. If you want to understand the genius of the Rollands, there is no better example than looking at their own wine from this property in Pomerol. The tannins are present, but not that significant, thus I tend to think the wine will come into its own in 4-5 years and last for 20 or more.Constantly in the spotlight as the globe-trotting wine-making gurus of Libourne, Michel and Dany Rolland may not have the best terroir in Pomerol at their flagship estate, Bon Pasteur, but through a very strict selection, they exploit it beautifully.

Tasted at the chateau, the Le Bon Pasteur has a very fine bouquet with hints of autumn leaves on the well-defined nose, a touch of black truffle emerging with time. It is very pure and alluring. The palate is medium-bodied with a spicy entry, a firm backbone and a complex, tertiary tinged finish that shows very fine persistency. This is a serious Bon Pasteur that deserves 5 to 7-years in bottle and is in my opinion, one of the finest wines from this estate to date. Tasted November 2012.

What a wine. Cool purple fruit at first with plums, coffee and red peppercorns. Very elegant on the palate opening up with a great texture and finesse. Deep and profound yet still so harmonious. Hazelnut and chocolate. It comes together beautifully.

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Bon Pasteur leaps from the glass with scents of blackberry compote, plum preserves and spiced blueberries plus hints of chocolate mint and pencil lead. Medium-bodied, the palate is taut, firm and chewy with plenty of expressive black and blue fruit layers on the long finish. 2020 - 2040