Château La Pointe 2010

Well-structured, dense and spicy, with medium length, finishing just a little warm.

The 2010 is a good example of this wine, which has tended to be somewhat light and often diluted in the past, but things seem to be looking up at La Pointe. Generously fruity, it is loaded with cherry, strawberry and mulberry notes, along with subtle loamy soil scents and a hint of underbrush, followed by a spicy, earthy, medium-bodied wine with soft tannins as well as excellent fruit and texture. Drink it over the next decade.

This has power in reserve, but stays remarkably restrained for now, with a torrent of boysenberry, fig and raspberry fruit held in check by charcoal-studded grip and well-embedded acidity. The long, dense smoked apple wood finish should let this cruise nicely in the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2030.

92-94 Big, firm, with dense tannins that underly the ripe, dark berry and plum skin fruit flavors. Very powerful, the almost shocking acidity a cutting edge of freshness. Hugely juicy aftertaste.

Dense, nicely concentrated, rich red. Nose is unmistakably Pomerol with earthy, slightly iron-rich Merlot fruit lifted with fragrance from Cabernet Franc. Fine natural sweetness on the palate, which is full of energy and already has an attractively smooth texture with tannins firming up the long, satisfying finish.

Dark crimson. Friendly, slightly oaky, sweet, not that complex but easy to like. A little mild and subdued on the palate. Not the most ambitious but not the most exaggerated either. Light green notes on the finish. (JR)

This Pomerol is clearly on the rise. There is length, balance, freshness and purity of fruit that finishes with round, silky tannins and layers of ripe, juicy plums. Showing much better in bottle than in barrel, this is the best wine I've tasted yet from Chateau La Pointe!

Shortly before bottling: extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. The bouquet is currently a little alcoholic, showing lots of ripe plums, pralines and a hint of Ruby Port. On the palate it is firm, with certain Amarone notes from very ripe grapes, Sichuan pepper in the extract, and coffee and chocolate tones in a long, powerful finish.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, violet shimmer at the rim. Opulent forest-berry touch, ripe cherries and a hint of cassis with lovely toasted notes. On the palate, a seductive—almost erotic—sweetness, delicate vanillin in the extract; the flow is velvety and graceful. The new owners are not showing any weakness! (18/20). 12: Tasting note shortly before bottling: extremely dark purple with lilac and violet reflections. The bouquet is a little alcoholic at the moment, showing lots of ripe plums, pralines and a hint of ruby port. Firm on the palate, with certain amaro-like notes from very ripe fruit, Szechuan pepper in the extract, coffee and chocolate tones in the long, forceful finish. Which La Pointe is better, 2009 or 2010? I lean slightly toward the latter, though for now they have the same score. (18/20). 12: Deep, dark garnet-purple. Powerful bouquet, heady, with lots of ripe plum and cherry tones, with a touch of mocha and milk-chocolate notes in the background. Great palate with richness, but also enough substance to balance it all out. With good reason, it wants to stand out among the top Pomerols. (18). 18: Magnum. Very dark garnet with bluish reflections. Even while decanting, it smelled wonderfully of cherries from the funnel. And that’s exactly what it was on the nose: red and black cherries, complemented by very dark toasted aromas, in the direction of black bread and mocha; black pepper rises from underneath. Aromatically it’s already halfway there, but there will certainly be much more to come in the near future. On the palate very substantial, compact, still demanding—but not unapproachable. I think in about five years it will really start to show. (18/20)

Dense, closed, velvety, complex, fresh bouquet: strawberry jelly, slate, mulberries, tobacco, pralines. Balanced, dense, full-bodied, elegant, multi-layered palate with powerful, sweet aromatics, plenty of fine tannin, a finely concentrated structure, and a long, full, sweet finish. 19/20 drink – 2040

The 2010 La Pointe is deep garnet colored. It features notes of leather, aldehyde, and tobacco with hints of raisin cake, Chinese five spice, and dusty earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chewy and hard, with a thin mid-palate and a hard, chewy finish.

Technically very well made, this wine really reflects its origin, with just the right amount of intensity and precision, and superb floral freshness. It’s delicious!

Dense attack, lovely mid-palate, plenty of substance, tannic.

Garnet-red with ruby highlights. An expressive bouquet revealing notes of cocoa nibs and black berries. Pleasant touches of liquorice and mint. A fruity, fresh attack. On the palate, the wine is broad, rich, and shows good aromatic intensity. The structure brings a hint of tension, while the tannins unfold slowly on the finish. They are fine-grained and in harmony with the structure. Good length on the finish. A wine to follow as it develops.

Deeply colored wine, with a fruity nose and a light touch of oak. Supple, fruity palate with a finely creamy texture. Medium length.