Château Potensac 2010

Has juiciness and richness, density and breed, finishes fiery and long, great fun to drink: at just under 25 euros, a bargain!

The 2010 is a winner again and a sleeper of the vintage. A blend of 52% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest a whopping 21% Cabernet Franc (which is unusual in this part of Bordeaux) has loads of cedar, wood, sweet cherries, some damp earth and a hint of strawberry liqueur in a medium-bodied, elegant style meant for consuming over the next decade or more. Leave it to Jean-Hubert Delon to make a second wine from his northern frontier territory of Potensac, for decades one of the most reliable and value-priced wines of Bordeaux.

Solid, if a bit chunky, with cocoa and ganache coating a core of black currant and blackberry fruit that hangs through the muscular finish, where a warm paving stone note rings out. A touch austere, but the stuffing is there for cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2020. 16,666 cases made.

From the Delon stable, this is not quite as successful as the 2009 was at the same stage last year. There are plenty of juicy dark fruits and it is ready to drink, but it faces extremely tough competition given what else is available on the Left Bank in the vintage, and it lacks a little depth through the mid-palate.

A little lean but with very good plum, currant and berry character. Full to medium body, with integrated tannins and a fresh finish. Better in 2015.

The 2010 Potensac has a high-toned, airy bouquet with balsamic and hoisin infusing the black fruit. The palate is well defined with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. There is something just a little “Oriental” about the style of this Potensac that delivers impressive body and grip on the finish. Very fine. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.

Cedar wood, tobacco and cassis scents lead to a full-bodied, powerful, structured, classically styled Potensac with the ability to age and develop. This is a powerful, masculine, tannic, old-school, classic style of wine that will appeal to some tasters more than others.

Dark garnet, fairly dense in the middle, ruby rim. Open, slightly gluey bouquet, a hint of grenadine, with something of a Richebourg on the nose. Rich palate, melting texture on the outside – and the typical 2010 power at the core. Still feels very young and heading towards 18/20.

Deep purple, full in the middle, garnet shimmer at the rim. Floral bouquet with cherry tones, direct from the outset. Surprisingly smooth on the palate, shifting between red and blue berries, then slightly firm on the finish. Great potential. (17/20). 13: Dark garnet, quite full in the middle, ruby rim. Open, slightly gluey bouquet, a hint of grenadine, it has something of a Richebourg on the nose. Rich palate, with gloss on the outside – and the typical 2010 power at its core. Still seems very young and heading towards 18/20.

Powerful, velvety bouquet, cassis, cedar, tobacco, a fine hint of rubber. A powerful, masculine palate with good fruit, plenty of fine tannins, powerful, classic aromatics, long, sweet finish. 17/20 2017 - 2030

Dense, elegant, ripe, long and racy.

90-92 A ripe wine, keeping great swathes of freshness and offering the most delicious acidity. Such a fresh wine, full of great blackberry fruits, very fresh as well as dense.