Chateau Lafite Rothschild 2010 750ml

Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Lafite Rothschild is a little mute on the nose at this stage, opening to reveal warm blackcurrants, baked plums and boysenberry scents with hints of chocolate mint, violets, cedar chest and pencil lead. Full-bodied, rich and densely packed with perfumed black fruit layers, it has a rock-solid backbone of fantastically ripe, grainy tannins and beautiful freshness, finishing very long and minerally. Still very youthful!

Almost black in color, this stunning wine is gorgeous, rich and dense. It's grand and powerful, with a strong sense of its own importance. The beautiful tannins and the fragrant black currant fruits are palpable. It's a great wine, with huge potential. Cellar Selection.

This is shy and not giving its all at the moment. Yet it is full and intense with a tightly intertwined tannic and fruit structure. Ethereal blackberry, currant, cedar, and nutty flavors. Dried flowers too. Cedar jewel box smell comes out with time. Great finish. So, so long and harmonious.

The youngest wine we had in the vertical, and clear evidence of how the 10 year rule for classified Bordeaux is far too soon for first growths in great vintages. For Lafite, this was the last great vintage before 2016 came around, and it probably needs another decade to really get into its stride - although five should do it to kick things off. The year began with a wet spring during flowering, so produced lower quantities than 2009. July, August and September were extremely dry with cool nights, perfect for the grapes, with a few touches of rain before harvest. The black fruit notes (cassis barely begins to cover it) have deepened and softened just the merest whisper since its first few years, and it's still extremely young and concentrated. The tannins are starting to take on a truly silky, elevated quality, where the bilberry and blueberry fruit starts to melt right into them, finessed with touches of liquorice and slate. This is hugely complex, and it's very hard to say when this will stop evolving.

Rather tight, with an alluring whiff of cocoa that lures you in before disappearing into the core of steeped plum, roasted fig and blackberry coulis notes. Sandalwood, black tea and loam elements fill in on the long and expansive finish. This seems to be lying in wait for what could be a very long time in the cellar before unfurling fully. Best from 2018 through 2045.