It's hard to generalize about 2010, since every vintage has its share of question marks…..cabernet vs. merlot ripeness, overachievers and those who didn’t produce to the overall quality of the vintage.

2010 is strong, with many wines rivaling those from the previous year, some not. It was an excellent Cabernet vintage, wines from the Medoc did very well, as did the right bank wines, especially those where Cabernet Franc plays an important role. Merlot came in with unusually high alcohol, so selection and blending will play an important role in Merlot dominated areas such as Pomerol.

 I mentioned the one big question regarding the vintage 2010 in my last post, pricing. Yields were down slightly in 2010 over 2009, around 10% less…. Add to this the influence of the Asian market, which has had an impact on our allocations…… so in instances where the wines excelled in 2010, one can expect prices to equal (and probably surpass) those of 2009. In any case, the top wines in 2010 are superb, destined for a long life, and as in 2009, regardless of price, won’t be around long enough for anyone interested to hesitate.

 I tasted only a small selection of the dry whites, but found most to be ripe and perfumed, and I am looking forward to having these wines on the shelves in a year or so. Brad and I did not make the Sauternes UGC tasting, so I can only comment on the few we tasted. This seems to be a solid vintage for the sweet whites. Ch. Guiraud offered power, plenty of botrytis and weight, with a honeyed texture and refreshing acidity. I scored it in 92-94.

Shayne Hebert, Central Florida Wine Supervisor