50% cabernet sauvignon 30% merlot and 20% petit verdot. Planted in deep gravelly soils situated just south of a jalle (drainage ditch) - that separates Belle-Vue from Giscours. Table-sorted and after a 25-day cold soak fermented in stainless with long 50-day maceration with frequent gravity-driven délestages; aging projected for 15 months in 40% new and 60% one-wine old barrels. The nose is evolved with blackberry and black plum framed in caramel and very primary at this juncture. Jammy fruit is balanced with medium-to-high acid resulting in a wine that is high toned precise and fresh. Tasted twice.

The Belle-Vue 2010 has a ripe toasty almost exotic bouquet with a touch of Turkish Delight! But it has good delineation and purity - very pretty and enticing. The palate is ripe and extrovert with prominent vanillary new oak quite tannic and sharp on the finish very polished but perhaps a little predictable?...

One of the finest over-achievers in the southern Medoc Belle-Vue is a 36-acre vineyard situated close to Giscours. The 2010's final blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot and a whopping 20% Petit Verdot hit 13.5% natural alcohol. The wine boasts a dense purple color along with sweet black currant cherry licorice and barbecue smoke notes medium body supple tannins and a refined elegant lusty style. It is the kind of low level Bordeaux that sells for a song and will make consumers happy.