The 2010 Monbousquet Bordeaux Blend from the Saint Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a robust and complex red wine that has garnered high praise from several respected wine critics. This wine is crafted from a blend of 60% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, with the grapes hand-harvested from a 32-hectare vineyard where the vines average 40 years of age. The wine is aged in a combination of 60% new French oak and 40% one-wine-old barrels, which contributes to its rich flavor profile.
Neal Martin, in his Wine Journal, gives this vintage a score of 94, noting its "very intense nose of dark berried fruit" and a palate that is "full-bodied with grippy tensile tannins." He emphasizes the wine's "great potential," suggesting it will be best enjoyed between 2018 and 2030.
John Sweeney from JJ Buckley awards the wine a score of 95, describing it as "a big yet well-structured Monbousquet" with "tannins that are very well integrated." He highlights its "intensely aromatic nose" and "impressive and long" finish.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also praises the wine, with a score of 93, describing it as "deep garnet colored" with "seductive notes of baked plums, blackberry compote and dried mulberries." The review notes its "firmly structured" palate, framed by "chewy tannins and lively acidity."
Wine Spectator and James Suckling both award the wine a 95, with James Suckling calling it "the best Monbousquet ever" and noting its "fabulous tannins and finesse." Jeb Dunnuck, also scoring it 95, describes it as "a gorgeous wine" with a "perfumed, complex bouquet" and "beautifully textured, full-bodied" experience.
Overall, the 2010 Monbousquet is praised for its intensity, structure, and potential for further development, making it a noteworthy choice for wine enthusiasts.
