Farr Vintners Logo

La Tour Carnet 2010

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Haut Médoc
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Tour Carnet

Label

Tasting Notes

Probably La Tour Carnet's best since their 2001, the 2010 La Tour Carnet exhibits wonderful ripeness, a dense ruby/purple color, notes of licorice, camphor and some toast as well as lots of black currant and blueberry fruit. It is medium to full-bodied, with attractive sweetness of tannin, good acidity, excellent delineation to its component parts, and a full-bodied, impressively long finish. This wine may close down somewhat, given the moderate tannins, but it seems relatively accessible despite being a 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2035.

Another spectacular effort from proprietor Bernard Magrez, this Haut Medoc was harvested very late in 2010. The final blend is 60% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest a small amount of Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot

93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (205), March 2013

A blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot cropped at 45hl/ha, this has a well defined, rounded bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis and a touch of ripe figs. Very focused and poised. The palate has a pleasant grippy entry, quite bold tannins but very well balanced and the finish is very focused and Pauillac in style, hints of graphite towards the finish. Very fine. Tasted April 2011.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2011

A wine with dark berry, licorice and tar character. Subtle and silky. Lovely polished tannins and fresh acidity

92/93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2011

Quite high volatility. Very fresh fruit in a light sandpaper corset at the moment. This will never be sweet and all-enveloping but it should make a fine luncheon claret(!).

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2011

Bernard Magrez of Pape Clement fame has transformed the quality at this classed growth in recent years. Prices remain reasonable despite the leap in reputation. Very oaky on the nose, this Medoc is full of dense, black, jammy fruit that is quite sweet and oily. Very decadent with masses of new oak and sweetness. Very "mondiale" in style and not for those who like "traditional claret"

90
Farr Vintners, April 2011

The violets on the nose give lots of charm. Blackcurrant and bramble gives some depth and complexity on the palate the sweetness slightly over dominated by tannic firmness. Despite the toughness some richer flavours do win through on the finish.

87/90
Derek Smedley MW, April 2011

Deeply-extracted cassis fruit, slightly leathery and firm concentration and depth, a bit four-square at the moment, but lots of stuffing for the future. Drink 2018-30.

17
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2011
Read more tasting notes...

2010: From their 180 acres, this large estate fashioned a blend of 53% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon and small quantities of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Harvested over a three week period (September 29 - October 17), it is a big, tannic, nearly over-sized wine boasting a dense purple color along with notes of graphite, blueberries, black raspberries and spring flowers. Great fruit on the attack, a powerful, full-bodied mouthfeel and an unusually masculine, muscular style suggest this 2010 will require patience, but it could turn out to be one of the finest La Tour Carnets ever produced. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2045.

92/94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (194), May 2011
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.