2010 Capbern
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Tasting notes
From a case that we bought En Primeur, now down to the last few bottles, and it's at pretty much the perfect moment (something that wasn't true for many of the earlier bottles we opened). Now known as Château Capbern, but with Gasqueton added at the time, this is seriously enjoyable, right now at its peak, full of liqourice and spiced cassis, with the very sightest hints of tertiary truffle and tobacco flavours. 80% oak. It should stay at this level for another 5 or so years.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Capbern Gasqueton is a wine that I never tasted en primeur. It has a very intense bouquet with blackberry, tobacco, dried blood and loamy aromas that vie for attention, all served up with impressive delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins, a lovely rondeur here that counterbalances the structure of the vintage. Gentle grip, good body and backbone with plenty of stuffing on the finish, this is an excellent long-term and delicious Saint-Estèphe. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Capbern needs a little coaxing to reveal notes of redcurrant jelly, prunes and baked blackcurrants with hints of black tea, pencil lead, cedar chest and spice cake. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers lovely freshness and ripe, grainy tannins, well-framing the elegant red and black fruit preserves, finishing spicy.
Tasted blind. Deep garnet with bricky maturity more obvious here. Ripe, dried fruits. Lots of sweet fruit but the fruit is a bit lacking in energy. Heavy and thickly textured. Mature and smudgy. When the identity was revealed, I wondered if the bottle was 100% correct because it seemed a bit tired – hence my rather short drinking window – but some tasters scored it more highly. I went back and tasted it again and increased my score by half a point but the fruit still seemed a bit prune-like. (JH)