2010 Château Clos de Sarpe
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Tasting notes
The 2010 Clos de Sarpe is a modern-style Saint-Émilion that retains freshness and purity. Copious blueberry and wilted violets burst from the nose, a light smear of vanilla following suit. Whilst the new oak is conspicuous, it feels enmeshed with the fruit. The palate is full-bodied with a velvety, cashmere texture, a rounded and intense wine that is kept on balance by a fine thread of acidity. Where it could have become blowsy on the finish, it successfully manages to retain composure and disguise the alcohol. It probably needs another couple of years in bottle, but it shows what can be achieved at this diminutive Saint-Émilion property. Tasted in Saint-Émilion.
Critic scores
Robert Parker
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2010 Clos de Sarpe is deep garnet-purple in color with a profound, very youthful nose of blackcurrant cordial, warm plums and blueberry pie with hints of chocolate box, roses, star anise and cigar box plus a beautifully fragrant waft of lilacs. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and oh-so-seductive, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and explosive freshness to lend an electric charge through the mid-palate and epically long finish. Amazing wine.
This is a quintessential blockbuster, no-compromise, massive, pedal-to-the-metal, balls-to-the-walls sort of wine with incredibly dense creme de cassis, kirsch, licorice, truffle and some background oak. Always one of the most concentrated and backward wines of the vintage, the 2010 is a prime example. I was interested to learn that the final blend and selection only produced about 625 cases of grand vin. Forget it for 10-15 years and drink it over the following century. (Oh, that's right - most of us won't be alive to challenge that estimate!)||I have always loved to taste this wine, because it comes from a tiny, nearly 12-acre property owned by Jean-Guy Beyney, who, I have said, before tends to go overboard making wines that probably have more in common with the great vintages of the late 1800's than anything produced today. How long will these wines last? Certainly the great vintages are 50+ year wines. Beyney's absurdly low yields in 2010 (15 hectoliters per hectare) have fashioned a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that hits all the sweet spots on the palate. Wine Advocate.February, 2013
About the producer
This small Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé estate is a FINE+RARE favourite. Run by Maylis Marcenat, the fourth generation of her family to do so, the 3.7-hectare vineyard has old vines and limestone soils, producing wines of incredible freshness and great ageability.