Mission Codename Cross the bridge
This wine has NO business being this good for the price. A perfectly aged Bordeaux powerhouse made under the auspices of THE Château Margaux’s Paul Pontallier!
For a monumental 70% OFF!! At $22 this sort of quality from Bordeaux is unheard of. Can’t think of a more impressive discovery from France this year.
First, the bottle. It’s a heavy one - sorry delivery people who have to haul this around. And that beautiful label? It’s a joint venture between Zao Wou-Ki and Pont des Arts, a high-end French wine venture meant to merge art and wine. The 85-year-old artist’s work is impressive and beautiful, no doubt - but let’s be honest… what matters is the wine inside.
And WOW. The 2010 vintage was one for the books in Bordeaux, so obviously that helps here.
Mostly made from Merlot with a balance of Cabernet Franc, it shows the Right Bank but still, we were not prepared for the level of complexity and sky-high towering structure inside. Still packed with ripe fruit but starting to show a nice layer of tertiary notes. It’s a fantastic voyage into the aging potential with some incredible complexity that’ll make your head spin. Dried mixed berries. Tar and graphite. Black licorice, dusty forest floor. Tobacco and black olives. All pieced together like an intricate puzzle.
Serious money-wine feel through and through. Once cost a reasonable $75. Now for how much??!
Take a flyer on a few cases or bottles - you’ll be very impressed for the price.
Tasting Profile
Dried berries, tar, graphite, licorice, forest floor
Look | Striking garnet with ruby reflections and a broad crimson edge |
---|---|
Smell | Dried mixed berries, tar, graphite, black licorice, dusty forest floor |
Taste | Still packed with ripe fruit but starting to show a nice layer of tertiary notes |
Finish | Tobacco, black olives too, complexity, and sky-high towering structure |
Pairing | Delicate and saucy roasted beef, game or poultry, or with cigars after dinner |
What the Winery Says
2010 'Zao Wou-Ki' Rive Droite Bordeaux
- Winemaking consultant
- Paul Pontallier
- Varietals
- 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
- Vintage
- 2010
- Alcohol
- 14%
- Appellation
- Right Bank, Bordeaux
- Vineyards
- Undisclosed
- Aging
- 20 months
- Barrels
- 70% new French oak