The 2010 Vieux Chateau Certan is deep garnet in color, and—POW—the nose opens as a complete spice-bomb, featuring notes of fenugreek, cumin seed and cinnamon stick over a core of Black Forest cake, plum preserves and blueberry pie with hints of fragrant earth and crushed stones. Full-bodied, rich and seductive in the mouth, it is laden with layers of black and blue fruit preserves, framed by super plush tannins, finishing epically long and perfumed.

Alexandre Thienpont thinks 2010 is even more powerful and tannic than 2009. This is certainly a big wine, dominated by its Merlot component (86%, with the rest mostly Cabernet Franc). The natural alcohol level is 14.5%, slightly above 2009, but the pH is a healthy 3.7, and the wine, like so many 2010s, is a paradox. The alcohols are often the highest ever yet the acidities are fresh and lively, and the wine crisp and refined. This is a deep purple-colored wine, with loads of opulence and fat, a voluptuous texture and tremendous purity. The style is a modern-day version of what they probably achieved in 1947, 1949 and 1950. Thienpont attributes the wine’s freshness to the lack of any real heat wave, the drought, and the very cool nights in September. This wine should drink well for 20-40 years.

這款干紅葡萄酒酒體飽滿，口感豐富，散發(fā)著大量無花果、葡萄干和巧克力的香氣，入口后還能感受到煙熏和香草的風(fēng)味，而后又涌現(xiàn)出林茨果仁蛋糕和黑醋栗的芳香。這是一款大酒，是2010年份酒中的佼佼者。該酒是由梅洛、品麗珠和赤霞珠混合調(diào)配而成，口感與2009年非常相似。

More or less the same parcels and blend as ''09 (86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet) but a different style. Less opulent and more classically defined. Lovely ''natural'' fruit, huge concentration, more alcohol (14.5%), long, powerful tannins and the freshness that marks the vintage. A harmonious whole. Huge potential.