2010 Lynsolence

The inky/purple wine exhibits major quantities of fruit, with blueberry and blackberry as well as touches of barbecue smoke and spring flowers. This wine has calmed down considerably, as it was somewhat irregular to taste from barrel. But this is now an outstanding effort, although, of course, there is little of it made. Drink it over the next 15 or so years. This wine, from Deny Barraud’s 6.25-acre property, has turned out well. The full-bodied, exuberant, flamboyant 2010 tips the scales at 14.7% alcohol and is 100% Merlot from tiny yields, only 22 hectoliters per hectare.

Slightly tired nose. Sweet and rich – dried-fruit flavours. Pretty punishing tannins on the end, so that I fear the extraction went just a bit too far? (JR)