Château Nénin 2010

Velvety in style, full-bodied and silky, juicy and fruity, superbly crafted.

The outstanding 2010 Nenin (82% Merlot and 18% Cabernet Franc) displays more boysenberry, mocha and blackcurrants. With nearly 14% natural alcohol, it has plenty of glycerine, loads of fruit, and broad, classic notes of liquorice and plums. This wine should be drinkable in 2–4 years and last for 15 years or more.

This is deliciously plump, with blackberry and plum fruit at the core, studded with lightly toasted spice and framed with a roasted vanilla bean note. A lingering cocoa edge chimes in on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2023. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 4,166 cases made.

The pencil lead precision of Nénin is clear, and this is an exceptionally good wine. Has depth and sets the fruit alongside chocolate shavings and cut herbs. Lots of power and softly brushed tannins with clear depth and a Left Bank feel, as is often the case with this wine.

Powerful and tannic with chewy mouth feel. Mineral, stone and blueberry character. Full and intense. Very tight now. Angular tannins that will soften with time. Better in 2020.

The 2010 Nénin offers fleshy red cherries and crushed strawberry scents on the “airy” nose. There is an underlying mintiness that becomes more noticeable with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins on the entry. This is another quite “serious” 2010 Bordeaux, one where I would have liked to see more persistence on the finish. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.

Spicy, forest and kirsch notes open to a firm, liquorice and dark cherry filled wine with a hint of dryness in the tannic, plummy finish.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, delicate bright rim. Fine plum fruit, a touch of nougat, ripe cherry underlay, pleasant herbal savouriness. Full-bodied, chocolaty texture, elegant, well-integrated tannins, fine caramel note on the finish, a versatile food wine.

Intense ruby. Raspberries and cherries on a slightly sweet-tinged nose. Complex, tightly knit palate, again driven by this incredible primary fruit, with a discreet peppery core. Will likely remain extremely fruity.

Deep ruby. Raspberries and cherries on a nose that comes across as slightly sweet. Complex, tightly knit palate, again driven by this incredible primary fruit, subtly peppery at the core. Will likely remain very, very fruity.

(82% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 37 hl/ha) Fruity, medium-bodied, delicately jammy bouquet, cherries, raspberries. A firm, fruity palate with sweet fruit, fine sandy tannins, good aromatics, dry finish. 17/20 2016 - 2027

Clear pencil lead and crayon, set against creamy blackberry and black cherry fruits. This is a delicious wine in a sweet spot for drinking, and the minerality of Nenin is highlighted as it opens in the glass, with pulses of electricity, and waves of sage and fennel spice. This was released En Primeur but they have not yet re-released, and there are still significant stocks at the estate, highlight once again how different the strategy is here from most Pomerol chateaux. With signature Nenin complexity, 2010 was naturally a structured, powerful vintage, making it interesting that they brought down the amount of barrel ageing, to just give a touch more movement through the fruits. 3.59ph. 35% new oak.

Dense, elegant palate with great length and a lovely core.

A wine that is deliciously perfumed from the 25% Cabernet Franc in the blend. The wine has very ripe black fruits, with contrasting intense acidity, toast and dark chocolate. It's powerful and concentrated, with good aging potential.