Log In / Join Now News & Features Home What Am I Tasting Food & Travel Home Wine & Food Pairing Free Trial Online Membership Order a Wine Spectatormagazine subscriptionand you'll receive theWine Spectator PocketGuide FREE Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines we’ve reviewed over the past 12 months and select the most exciting for our Top 100. This annual list, which debuted in 1988, reflects significant trends, spotlights successful regions and recognizes outstanding producers. In 2010, we reviewed more than 15,800 new releases from around the world in blind tastings. More than 3,900 of these wines earned outstanding or classic ratings (90 points or higher on our 100-point scale). We narrowed the list down based on four criteria: quality (represented by score); value (reflected by release price); availability (measured by cases made or imported); and an X-factor we call excitement. But no equation determines the final selections: These choices reflect our editors’ judgment and passion about the wines we tasted.

The major trend in 2010 was an increase in expensive, limited-production wines at one end of the spectrum and in large-volume, value brands at the other. Looking for values, wine lovers sought out less-familiar regions and grape varieties. In this year’s list, 14 countries are represented, and quality remains high, with an average score of 93 points. The average price per bottle is $48. We hope that you enjoy this list of exciting values, emerging stars and time-honored stalwarts and that our Top 100 of 2010 leads you to more deeply explore the world of wine.2010 Bordeaux Wine Vintage Summary with harvest information, vintage characteristics, buying tips and links. If you are seeking more in-depth information on anything and everything related to the Bordeaux wine region please see the: All About Bordeaux Wine Guide To see tasting notes , reviews and ratings for the top 250 Bordeaux wines from  the 2010 Bordeaux vintage: 2010 Bordeaux Wine Tasting Notes, Ratings, Buying Guide

Like many great vintages, the 2010 Bordeaux wine vintage got off to a slow start after the cold winter conditions. With a lack of evenness in the flowering, coupled with Merlot that was having problems, many chateaux started off the season nervous over the potential for the vintage. After a difficult, cold winter, bud break took place just a few days later than it started in 2009, about mid-April. The Merlot crop was hit by millerandage and colure, two diseases leading to the need to eliminate damaged Merlot berries at many estates. This condition reduced yields as well, which helped to add concentration to the 2010 Bordeaux wines. A cool, damp early June did not help the vintage. But things turned around with a beautiful, summer with warm and hot days for the rest of June, July and August. What really helped the 2010 Bordeaux vintage was not just the perfect summer weather, but the amount of sunshine the grapes received. This was coupled with cool nights which is perfect for the grapes and their much needed levels of acidities.

Things were definitely turned around by this point. The lack of water and vine stress made for a good growing season for red and white wines. wine and beer companyThe changes in temperature, allowed the wines to develop levels of acidity which give the wines their vibrancy and freshness. best wine to bring to a partyThe September rain also aided in the development of maturity in the vines at just the right time. which best wine coolerThis allowed the grapes to achieve better, phenolic ripeness.best cheap nz wines 2010 Bordeaux wine is a product of drought conditions. best french boxed wine

2010 is the driest year on record since 1949. But drought alone is not enough to shape a great vintage. best wine in a box canadaThe combination of warm days and cool nights helped produce wines with high alcohol, ripe, but strong tannins and low pH levels, giving the wines ample acidity to keep them fresh and vibrant.best wine and beverage center 2010 Bordeaux wine is a modern version of classically styled vintage. best wine price in india2010 Bordeaux wine are big, tannic, and structured, requiring time to age, soften and develop. top 10 red wines italyAnalysis of the grapes show 2010 Bordeaux wine to be rich in raw materials, extract, tannins and alcohol. The Cabernet Sauvignon based wines range from 13.5% to over 14.5%.

In Pomerol and St. Emilion , some of the best wines are over 15.5%. If the wines tasted hot, flabby or out of balance, yes. But with so much acidity giving the wines lift, that is not case. The biggest problems encountered with 2010 Bordeaux wine is that some wines are over extracted. Wine makers that used a gentle hand produced stunning wines that are at the level of the best wines from 2000, 2005 and 2009! Some are even better. Where is 2010 Bordeaux wine at its best?  How does it stack up against 2009 Bordeaux wine?  Those are not simple questions. In the Right Bank , across the board, 2010 is a better vintage in St. Emilion. The wines are fresher and offer more purity. In Pomerol, 2009 is a better vintage. Moving to the Left Bank , in St. Estephe , 2009 is a much better vintage.  Pauillac is difficult to handicap, but I’d say, 2010 Bordeaux from Pauillac are better for most producers than 2009.  St. Julien and Margaux are on a wine by wine basis.  I’d give the nod to 2009 for Pessac Leognan .