2010 Chateau Le Crock, Saint-Estephe

A wine with blueberry and mineral character on the nose and a palate. Dried spices. Full body, with chewy tannins and a tangy finish. Needs time to soften. Better in 2016.

– jamessuckling.com, March 2013

Offers a good beam of cassis and briar, with singed anise, lilac and black tea notes. Displays a juicy edge on the finish, and should unwind nicely in the short term. Best from 2014 through 2022. 11,417 cases made.

– James Molesworth (WineSpectator.com, Web only 2013)

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Chateau Le Crock 2010 has an attractive bouquet with blackberry, cedar and graphite scents: taciturn at first but it opens with modest encouragement. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins. There is moderate weight with a light foursquare but fresh finish. This is what you might call a "gentleman’s claret". Tasted January 2014.

– eRobertParker.com, Mar 2014

Cru Bourgeois St Estèphe (50hl/ha, 14%)[47CS/33M/14CF/6PV] Intense, crisp and sweet to smell; lovely balance of ripe fruit to firm tannin and vigorous acidity; a delicious juiciness and sap to taste, brisk, chewy, plenty to savour. Very nice. 2017-25 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2011]

The tiny, picturesque jewel of a property, sandwiched between Cos d'Estournel and Montrose, is owned by the same family that owns Chateau Leoville Poyferre in St.-Julien. A final blend of 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the 2010 has turned out to be ripe, attractive wine with notes of sweet mocha, red and black currants, pen ink and light as well as sweet tannins. This wine is medium-bodied, elegant and best drunk over the next decade.

33% Merlot, 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot. Deep crimson. Leafy, cedary dark fruit. Rich, moreish, finely chewy and lovely depth of fruit allied to freshness. (JH)

Made by the Léoville Poyferré team. Dark purple. Quite rich and opulent on the nose. Velvety and rather unlike the commune’s stereotype. Dry finish though! Should be quite exceptional Le Crock in style... (JR)