Chateau Gazin 2010

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Gazin charges out of the gate with bold boysenberries, baked plums and Christmas cake notes plus hints of unsmoked cigars and bouquet garni. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with baked black fruit, framed by firm, ambitious tannins, finishing long and mineral tinged."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A subtle red with ultra-fine tannins that accentuate a palate of chocolate, berries and nuts. Full and very round. It's refined and beautiful. Hard not to drink now but wait at least five years. Top wine from Gazin."

DECANTER: "The kind of vintage that was always going to suit Gazin, and for certain there is plenty of the estate signature here - dark fruits, bitter chocolate, firm tannins and architectural angles. Excellent persistency, this stretches out through the palate. Impressive rather than loveable perhaps, but there is depth and concentration and it is just about starting to open up, underscoring as ever that Gazin is among the last of the Pomerols to reach its drinking window. Drinking Window 2020 - 2045."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With a good depth of color, the wine needs an hour or so of decanting before it releases all its sensuous, juicy, plums, truffle, earth and spice box characteristics. Full bodied, rich and concentrated, there is energy and complexity here. Even though this can be enjoyed now, another 4-5 years will add so much more to its complexity and character."

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Purpur. Kühles, würziges Bouquet, viel schwarze Beeren und dunkle Edelhölzer, schwarze Johannisbeeren und getrocknete Heidelbeeren im leicht rauchigen Nasenbild. Im Gaumen dicht und stoffig, aber mit einer – für den Jahrgang – unerwarteten Souplesse."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Mit feiner Kräuterwürze unterlegte dunkle Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Zwetschken und Brombeeren, tabakige Nuancen. Stoffig, komplex, feine Fruchtsüße, elegante Tannine, frische Säurestruktur, bleibt gut haften, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter mit gutem Zukunftspotenzial."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dense, with a dark, smoldering feel as charcoal and coffee weave around a core of mulled fig, blackberry and boysenberry fruit. The long, muscular finish features singed iron and black tea notes for added range. Needs a little time, but should unfurl nicely. Best from 2015 through 2030."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Rich fruit currants and berries, intensely juicy, packed with dark very ripe fruit. A powerhouse of berries."