x
  • Country ranking ?

    443
  • Producer ranking ?

    10
  • Decanting time

    2h
  • When to drink

    now to 2040
  • Food Pairing

    red tuna tartare

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

Close

96 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate / Vibrant layers of exotic fruit, smoke, spices, honey and licorice flesh out in the 2010 Montrachet Marquis de Laguiche. Simply put, the 2010 is rich, dense and strikingly beautiful from the very first taste. There is a deep sensuality and allure about the 2010 that are simply compelling. This is another fabulous showing from Drouhin. Anticipated maturity: 2015+. This is a striking set of wines from Drouhin. Veronique Drouhin describes 2010 as a year with cool temperatures in July and August, but much better weather in September.

Close

The Story

The Montrachet of Marquis de Laguiche belongs to this Pantheon. This property (2.06 hectares - 5.15 acres) is actually the largest parcel of the Montrachet vineyard and has been in the hands of the Laguiche family since 1363. The Drouhin family is in charge of its cultivation and vinification and, since 1947, has spread and preserved its worldwide renown.

In the southern part of the Côte de Beaune, the estate of the Marquis de Laguiche is entirely located on the Puligny side of the appellation. A very mild slope and a great south-east exposure.

History & tradition: at every period of history, a few vineyards have been considered heirloom treasures for their incomparable quality. 
Soil: brown-red earth, strewn with white, polished limestone pebble. The word "rachet" in Montrachet means infertile land, where nothing can grow.

Viticulture:Plantation density: from 10,000 stocks/ha in order to extract all possible nuances from the terroir.
Pruning: Guyot.
Yield: 48hl/ha. Low on purpose to limit the production of each vine stock.

Vinification
Harvesting: by hand, in small open crates in order to preserve the integrity of the fruit.
Sorting: if necessary, the grapes are sorted twice : once when being picked, the second time on the sorting table at the winery.
Pressing: very slow so as to respect fruit. Juices from the very last pressings are not retained
The wine goes directly into barrels after débourbage (decanting of white wine to reduce sediment).

Ageing
Type: in barrels (0% in new oak).
Length: 15 to 18 months.
Origin of the wood: French oak forests.
Weathering of the wood: Joseph Drouhin insists on total control of the weathering for a period of 3 years, one of the contributing elements to the elegance of the wine.

Throughout the ageing process, decisions are taken only after careful tasting evaluation. The data obtained is then completed through technical analysis. As with every other Joseph Drouhin wine, absolute priority is given to the true expression of terroir and character of the vintage.


Serving
Temperature: 14-15°C (58-60°F).
Cellaring: 10 to 40 years.

Close

Wine Information

The 2010 season was affected by extremely variable weather, finally producing a very classic vintage and one of the smallest crops of these last 20 years.


The winter was particularly harsh in Burgundy with very severe frost during the third week of December and temperatures dropping down to -20°C (-4°F) in some parts of the vineyard.
In February rainfall combined with snow hit the whole Burgundy area.
It was a true winter bringing the cold with snow and rain. 
Spring moved in for good in March/April together with rising temperatures, even above average. Rainfall was also abundant all over Burgundy.
The first bud bursts occurred around mid-April in the earliest parts and then spread over the whole vineyard.
The coolness of May tended to slow down the growth of the vine.
The differences between the Chablis and Beaujolais vineyards were noticeable.
In June, with temperatures becoming milder and even above average, the vine resumed its growth. 
By mid-June the half-flowering stage was reached in the more advantageously exposed areas. These dates were similar to those of 2008.


In general July and August remained rather cool and rainy with low temperatures. One could see  flower failure and «millerandage» (small berries) throughout the  vineyard, which is a quality factor but considerably reduces the crop volume. 
Maturing took place slowly, followed by bright, dry, windy and mild weather in September which ensured good ripening.
The juice of the berries progressively became concentrated. 
At Joseph Drouhin's, the harvest started on September 23rd and lasted for  a good fortnight.. 

 

Style of the wines:
The whites were vinified without any difficulty. According to the appellations, the malolactic fermentations spread over several months.
Now the wines show an attractive golden and shining colour, with a slightly light green hue.
The aromas are well defined and neat with floral touches. They offer good purity of taste, a clear-cut impression as well as a nice mineral texture.
In Chablis, the wines reveal a good structure with ripe aromas but also a nice acidity level.
The reds were also vinified harmoniously. We managed to keep a good proportion of whole bunches in a great number of cuvées.
The malolactic fermentations were late and as they lasted over a long period, the wines acquired fullness and complexity. They display a neat and bright ruby-red colour.
The wines are elegant, long on the aftertaste and with ample character. 2010 will certainly provide some great wines, in particular in the Côte de Nuits ... the only regret concerns the low yield  of the crop.

Close

Vintage 2010

THE 2010 BURGUNDY VINTAGE 

Compared with 2009, these figures represent a deficit of 25 percent in red and 16 percent in white.

It was a cold, drawn-out winter, some two degrees cooler than the average, though rainfall and sunshine were normal. There was one severe attack of frost on December 22nd, just before Christmas, which caused widespread damage on the upside of the main road from Beaune to Dijon. In many places the road is on higher ground, and the land dips before climbing up towards the premiers crus, thus causing a frost pocket. It is here, just as in 1985, that the damage has been done. Some vines have been killed outright; others managed a late push of vegetation which was either unproductive or far to late to be useful. This, and further depredations later in the season, have led to a crop some 25 percent less than the average (which is some 250,000 hectolitres, excluding generics, for the Côte d'Or).

 

Apart from a brief interlude in April the cold climatic pattern persisted right through until June 22nd. The vines flowered late and irregularly. Coulure and millerandage were widespread. There were isolated attacks of mildew. Conditions were the opposite of promising. The harvest would be late and maturity would be uneven unless there were to be a dramatic improvement in the weather.

Happily Burgundy then enjoyed a fine, even hot, period of several weeks until July 21st. The downside was that there were, inevitably, the usual storms, and in places, hail damage. On July 10th parts of northern Beaujolais and the southern Mâconnais were affected: Moulin à Vent, Saint-Amour, Leynes, Chaintré, Pouilly-Vinzelles, and the village of Fuissé. There was hail in some of the left bank vineyards in Chablis, especially in Vaillons. But the Côte d'Or and the Chalonnais seem to have been spared.

The weather in August was uneven; nice and warm, but with no lack of rain. We had oidium, here and there, and black rot elsewhere, in vineyards not properly looked after, especially in southern Burgundy and parts of Meursault. Together with the hail this has resulted in uneven quality in the Mâconnais, while further north the vintage is much more consistent.

 

Once into September the weather changed again. The wind changed to the north. It began to be much cooler during the night. Most days were dry and warm (though not hot – 25° maximum) but above all very sunny. It is sun, rather than heat, which ripens the fruit. Photosynthesis was able to continue right to the end, as the vegetation remained green. Acidities did not plunge; while the grapes continued to pile on sugar. Except where there had been prior hail or cryptogamic damage the fruit remained very healthy.

Apart from a few gloomy days around Tuesday September 7th, and a brief tempest in the evening of the 12th, which occasioned hail damage in Santenay and the southern end of Chassagne-Montrachet, the fine weather continued until Friday September 24th, by which time everyone was into their harvest. Picking began across Burgundy at more or less the same time: the 16th in the Beaujolais, the 18th in the Mâconnais, the 20th in the Côte Chalonnaise, the Côte d'Or and Chablis, though some waited until the 23rd. Following a pause on the 24th the good conditions continued with but brief stoppages for what turned out to be showers rather than more prolonged periods of rain. Most growers had finished by the week-end of October 1st.

 

All reports underline the same conclusion about the 2010 harvest. It has turned out a great deal better than one could possibly have imagined at the end of June. If only it had been drier in August! Not that August was wetter than the average, indeed in southern Burgundy precipitation was the same as in 2009.

The Beaujolais are not as abundantly seductive as in 2009, but they are perhaps more classic. The fruit is fresh and delicious. The crop is small and quality is less even than in it was in the previous vintage. The wines are in their prime now.

Quality in part of the Mâconnais has been compromised by the July 10th hail. It is here that the 2010 vintage is at its most heterogenous. But nevertheless, where the fruit has been correctly sorted, we have a combination of good fruit, correct levels of alcohol, nice supporting acidity and no lack of character. The best are delicious now.

Growers in the Côte Chalonnaise are very happy, especially with their red wines. 'That makes three highly successful vintages in a row.' said one, adding that the crop was saved by the anti-rot treatments he had had to apply. Again the whites are fully ready and drinking very well.

 

As elsewhere a small crop in Chablis, as much through a lack of juice in the grapes as to the size of the crop. Good alcoholic dregees – indeed more in the premiers crus than in the grands crus – healthy fruit and nice austere acIdities.

Which brings us to the Côte d'Or. Once again not a lot of juice, owing to widespread millerandage, but more concentration as a result. The red wines showed very good fruit and the grapes were in a very good state of health. Alcohol and acidity levels are more than satisfactory, as are the initial colours. So if the red wines were not as glorious at the outset as in 2009, they were certainly very good, above the current average. And as they developed they seemed to get better and better. The character is more classic than in 2009 and the wines will probably last longer. This was not a vintage to go heavy on the extraction, particularly in communes such as Volnay and Chambolle. That aside, these red wines are consistent; in the Côte de Beaune said to be at their best in Pommard; while the quality in the Côte de Nuits was noted as 'très joli'. Indeed the more you travel north, as is so often the case, the better the wine. The Côte de Nuits benefited not only from a slightly later harvest, but from lower precipitation in August. It is here that the 2010 vintage is at its finest. It is a vintage which shows the  petits fruits rouges flavours of a medium weight, ripe, but not that concentrated a vintage. The wines are more marked by their terroir than in 2009, according to Aubert de Villaine.

 

It was more difficult in the early days to pronounce on the whites than on the reds. One wine-maker spoke about 'explosive' aromas, on the side of the exotic, and colours which were less deep than he feared. There are good acidities, but the vintage will be less classic than the 2008s in his opinion. I'm not sure that I agree. Now that the wines are in bottle one can see in the very best wines a striking success: the grip of the 2008s and the richness of the 2009s. That said, it must be pointed out that the storm of September 12th 'turned' much of the Chardonnay fruit. If one did not pick immediatedly, one's wine was comprimised. The result is a heterogenity between the village and minor premiers crus on the one hand and the wines from the better-sited vineyards, not to mention the grands crus, on the other. This is clearly apparent in the wines of Chassagne-Montrachet: wines of only average quality, and many showing too much botrytis, in Morgeots and the vineyards on the north side of the village, such as Chenevottes, Macharelles and Vergers, but fine wines from the slope which runs from Caillerets down to Embazées. Of the three main villages, Puligny and Meursault are better than Chassagne. Proportionately the higher one goes up the hierarchy, the better the wine. At the very top levels there are many white wines which, as they should, promise to be still improving after the age of five, rather than, as seems to be more and more the norm, depressingly, by that time beginning to lighten up. Overall – and there are a few wines which already hint at premature oxidation - this is clearly a better white wine vintage than 2009. And firmer than 2008.

 

Prices rose, but not by much. Growers were already aware of the deficit in quantity when they announced their 2009 prices, so a gentle shading upwards (I speak in Euros), was the order of the day, except that the elastic between the village wines and the less fashionable premiers crus on the one hand, and the grands crus and top village premiers crus on the other, continues to widen. You will pay increasingly higher prices for Richebourg, Puligny-Montrachet, Les Folatières and Vosne-Romanée, Les Beaumonts, while Savigny-Lès-Beaune, premier cru and Paul Jacqueson's Rully, La Pucelles remain a bargain.

by Clive Coates

Close

Tasting note

color

Full, Yellow and Bright

ending

Long, Extensive and Lingering

flavors

Vanilla, Plum, Smoky, Honey, Truffles and Buttery

nose

Intense, Fresh, Generous and Refined

recommend

Yes

taste

Balanced, Concentrated, Well-structured, Full-bodied, Harmonious, Focused and Rich

Verdict

Well-rounded and Sophisticated

Written Notes

Good looking normal size bottle, in an perfect condition and has by the neck level. Colour is yellow, and looking bright and full. On the nose it is intense, wide, refined, fresh, generous and round. The taste is fresh, harmonious, rich, focused, perfumed, fragrant, full-bodied, with concentrated, well-structured, complex and balanced structure. On the palate it is layered and has honey, buttery, tropical fruits, truffles, vanilla, plum, perfumed, smoky and cassis flavours. The finish is long, extensive, lingering and vibrant. This wine is sophisticated,well-rounded and excellent. I paid around 500-1k€ a bottle. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 20-30 years and decant at least 2h before tasting. I do recommend.
  • 95p

Moderately rich yellow colour. Intense, rich and seductive nose with perfumey notes mixed with loads of tropical fruits and spices. Dry and rich palate with generous ripe fruitiness, firm minerality and good acidic backbone. Ripe tropical fruits, lemon and very well-integrated oak delivering generous spicy tones. Long and lingering finish. An opulent style Montrachet that is drinking well already but will evolve for next 5-10 years and last well over 2030s. Fabulous wine for gratinated lobster and ginger and soy flavoured salmon. Serves well also Chicken Chop Suey! Decant for 1 h and serve at 10-12C. JL 96p (2/2019)   

  • 96p

Richly structured, this wine is all texture at this stage—although the rich fruit lingers underneath. Apple, pear and citrus fruits give this opulent, powerful wine its freshness. This has a great future ahead.

  • 95p

An authentic masterpiece! This wine should be regarded as the yardstick by which all other Burgundies should be judged. The colour has a splendid golden sheen. On the nose, a multitude of aromas are a pleasure to discover: floral notes of lily of the valley, peach blossom, exotic fruit, honey, grilled almonds, even exotic woods at times. On the palate, the structure is dominated by a harmonious roundness which never imparts any heaviness. The aftertaste is exceptionally long and enhances the finesse of the whole. A glorious symphony of sensations!".

Some development on the nose. Some botrytis too. Medium to medium-full body. This is rather too loose-knit and over-ripe for a Montrachet. Decent acidity, but where is the energy and depth? 15.0p

Load more notes

Information

Origin

Beaune, Burgundy

Other wines from this producer

Aloxe-Corton

Bâtard-Montrachet

Beaujolais Nouveau

Beaune Clos des Mouches

Beaune Premier Cru

Bonnes Mares

Bourgogne blanc

Chablis

Chablis Grand Cru Les clos

Chablis Premier Cru

Chablis Vaillons Premier Cru

Chambertin

Chambertin Clos de Bèze

Chambertin-Clos de Bèze

Chambolle-Musigny

Chambolle-Musigny Amoureuses

Chambolle-Musigny Les Baudes

Charmes-Chambertin

Chassagne-Montrachet

Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jean

Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot 1er Cru

Clos de la Roche

Clos-Des-Mouches Blanc

Clos de Vougeot

Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru

Corton

Corton-Bressandes

Corton-Charlemagne

Côte de Beaune

Côte de Beaune Blanc

Côte de Nuits-Villages

Echezeaux Grand Cru

Gevrey-Chambertin

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cazetieres

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Cazetiers

Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Prieur

Gevrey-Chambertin Lavaux Saint-Jacques Premier Cru

Grands Echézeaux

Griotte-Chambertin

Laforet Bourgogne Chardonnay

Laforêt Bourgogne Pinot Noir

Meursault

Meursault Charmes

Meursault Genévriers

Meursault Goutte d’Or

Montrachet

Morey Saint-Denis 1er Cru Ruchots

Musigny

Nuits-Saint-Georges

Pommard-Rugiens

Puligny-Montrachet

Puligny-Montrachet 1er Les Folatieres

Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières

Richebourg

Romanée St. Vivant

Rully Blanc

Rully Rouge

Santenay 1er Cru Gravières

Vaudon Chablis 1er Cru Montmains

Volnay

Vosne-Romanée

Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts

Incorrect Information
If you found some information that is wrong, let us know
Are you sure you want do delete this wine? All information will be lost.
Are you sure you want to recommend this wine?
Are you sure you want hide this written note ?
Are you sure you want show this written note ?
UPGRADE MEMBER PLAN
Upgrade your membership now, it's quick and easy. We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards. Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal. You can cancel your membership at any time.
Thank you for your support!
 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

 

HOW TO USE TASTINGBOOK?

We recommend you to share few minutes for watching the following video instructions of how to use the Tastingbook. This can provide you a comprehensive understanding of all the features you can find from this unique service platform.

This video will help you get started



Taste wines with the Tastingbook


Create Your wine cellar on 'My Wines'



Explore Your tasted wines library



Administrate Your wine world in Your Profile



Type a message ...
Register to Tastingbook
Sign up now, it's quick and easy.
We use PayPal, the world's largest payment system, it accepts all credit cards.
Once you've chosen your membership level, you'll go directly to PayPal, where you can sign up for a free 7-day trial period. You can cancel your membership at any time. We wish you a rewarding journey to the world of Fine Wines.

Free 7 days Member trial

 

Member

 

Pro Member

 

Winemerchant Member

 

Winery Member

 

User

  Register