Château Desmirail 2010

Tasting Notes and Advice for Château Desmirail 2010

Tasting

Appearance
The wine stands out for its deep purple color with intense violet highlights, with remarkable density that reflects the vintage’s concentration.

Nose
The bouquet reveals fine aromatic complexity dominated by notes of blackcurrant and licorice, accompanied by floral nuances of violet. Hints of ripe dark fruit and subtle spicy accents round out this elegant aromatic expression.

Palate
The attack is generous and fleshy, unveiling a silky texture and fine density. The palate expresses concentrated dark-fruit aromas supported by velvety tannins and a solid structure. The oak integrates elegantly, while the finish is taut and serious, offering fine aromatic persistence on notes of blackcurrant and licorice.

Food and Wine Pairings

This Château Desmirail 2010 pairs perfectly with a roast saddle of lamb, duck with cherries, or soft cheeses such as Reblochon and Saint-Nectaire. It also matches very well with grilled red meats, game, or roasted poultry.

Serving and Cellaring

Château Desmirail 2010 benefits from being decanted 1 to 2 hours before serving to fully reveal its aromatic range. Ideally serve at a temperature of 15.5°C. Ready to drink, this wine can still be aged and will continue to evolve favorably.

An elegant, structured Margaux from an exceptional vintage

The estate

Founded in the mid-18th century, Château Desmirail is a Third Growth (Grand Cru Classé) of 1855 located in Cantenac, in the Margaux appellation, Bordeaux. The vineyard covers 37 to 40 hectares in the Haut-Médoc. Denis Lurton, owner since 1992, continued the revival initiated in 1980 by Lucien Lurton, with replanting and modernization of the cellars: tasting room in 1993, stainless-steel vat room in 1997, wooden vats from 1999, and renovation in 2010.

The vineyard

The Château Desmirail vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir composed of deep Quaternary gravels, characteristic of the Margaux appellation. These gravelly soils, complemented by sandy and clay subsoils, provide optimal drainage and ideal conditions for grape ripening. The plots are spread across the communes of Cantenac, Arsac, and Soussans. With an average age of over 25 years, the vines are farmed sustainably, without herbicides or insecticides, with soil plowing and manual harvesting.

The vintage

The 2010 vintage is considered exceptional in Bordeaux. After a harsh winter and a dry spring, the summer was warm with cool nights that preserved the grapes’ aromatic freshness. Well-timed rains in September made it possible to complete ripening under optimal conditions. These ideal climatic conditions fostered remarkable phenolic ripeness, small concentrated berries, and perfect balance between richness, tannic structure, and acidity.

Vinification and aging

Château Desmirail 2010 benefited from parcel-by-parcel vinification in stainless-steel and wooden vats, allowing the expression of each terroir to be respected. Aging took place in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months, with around 40% new oak. This moderate proportion of new barrels helps preserve the wine’s natural elegance while providing additional structure. Malolactic fermentation was carried out in vat before blending and barreling.

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), Merlot (29%), Petit Verdot (1%)