B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
WOW, what a pleasure! Tasted in February at Vinexpo Paris against Bordeaux from 2009 and 2010, which were two to three times the price, I was blown away by the shockingly good 2010 Chateau Citran, From the outstanding Bordeaux vintage declared “truly superb” by James Suckling, the 2010 Chateau Citran is an opulent, expressive and pristinely cellared Left Bank blend coming direct from the Chateau cellar, an exciting opportunity to enjoy the complexity of a well-aged Bordeaux now and over the next few years for an incredibly budget-friendly price.
Located just west of Margaux in the Haut-Medoc and classified as Cru Bourgeois, the fairytale-like 13th century Chateau Citran was owned by the same family for over 600 years until the early 1800’s, falling into disrepair over the next century and a half until considerable investments beginning in the 1940’s fueled its renaissance. Under the ownership of renowned Bordeaux merchants, the Merlaut family since 1996, the 2010 Chateau Citran was sourced from the estate’s 94 hectares of sustainably farmed vineyards, planted mostly to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with a small amount of Cabernet Franc in sandy gravel soils and divided into two major parcels, one surrounding the historic chateau and the other near the village. A blend of 55% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cab Franc, the hand-harvested fruit for the 2010 Chateau Citran was sorted in the vineyard and fermented in a combination of stainless steel and cement tanks and oak barrels under the direction of famed consultant of Eric Boissenot, then aged in 38% new French oak barriques for 15 months with the additional 10 years of bottle aging yielding a nuanced, aromatic Bordeaux with layered dark fruit and mellowed, ultra-fine tannins.
While the quality of many older Bordeaux vintages can be questionable due to less than optimal storage conditions, this ex-Chateau offer of the intriguing 2010 Chateau Citran guarantees perfect provenance, a not to be missed opportunity to enjoy an expertly cellared, well-aged Bordeaux that’s drinking beautifully at a simply incredible price - certain to sell out quickly, don’t hesitate to secure your stash. |