Sylvain scored this wine: 97/100
"Essence de Dourthe" as the name implies is a wine designed to capture the very essence of the best that Bordeaux as to offer. It is also the vanity label of 'Groupe Vignobles Dourthe', which on the most remarkable vintage years will mandate its best winemakers to select only the best grapes, best crus, best vinification practices, best barrels etc. in order to produce the top most wine within each of the Dourthe's collective of Bordeaux wineries. These premium wines from different Bordeaux terrors are then subjected to rigorous in-house tasting and blending panels to assemble a unique blend for that privileged vintage. The result is what some have called a "Super-Bordeaux", in the fashion of a SuperTuscan or the elite wine partnerships, such as Opus One.
Whatever you wish to name this unorthodox premium French Bordeaux, it is sublime! The 2010 blend of Essence de Dourthe is sourced from four Châteaux -- La Garde, Le Boscq, Belgrave, and Lamarzelle. A mere 500 cases were produced for the 2010 vintage and, of that, only 10 cases are destined for Canada in Fall 2017.
This wine is opaque and pitch black with a garnet rim. After decanting or about one hour, the aroma was intense and complex with abundant ripe red cherries and black currant, plums, figs, olives, cigar box, and spearmint. Full bodied, yet supple and elegant mouthfeel with well-rounded and silky tannins and a superbly balanced juicy and vibrant acidity. The extended finish keeps your mouth watering with layered black fruits and leaves in need of one more sip! Art in bottle. Score 97. (S.Segard, reviewed April 2017)
