Château Bolaire 2011
87-89/100
Robert Parker
15/20
RVF
15/20
Bettane & Desseauve
2*Étoiles
Hachette
88-91/100
Wine Spectator
“Planting on well-drained marshy soil, the Bolaire vineyard is unique in its emphasis on Petit Verdot, which makes up 54% of this wine, complemented by Merlot (37%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep color with violet highlights; an intense, fruit-forward nose with notes of black cherry and blackcurrant; a lively and powerful attack; well-integrated tannins that remain firm on the finish. “Solid as a rock and already harmonious.” (Le Guide Hachette des Vins 2015)
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Eye
pretty deep garnet dress
Nose
Intense and complex, with notes of blackberry, blackcurrant jam, and hints of vanilla
Palate
Smooth and delicate, with silky tannins, freshness, and balance; very charming
Serve
at 16°C
Open
1 hour before
Drink starting at
2015
Drink before
2019
Food and Wine Pairings
Enjoy it with small game, red meats, aged cheeses...
Bettane & Desseauve
Wine rated (2014 guide) 15/20 (Very good wine)
Rated estate (2018 guide) 1*Star (A high-quality, recommendable wine that lives up to what one would expect from its appellation(s))
About the wine:
Remarkably well-crafted: a distinctive nose with notes of blackcurrant and blackberry jam, gunflint, and vanilla-tinged oak; the palate expresses the same aromatic profile, velvety, fresh, balanced, and full of charm.
About the estate:
What makes this wine unique is the high percentage of Petit Verdot in its blend—typically around 40%. This grape variety reaches its full potential on the Palus terroir, which dominates this 5-hectare estate located on a former island in the Garonne River that was connected to the mainland during the Middle Ages. Full of character, the wines display exuberant aromas, generally very ripe fruit, skillfully balanced oak, and a texture that is both powerful and silky, always balanced by an elegant freshness. The exuberance and refinement unique to the estate are evident in the 2015 vintage, which is powerful, complex, deep, vibrant, and energetic.
Guide Hachette des vins
Wine rated (2015 guide) 2** stars (Outstanding Wine)
Rated estate (2019 guide) Award-winning wines (This producer’s wines regularly receive awards from the guide)
About the wine:
Planting on well-drained marshy soil, the Bolaire vineyard is unique in its emphasis on Petit Verdot, which makes up 54% of this wine, complemented by Merlot (37%) and Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep color with violet highlights; an intense, fruit-forward nose with hints of black cherry and blackcurrant; a lively and powerful attack; well-integrated tannins that remain firm on the finish. “Solid as a rock” and already harmonious.
About the estate:
Businessman Vincent Mulliez, who passed away in 2010, had purchased Château Bolaires (Bordeaux Supérieur) in the southern part of the Médoc, as well as Château Belle Vue and Château Gironville (Haut-Médoc), in 2004; these estates have since become reliable investments. His heirs have taken up the torch.
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rated (2012 guide) 87-89/100 (Good wine)
Estate rated "Recommended" (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Wine rated (2015 guide) 15/20 (Good wine)
Rated Estate (2019 Guide) Selected (Please note that this guide is a ranking, and as such, all the estates listed here—even those without a star—represent, in our view, the pinnacle of French winemaking.)
About the estate:
In the Macau marshes, in the locality known as Le Bout de l’Île, the team at Château Belle-Vue (Haut-Médoc) crafts a superbly made Bordeaux Supérieur. Its distinctive character stems from a significant proportion of Petit Verdot (60% of the blend), which gives the wine a perfectly balanced spicy and minty character. Produced from a late harvest, with low-temperature winemaking (to extract color and fruit expression) and barrel aging (30% new oak)—which can sometimes be a bit too dominant at the expense of the fruit—the most recent vintages stand out for their seductive profile and long finish. This estate is unquestionably one of the appellation’s safest bets!
Wine Spectator
Wine rated 88–91/100 (Very good wine)