By Chateau Olivier
Pessac-Leognan 2010

Wine Details
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
Appellation: Pessac-Leognan
Owners: Bethmann Famil
General Director: Laurent Lebrun
Vineyard Area: 60 hectares
Soil: Gravel (50%), clay-limestone (35%), and sand (15%)
Grape Varieties Grown: Cabernet Sauvignon (40%), Merlot (58%), Petit Verdot (2%)
Average Vine Age: 25 years

Vintage Details
A harsh winter in 2010 was followed by a rather timid spring, which caused a late start to vegetation. The mild and particularly dry summer allowed the production of grapes in perfect health of ideal maturity while preserving good aromatic freshness. Thus, Chateau Olivier was able to play on the aromatic potential of each grape variety by only harvesting case by case, plot by plot, and row by row. This year, the harvest was only done in the morning on the whole vineyard. This made it possible to maintain the necessary freshness of each berry to preserve the best aromas.

Harvest
The harvest began on September 20 and ended on October 15. The harvest is done manually in crates with yields of 40 hl/ha.

Production
Excellent extraction (tannins from few and ripe seeds, deeply colored wines) and malolactic fermentation in vats and barrels

Tasting Notes
Its color is a deep ruby, intense, and brilliant, with some signs of age. The fine and generous nose reveals a great concentration of black fruits such as blackcurrant or blackberry. Everything is deep and rich. A frank, generous, and sensual attack on the palate. Its mid-palate is round and thick, which gives a balanced and powerful whole. Delicious and fleshy with discreet but necessary acidity. The high-class tannins are well-integrated. The finish is long and still tight.
[Information provided by Chateau Olivier]

Wine: Chateau Olivier Pessac-Leognan 2010
Score/Rating: 95
Review Date: 11/14/2013
Reviewed By: James Suckling
Tasting Notes: Pure and beautiful aromas of blueberries and dark chocolate that follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a silky finish. Very fine indeed. Wonderful length to this. Best wines in years from here. [...]

Wine: Chateau Olivier 2010 Pessac-Leognan
Score/Rating: 93
Review Date: 05/01/2013
Reviewed By: Roger Voss
Tasting Notes: Continuing the great improvements at this estate, this 2010 is firm and solidly tannic, showing severity. As a contrast, it also shows acidity and black currant fruits that offer weight and richness. A balanced wine with a good future. 

Wine: Chateau Olivier Pessac-Leognan 2010
Score/Rating: 90
Review Date: 03/31/2013
Reviewed By: James Molesworth
Tasting Notes: Solid, with a saturated core of plum, anise and blackberry cloaked in ganache and melted licorice snap notes. Still has some toast to soak up on the finish, but the stuffing is there. This should evolve into a tobacco-filled version when mature. [...]

Wine: 2010 Chateau Olivier (Pessac-Leognan)
Score/Rating: 89
Review Date: 02/15/2013
Tasting Notes: This light, fresher, medium bodied style of wine, from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot is dominated by red fruits, earth and spice.

Wine: 2010 Olivier
Score/Rating: 87
Review Date: 07/2013
Reviewed By: Stephen Tanzer
Tasting Notes: Dark red. Musky, cool aromas of blueberry, mint, spices and herbs. Supple and fine-grained but dry and a bit herbal, conveying an impression of moderate ripeness. Licorice, spice and herb notes give freshness to the middle palate, but the finish turns dusty and a bit dry, showing modest persistence.

Wine: 2010 Olivier
Score/Rating: 86
Review Date: 03/30/2014
Reviewed By: Neal Martin
Tasting Notes: Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. I was hoping for more from this estate in 2010 after a promising showing after bottling. The nose [...] offers ripe black cherry and boysenberry scents with nicely integrated oak. The palate is medium-bodied with some hard tannins on the entry. This feels quite firm in the mouth with a meaty, slightly bretty finish. Tasted January 2014.

Wine: Ch Olivier 2010 Pessac-Leognan
Score/Rating: 16.5/20
Review Date: 09/11/2017
Reviewed By: Julia Harding MW
Tasting Notes: Deep youthful crimson. Intense aroma of cedary cassis and a light note of graphite freshness giving it fragrance. On the palate, just coming into its own with the tannins still definite but beautifully supple. There's still a surprising amount of savoury dark fruit here and a delicate peppery character. Delicious and a point though there is no hurry to drink this. Lovely fresh finish, moderate length.