The 2010 Bonnes-Mares comes across as soft, subtle and perfumed. The more delicate, feminine side of Bonnes-Mares comes through in the beautifully delineated fruit. Floral notes add lift on the finish. The Bonnes-Mares needs time to come together. Today it isn’t fully expressive. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2030. Once again I tasted with the entire team at Remoissenet, including President Pierre Rovani, General Manager Bernard Repolt, Winemaker Claudie Jobard and Vineyard Manager Fred Le Prince. Remoissenet continues to ratchet up the quality of their reds. Given the house’s preference for texturally rich wines, the cool 2010 vintage provided attractive balancing elements here. The harvest started on September 27 and finished on October 6.Importers: Simon N Cellars, Charlottesville, VA; tel. (434) 977-4476, Bertin Henri Selections, Doral, FL; tel. (305) 392-6995, Cavatappi Distribuzione, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 292-5226, Dark Star Imports, New York, NY; tel. (646) 312-8921, Arborway Imports, Lexington, MA; tel. (781) 862-0515, United Wine and Spirits, Houston, TX; tel. (713) 696-9463, D.G.L. Distributors, Northbrook, IL; tel. (847) 291-1110, The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 603-1460

The 2009 Bonnes Mares is a big, massive wine bursting with dark fruit. This is a huge, rich Bonnes Mares. Though undoubtedly well made, there isn-t a ton of vineyard character in this vintage. The Bonnes Mares is made from purchased fruit and was aged in 100% new oak. Anticipated maturity: 2019-2029. I tasted a wide range of wines with winemaker Claudie Jobard and president Pierre-Antoine Rovani, one of my predecessors at The Wine Advocate. Remoissenet has undergone a significant face lift under the guidance of Rovani and a new ownership team headed by a group of American investors. today's wines are made in an overt, fruit-forward style. Overall I found most of the best reds to be those made from estate owned fruit, while the wines made from purchased fruit are in most cases still works in progress, not surprising considering how much has changed here in a relatively short time span. Remoissenet favors low yields in the vineyards (estate vineyards are farmed biodynamically), harvests late and vinifies with long but gentle fermentations. The estate is not shy in using new oak to give the wines additional volume, including 100% new barrels for all the Grand Crus. Many of the entry-level 2009s were bottled early to preserve softness. I tasted the remaining wines from barrel.Importers: Simon N Cellars, Charlottesville, VA; tel. (434) 977-4476, Bertin Henri Selections, Doral, FL; tel. (305) 392 6995, Cavatappi Distribuzione, Seattle, WA; tel. (206) 292 5226, Dark Star Imports, New York, NY; tel. (646) 312 8921, Arborway Imports, Lexington, MA; tel. (781) 862-0515, United Wine and Spirits, Houston, TX; tel. (713) 696-9463, D.G.L. Distributors, Northbrook, IL; tel. (847) 291- 1110, The Sorting Table, Napa, CA; tel. (707) 603-1460