Click for my discussion of the 100-point 2010 Cheval Blanc with their managing director

So many excellent wines were released this year on the market that it seems that some people have already forgotten the great 2010 vintage in Bordeaux. But they shouldn't. I wrote from the very beginning when I tasted the wines in barrel during spring 2011 that the 2010 vintage was a historical year. For me, it is the greatest modern vintage after 2009. It's better than 2005, 2000, 1995, 1990, 1989 and 1982. Discounting 2009, you have to go back to 1961 or 1959 for anything on the same level.

My Top 100 New-Release Bordeaux In 2013 list is thus dominated by 2010. In fact, only a handful of 2012s are on the list and they are mostly dry whites or Pomerols I tasted this year in barrel. The 2010 vintage really did make stunning wines: They are bold and dynamic reds with wonderfully ripe fruit, yet they also have structured tannins and racy acidities.

Click for my discussion of the 100-point 2010 Ducru-Beaucaillou with their owner

I think in the long run they may even outlive the more flamboyant and juicy 2009s, but I guess it doesn't really matter. They are both great vintages, and besides, I don't think I’m going to be around to find out their full aging potential, but you never know... More importantly, most of the wines in my list will need another eight to ten years of bottle age before you consider opening them. They are in a sleeping phase now, and are closed and tannic. Be patient.

I scored 11 wines 100 points in 2010. They are perfect young wines with all the fruit, tannins, acidity and alcohol in perfect balance. When you taste these wines, you feel their perfection. You just know they are great. They touch your soul. However, you don't only have to focus on 100 pointers in a vintage like 2010 with so many great wines available. Nor do you have to confine yourself to one appellation – though I have a slight preference for Pomerol, which was one of the few to deliver also in 2012. Every appellation, including lesser ones, made excellent wines and it's something that’s a sign of a great vintage in Bordeaux.

Click for my discussion of the 100-point 2010 Latour with their president

We all know that 2010 is very expensive for young Bordeaux. Some were released on the market as the most expensive young Bordeaux ever. However, there appears to have been a price correction in the market since, and many of the top wines have gone down in value anywhere from 20 percent to 40 percent. I am not sure how much lower they can go, and it may well be the perfect time to buy, but that needs another article!

In any case, there are a number of excellent values in my list. These include such wines as Smith Haut Lafitte white (97 points), Calon-Ségur (96), Feytit-Clinet (96), Gruaud-Larose (96), Clos du Marquis (96), Beychevelle (95), Gazin (95), Giscours (95), Grand-Puy-Lacoste (95), and Lagrange (95). All these wines should cost less than US$100 no matter where you are. Some, such as Lagrange and Beychevelle, could be as low as US$50.