While a rather too strong green element lurks behind the blue and black fruits of Duboeuf’s “flower label” 2010 Brouilly, and it finishes disappointingly drying and with detached tartness, a 1,500-case lot of 2010 Brouilly Domaine des Nazins – bottled already at the end of January – brims with juicy ripe blueberry and elderberry, and finishes with some of the lift and elegance Duboeuf advertises for it. Hints of sage and black pepper add to the pungent, tart sense of pep in a reasonably sustained finish. George Duboeuf and his estate-collaborators – for further general comments on whom consult my issue 190 report – harvested from mid-September into the first week of October and pronounced themselves reasonably satisfied with the size of their crop as well as its quality. Most of the fruit came in at between 12-12.5% alcohol, with only a small share being chaptalized. And while the manner of extraction typically practiced chez Duboeuf strikes me as serving for rather uniformly deep colors, Duboeuf remarked that the 2010s colored with particular, and surprising, ease. The percentage of wines bottled at the time of my June visit was, predictably, considerably higher than had been the case for the 2009s at the same point on the calendar. Observing conventions established in the aforementioned previous report, I have made reference to aging potential only for any wines that I expect might be worth following for longer than a couple of years, and where I have identified a wine solely by appellation, it represents a so-called “Selections Georges Duboeuf” cuvee, adorned with his company’s signature flower labels. I also tasted on this occasion several late-released, wooded “prestige” bottlings – rendered in 1,000-2,500 volumes – which however were not destined to appear in U.S. markets.Importer: William Deutsch & Son Ltd., White Plains, NY; tel. (914) 251-9463

Loads of juicy red fruit aromas are found in the nose of the 2005 Brouilly Domaine des Nazins. Medium-bodied and studded with red cherries as well as blackberries, this lively wine’s character lingers on the palate for 25 seconds or more. Drink it over the next 6 years. Importer: William Deutsch and Sons, White Plains, NY; tel (914) 251-9463.