2010 Barons de Rothschild, Rare Vintage - Champagne Vintage - 1 Bottle (0.75L)

THE ROTHSCHILD RARE VINTAGE 2010
This vintage Blanc de Blancs expresses the quintessence of the Barons de Rothschild style.
Its tiny volume production has been subject to the same high standards
of care as the Rothschild Family’s finest wines.

THE 2010 VINTAGE
A rare vintage ideal for Chardonnay
The wine-growing year started out auspiciously with an early spring, but this promising start
was then impeded by the very low temperatures in June which delayed the flowering. The
summer brought thunderstorms, high temperatures and humidity, which made it difficult for
the Pinot Noir grapes in particular to ripen.
The vineyard plots in the Côte des Blancs selected for this champagne benefit from an
ideal exposure and the decision to pick the grapes at the end of the harvest, enabled these
Chardonnays to reach perfect maturity and a very high quality.
BLEND AND TERROIRS
- 100% Chardonnay
- 4 grands crus exclusively from the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Cramant, Oger, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
PRODUCTION
- Vinification in small 20-hl temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats
and a small proportion of wooden barrels
- Alcoholic fermentation by individual plot
- Exclusive use of the cuvée
- Long, 9 months’ ageing on the fine lees in small vats with regular bâtonnage (stirring of the lees)
- Late bottling in July
- Bottle-ageing on the lees: 8 years minimum
- Dosage: very light, 4-5 g/l
- Rest after disgorgement: 12 months minimum
- Vintage 2010 production: 6,240 bottles
TASTING NOTES
Perfect harmony
- Appearance: Beautiful pale gold hue with crystalline reflections.
- Nose: The first nose is very mineral and chalky with notes of citrus fruit, fresh almonds
and hazelnuts. The second nose then reveals notes of spices, tonka beans and nutmeg,
underpinned by a lovely freshness. After several minutes, aromas of stone fruit, mocha and
praline with pastry overtones start to come through.
- Palate: The wine is broad on entry with a verticality on the palate that mirrors the minerality
detected on the nose. The very fine saline and iodine notes, accompanied by touches of
lemon and citrus fruit, give way to spicy notes that underpin the long, warm finish and reveal
the perfect harmony that emanates from this wine.
SERVING ADVICE
This very fine champagne will make any great dining experience even greater, complementing
the flavours of the finest of dishes. This is a very versatile champagne; its slightly saline
character will marry perfectly with a tartare of scampi with citrus fruit or a poached turbot
fillet, while its spicy finish will complement lightly-spiced poultry breast or a veal medallion
with morel mushrooms.
This wine is best enjoyed between 8 and 10°C. and its cellar-ageing potential is excellent.

93/100 Wine Spectator Alison Napjus

A Champagne full of finesse, offering a heart of flavors of salted almond, melon and kumquat, supported by a lively acidity with lemony accents. Airy and refreshing, with notes of oyster shell and ground ginger coming through on the finish. Drink from now until 2030. 520 cases produced, 60 cases imported.

97 /100 Vinous Antonio Galloni

The 2010 Rare Vintage from Barons de Rothschild is a dazzling Champagne from the opening. Citrus, floral and mineral notes literally burst from the glass in a vibrant, wonderfully deep vintage Champagne that superbly expresses the character of Côtes de Blancs Chardonnay. The 2010 is a blend of grapes from Avize, Cramant, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, all Grand Cru villages. Fermentation was carried out both in stainless steel vats and in oak barrels, then the wine benefited from a relatively long aging period, around ten months, before being bottled in July 2011. The dosage was approximately 4 grams per liter. Production barely exceeds 6,000 bottles, which is tiny for the region. The 2010 Rare Vintage is a particularly vinous Champagne, and also a perfect example of a trend that I have been writing about for several years: large houses are discreetly making wines with a more daring style, often that which we see in the estates of some of the most progressive winemakers. (Originally published August 2020)

92 /100 Andreas Larsson

Andreas Larsson Light gold color with fine, lively bubbles. The nose reveals notes of pastry, with brioche, butter, vanilla, sweet peach and ripe citrus fruits. The palate combines aromas of ripe stone fruits with a beautiful acidity and a slight creaminess, with good hold and a long and persistent finish, suggesting a complexity of evolution. 1

8 /20 André Kunz (

100% Chardonnay, production 6,420 bottles) Finely mineral and chiselled bouquet : chalk, yellow fruits, slight notes of yeast, biscuit dough. Silky and delicate on the palate, with subtle fruit, fine foam, fresh aromatics, elegant finish. 18/20 to drink until 2035