"As Bordeaux châteaus prepare for their first official unveiling of the 2010 vintage, France's most famous wine region knows it has a tough act to follow. The 2009 vintage is a tremendous one that, by all accounts, has produced scads of classic-quality reds—and commanded record prices for the young wines.

"However, 2010 looks like it will give '09 a run for its money qualitatively, thanks to a long, dry, warm growing season marred only by some significant coulure (shatter) on old-vine Merlot vineyards that reduced the variety's crop size. That may mean that the Cabernet-dominated wines of the Left Bank will emerge as the top wines of the vintage. Early impressions of the young wines, which are still aging in barrels in the château cellars, indicate that the 2010 red Bordeaux are very ripe and sport some punch—with abundant tannins and slightly higher-than-usual alcohol levels. Despite that, the wines are also fresh and racy, as there looks to be plenty of acidity for balance." —Wine Spectator