I participated in a lot of the excellent 67 Pall Mall zoom tastings here in London last year where I tried quite a few 2010s in vertical line ups, all left banks iirc.
They generally showed very well as did the 2009s and the stylistic differences between the two vintages became most apparent. Generally speaking the 2009s and 2010s showed better than the 2005s.
Leoville Barton 2010 is a towering wine. Less open for business than the 2009. Big and austere with plenty of graphite in entry, allied to cassis and black pastille fruits. A wine with impeccable balance it has more freshness than the 2009 but really it is difficult to choose between them. The 2009 is a nose ahead right now; 96+ with potential for higher. Langoa is much more accessible - you can drink it now with pleasure - and outstanding too.
D’Issan 2010. My notes are brief but this is a great wine, and clearly the one that Emmanuel Cruse rated the most highly of the six he chose to show…serious, structured and perfectly balanced. I bought a case + 2 bottles. The 2010 was superior to the still excellent 2009 and comfortably better than the 2005. The other star in that line up was the 2019.
Haut-Bailly 2010. Compared to the demure 2012 tasted before the needle moves around the dial in every aspect with this wine because it is bigger in every way, particularly in its constitution, structure, power, richness, ripeness and concentration. But although it tips the scales at 14.3% abv it is not over the top in anyway and maintains impeccable balance and decorum. It is like a large muscular world-beating thoroughbred. The tannins are so refined which this makes this accessible and pleasurable now. Just so impressive. The 2009 was even better, and both way better than the gawky 2005.
Smith Haut-Lafitte 2010. An almost identical outcome: the 2010 ran the legendary 2009 very close. It was another towering 2010, big and structured, black fruited with graphite and an exhilarating tensile quality. The 2009 again is rounder, more opulent and more seductive than the 10, but the 09 is still rich, structured and very fine indeed; it unfurls beautifully; silky complex and very long. Daniel prefers the 2010, while Florence prefers the 2009.
Chateau Palmer 2010 - Thomas Douroux showed the 15, 10, 05, 00, 95, 90. My pecking order was 10/15/90/00/05/95. The 2010 is a profound wine and I think it will turn out comfortably better than the 1983 and 1989. I actually prefer the 1990 to the 1989 and this was a good one at 12% abv.
Giscours 2010 - cool minty nose, closed initially on the palate, Alexander Van Beek suggested decanting 24 hours in advance. Multi-layered, very classy, ‘virile’ (AVB), needs food and time. It continues to open and impress over the evening. However it was outpointed by the 2015 and 2016 as this estate continued to improve and replicate the glory days of the 1970s.
A good friend popped a Sociando Mallet 2010 last week and he reported that it already is showing superbly but obviously with plenty in hand.
The pattern is that 2010 is an outstanding vintage on the left bank, where it probably set a new benchmark, generally superior to the 2005s though broadly on a par with, but distinctly different from, the more opulent, rounder 2009s. Like the 2009s the 2010s do tend to be high in alcohol but they have no flab. They are like powerful thoroughbreds. I am very glad I went in big with this vintage - the only right bank I own is the sensational Conseillante, the other 19 are lefties.