menu
Departments
.svg)
.png)
Sixteen years after the harvest, some of Bordeaux's greatest 2010s are still waiting to reach their peak.
Writing in last weekend's Financial Times, wine critic Jancis Robinson revisits the celebrated 2010 vintage following a tasting of 37 leading Bordeaux wines at The Savoy in London. In her article, A Bordeaux Vintage Worth Waiting For, Robinson describes 2010 as the “archetypal long-distance runner”, a vintage whose remarkable concentration and structure continue to reward patience.
The tasting brought together some of Bordeaux's most distinguished estates, including Château Latour, Château Margaux, Château Mouton Rothschild and Château Haut-Brion.
.png)
Robinson found considerable life ahead for many of the wines, singling out Château Figeac, Château Pichon Baron and Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste among her favourites. Even after sixteen years, several of the finest examples remain some way from full maturity.
It is an interesting reminder of what makes a well-maintained wine cellar so appealing. Great Bordeaux was traditionally purchased by the case, often en primeur, with the intention of allowing the wines to develop over decades. While buying habits have changed, the attraction of mature bottles with good provenance and a documented history of storage remains.
For collectors, there eventually comes a decision: which bottles to enjoy, which to continue cellaring and which to offer for sale. Wines that have spent ten, twenty or even thirty years in suitable storage can be particularly appealing to buyers who would rather not undertake the wait themselves.
At Adam's, our September Fine Wine & Spirits auction achieved a 94% sell-through rate for wine, with strong bidding across Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and other established wine regions.
We are now finalising consignments for our next Fine Wine & Spirits auctions on 4th and 7th December.
Whether you have a single exceptional bottle, a few cases in their original wooden packaging or an entire cellar assembled over many years, we would be delighted to hear from you. We are particularly interested in mature Bordeaux, fine Burgundy, vintage Champagne, Italian wines and rare spirits.
For a complimentary auction valuation or to discuss a last-minute consignment, please contact Conor Barry at conor@adams.ie.
Fine Wine & Spirits Auctions - 4th & 7th December 2026
Adam's, 26 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2
.avif)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
.webp)
John ffrench was an instrumental figure in the design industry in Ireland and a distinguished pioneer of Irish studio pottery.
)%20(1).webp)
%20(002).webp)
%20(2).webp)
%20(1200%20x%20768%20px)%20(2).webp)
.webp)
.webp)
"I should declare my hand. I have a weakness for pictures that punch above their physical weight, and for artists who have been quietly underrated for too long. This pair is both. They are intimate enough to live with at close quarters and serious enough to repay any amount of looking. If the market has lately shown signs of catching up with eighteenth-century Irish painting and I think it has, these two small panels feel, to me, like exactly the sort of thing that will look obvious in twenty years’ time."
Adam’s is honoured to present works from the collection of Lord Rossmore in the upcoming Country House Collections auction at Howth Castle on 28th April. It is seldom that an influential Irish family collection that has survived through the generations comes to the open market.
Works Sold at Adam’s Now in the Irish National Collection
A great opportunity to purchase both established and lesser-known artist’s work at an accessible price point, the Online Picture Auction is the first of many sales to be hosted at Adam’s in 2026. It is perfect for those looking to start a collection and the discerning collector alike.
Through this article, let our expert Adam Pearson guiding you to the (re)discovery of the once established Irish painter Richard O’Neill.
James Adam & Sons Ltd, Fine Art Auctioneers and Valuers, 26 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
D02 X665, Ireland
