Bordeaux 2015:
the reds
Rather unique in character, it is clear that 2015 – with its hallmark freshness – is the best vintage since 2010 in Bordeaux. Many of the wines are excellent, “modern classics” that combine elegance and power, but it is important to be selective.
Learn more about Bordeaux 2015:
the reds
So what of the style of the wines? There are lots which impress, that’s for sure. Freshness is a hallmark of this vintage, and the wines with concentration of fruit, precision and carefully judged grainy tannins are of a truly excellent quality. The Clarets of 2015 have been described as “Modern Classics” by many of the winemakers and we think this is a very accurate description.
The 2015 vintage is not a Merlot or Cabernet year. It is also not a Right or Left Bank vintage. Some great wines have been produced from all appellations – and some not too great wines as well.
In glowing terms, we used the following descriptors most often for the 2015s: charm, elegance, finesse, concentration, silky grainy tannins, freshness, beautiful spice, long persistent finish, underbelly of power, pace, harmony, structured complexity, multi-layered ripe and juicy fruit.
These characteristics make it a rather attractive vintage. In contrast to the wines of 10, 15, 20 years ago and more, the wines show a lot of ripe, juicy, fleshy fruit, and can appear very approachable –even at a young age and when tasted en primeur from barrel. The old-fashioned style was to go heavy on prominent tannins and high acidity: this vintage combines the best aspects of both, creating harmony and beautiful balance – hence the description as a modern classic.
The petits châteaux will be ready to drink five years from the vintage, but a lot of the best wines will be excellent well beyond that and into the next 20 or 30 years.
It is not possible to find a completely comparable vintage for 2015. It offers some of the best characteristics of a number of other vintages. However, it certainly sits just beneath the greats of the last 20 years (2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010) and the rest.
We found the greatest consistency of very good wines in Margaux, St Estèphe, Pomerol and Pessac-Léognan. However, there were excellent wines from all other appellations too including Pauillac, St Julien, St Emilion and the rest of the Médoc.
Prices:
Case price (H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl)
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 13cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 250cs
Case price (Magnum 6 x 150cl)
Magnum 6 x 150cl 49cs
Oliver Barton, Wine Buyer
Bottle
£15.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 58cs
Bottle
£21.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 160cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 25cs
The nose is pure and elegant with notes of blackberry, blueberry and a hint of smokiness. The wine opens up on the palate, becoming full and generous with ripe blackberry, blonde tobacco and peppery notes. An elegant tannic backbone carries through to a long and powerful finish. Drink now to 2025.
This estate is situated on the beautiful hillsides around Vérac, overlooking Pomerol and Lalande de Pomerol. It has been owned by the Lhuillier family since 1941, who craft boutique wines that are full of personality. Quality and consistency are evident in their terroir-driven winemaking approach which combines tradition and modernism.
Bottle
£22.95
Bottle 6 x 75cl 19cs
Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum
£29.00
Magnum 6 x 150cl 17cs
Stuart Rae, Fine Wine Commercial Manager
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 48cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Fine-grained tannins dominate the finish, which is persistent and with great harmony. Layers upon layers of fruit dance on the palate and a textured spice really pleases. It is a pure expression of wines from Margaux.
Blend: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
The wine is powerful, but has such precision that it takes your breath away. Fine-grained tannins add elegance and there’s an intriguing, almost raspberry hint to the finish. This is a beautiful wine with the most sumptuous of finishes. A terrific, seamless wine, with a core of minerality: a true wine-lover’s wine.
Blend: 44% Merlot, 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot
Blend: 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 6 x 150cl 1cs
The length is long and fresh, with a lingering coolness. The wine displays a tension, suggesting there is more to come in the future. What a terrific effort this year, the wine is certainly very close to its more illustrious neighbours and should therefore offer tremendous value.
Blend: 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl 1cs
90-92/100
Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
This wine fundamentally tastes just as Pauillac should: silky, creamy and lush; ripe, fleshy and juicy. There is concentration here, as well as balance, and the cool freshness one has come to expect of wines from 2015 vintage. Really excellent.
Blend: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Layered with terrific creamy notes, this wine lifts, lifts and lifts with each moment it sits on the palate. The generosity of fruit fills the finish and it combines beautifully with the spicy, toasty vanilla. There is some power here, but the structure is so sound, that it is felt but not forceful. The finish is prolonged and effortlessly enjoyable.
Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
The rich, intoxicating nose is extremely exciting, I just love the racy, pure cassis notes. The silky core of fruit is absolutely delicious. This is a really strong wine from a vintage which is justifiably rated highly. The crunch of fruit, a hallmark of the vintage, is present and utterly refreshing.
Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc
The finish is peppery and full of spice, with some hints of cedar too. I really like this wine. It's a top-class Pauillac, brilliant Claret and so precise. The velvety palate is polished and direct, but there is lots of interest dancing around the mouth. Another fantastic wine from François-Xavier Borie.
Blend: 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Imperial 1 x 600cl 1cs
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Imperial 1 x 600cl 1cs
Imperial 1 x 600cl 2cs
Blend: 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
The gravelly soils offer a lovely character and the wine has a sense of place, of terroir. Light in the mouth, the tobacco, sweet black fruits and creamy texture create a wonderful palate, but the savoury characteristics are what I enjoy most about this wine. It is another really promising wine for this up and coming estate.
Blend: 45% Cabernet Franc, 30% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon
Blend: 58% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Stuart Rae - Private Account Manager
Nice dark, Cabernet Sauvignon, blackcurrant fruit, seasoned with a touch of black pepper and a hint of oak on the nose. Similar fruit profile on the palate, quite rich and “modern”, very well-made with crisp acidity and some nice faintly grippy tannins. Very good value.
Chris Pollington - Private Account Manager
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Blend: 81% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc
