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:
Bottle
£14.50
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle
£21.00
Bottle 6 x 75cl 430cs
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 23cs
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 24cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 21cs
Case price (Magnum 6 x 150cl)
Magnum 6 x 150cl 21cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 3cs
Get this product for half-price when you purchase 12 bottles of Ch. Fleur Haut Gaussens. Find out more here. *
Although this wine is classified as a “humble” Bordeaux Supérieur, its grower, Hervè Lhuillier, lavishes Grand Cru levels of care on its vines. This shows in the wine, which is incredibly sleek and polished for this level – a quality further enhanced by the generosity of the 2015 vintage. Lovely plum and cedar aromas are evident, and the wine is long, but not overdone. Overall, it’s a very impressive effort.
*Offer ends at 6pm on 1st October, subject to stocks. This offer is limited to one half-price magnum per customer.
Magnum
£29.00
Magnum 6 x 150cl 42cs
Stuart Rae, Fine Wine Commercial Manager
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 57cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
There is some sweetness, but it is allied to a purity which works very well indeed. This is a great example of Claret and Pauillac. It is also excellent value, and a wine which we have no hesitation in recommending again this year. Another very enjoyable wine from this estate.
Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
The wine tastes glorious, just as great wine should taste: crunchy pure and fresh fruit, high acidity, silky ripe tannins and nice balance. This is a triumphant wine, with a typical and classic blend for this great estate, and phenomenal length. It is a wine that the château can be proud of. Really elegant and one of our favourites, it's a must-buy this year.
Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 48cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
One of the top second wines, Alter Ego is lush and approachable, with red fruit dominant on the nose. The wine almost has its own identity now, one of the greatest compliments we can pay it. Beautifully fine tannins surround a mighty, meaty, focused core of fresh, ripe, crunchy fruit and a creamy texture. Very good indeed, the length is quite astonishing. Really enticing and attractive, this is a real triumph indeed.
Blend: 52% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot
Case price (Bottle 12 x 75cl)
Bottle 12 x 75cl 10cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl 1cs
Full-bodied, it exhibits superb concentration, sweet tannin, and a multi-layered, textured, full-bodied mouth-feel. The sweet, perfumed nose is so, so enticing and the palate simply doesn't disappoint.
Blend: 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Case price (Bottle 6 x 75cl)
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère
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 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 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Soft and round, the wine is elegant and generous on the lingering finish. Tasting wine at Ch. Margaux is one of the greatest parts of our job. It’s a true privilege. It is the most beautiful château and always one of the most elegant and sophisticated wines of any trip: 2015 is no exception.
Blend: 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
The fresh mineral character is immediately appealing, such a refreshing palate. Everything feels harmonic. The dark fruits on offer are so beguiling. This estate often offers good-value wines which will be drinking within 10 years of the vintage, and we see no reason to alter that view in 2015.
Blend: 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot
It is creamy, brimming full of dark, dense blackberries and has a lovely savoury finish. This is seriously juicy, and I really like the succulent ripe fruits that dominate the palate. The cool and racy undertones are really pleasing. Full of flair and gravitas, if priced correctly it will be a real treat.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
90-92/100
Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
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 1cs
Blend: 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 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
Magnum 1 x 150cl 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
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
D. Magnum 1 x 300cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 1cs
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 1cs
H/Bottle 12 x 37.5cl 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 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Imperial 1 x 600cl 1cs
Imperial 1 x 600cl 1cs
Blend: 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc
Blend: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Bottle 12 x 75cl 1cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 2cs
Magnum 3 x 150cl 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
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
Bottle 6 x 75cl 2cs
Bottle 6 x 75cl 1cs
Oliver Barton, Wine Buyer