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This firm wine shows the tannic side of the vintage. Those tannins are dusty, enriched with black-currant fruits and a dense backdrop. The wine is concentrated and elegant, very ageworthy and not likely to be ready before 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEPlenty of violets and dark berries on offer here. This has a striking sense of purity as well as an energetic, regal palate. The structure is impressively groomed with effortless depth and length. A standout wine. Try from 2022.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2015 Giscours has a beautiful, clean, pure bouquet of generous ripe black cherry, raspberry and crushed violet aromas that could only come from Margaux. The medium-bodied palate is quite dense but wonderfully poised, offering sappy red fruit and very fine tannin and delivering impressive detail on the bay leaf and tea leaf finish. Alexandre van Beek oversaw one of the best Giscours in recent years. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 95 VMDeep, plush fruit which is hard to push through at first - it resists rather than giving way. There are layers of muscular fruit on the palate with some gorgeous touches of tobacco and charcoal. This is one to age - and to double-decant if you’re thinking about opening it up in the next decade. 50% new oak. Drinking Window 2025 - 2040.Decanter | 95 DECDeep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Giscours opens with expressive cassis, blackberry and red currants on the nose with touches of cedar chest, roses and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied with a good core of muscular fruit and firm, grainy tannins, it finishes long.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RPPolished and rounded in feel, with a solid core of plum and blackberry compote flavors, lined with light hints of charcoal, tobacco and violet. Nice perfumy tobacco and warm tar notes show on the finish. Very well-integrated, making this approachable now, but there’s no rush. Best from 2020 through 2035. 23,333 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

Intensity and clarity of fruit is so insane. Blackberries, spices such as cloves, blueberries, sandalwood and dried lavender. Full body and such a beautiful, dense center palate with perfectly polished tannins. Extremely long and beautiful. One of the best young Montroses in a long, long time. Drink in 2024.James Suckling | 98 JSThis sumptuous, powerful wine has a great sense of structure and tannins. It is also overwhelmingly dense with black fruits and swathes of rich black currants. In this vintage, even more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual in the blend has given a ripe wine set for a far-distant future. Drink from 2026. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Montrose opens with broody black fruits, menthol and anise notes with a core of cassis, blueberries and mulberries plus a touch of cedar chest. The medium-bodied mouth is firm and chewy with a good core of muscular fruit and a long, earthy finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPThe 2015 Montrose has a very intense bouquet of blackberry, raspberry coulis, iodine and violet scents that blossom in the glass, demonstrating more exuberance than (what transpired to be) the 2015 Meyney. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, very well judged acidity, taut and linear with satisfying freshness and poise on the finish. Maybe this just has the edge over the Meyney. Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 95 VMAnother wine I was able to taste on multiple occasions, the 2015 Montrose is a certainly the wine of Saint-Estèphe in 2015. Notes of cassis, damp earth, violets, and graphite/lead pencil notes all flow to a beautifully pure, elegant and multi-dimensional 2015 that has fine, polished tannin, perfect balance, and a great finish. The 2015 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, all of which was brought up in 65% new oak. This isn’t a blockbuster yet is pure class all the way. It will be better in 4-5 years and keep for 2-3 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD(Château Montrose, St-Estèphe, Red) An imposing wine which shows the excellence of the winemaking and terroir, but it’s not as deft or effortless as the 2016. Montrose is often austere in its youth, and the well-knitted black fruits wound with tight strands of liquorice are clearly capable of long ageing. There is something extremely special here, although the tannins are very much closed up right now. The smallest selection for the grand vin for 15 years. (Drink between 2025-2040)Decanter | 93 DECFleshy for the vintage, with good plum and dark currant fruit lined with ample tobacco, warm paving stone, bay leaf and alder notes on the slightly dusty finish. Not a charmer, but this is integrated and shows range and depth for the vintage. Best from 2020 through 2035. Wine Spectator | 92 WS

A beautifully perfumed young red with blackcurrants, blackberries and dark chocolate. Some sweet tobacco. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a very balanced and refined palate, showing focus and tightness. This needs time to open. Try after 2023. Reviewed in Hong Kong Chinese Wine Tasting July 2020.James Suckling | 94 JSTouch of reduction on the first nose that needs time to clear. This has ripe red fruits, liquorice, crushed stone, and some lovely grilled cedar oak notes, but it feels more evolved than I expected at five years old. A number of 2015s are closed right now, so this may be the case here, but for sheer pleasure my money would be on the 2014 if you are looking to drink soon. 3.79pH. Harvest from September 29 to October 10. (Drink between 2021-2036)Decanter | 93 DECThis spicy wine shows how far the estate has moved from its over-use of new wood. In this bottling, the wood is subtle and doesn’t mask the rich fruit and the juicy acidity. It still has the structure of a Saint-Estèphe while keeping everything in good balance. Drink from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2015 Phélan Ségur has turned out beautifully. Muscular tannins wrap around a core of red cherry, plum, graphite, crushed flowers and mint. There is plenty of substance in the glass. In fact, this is one of the most polished recent young Phélans I can remember tasting. Floral notes add an appealing upper register, while silky, ripe tannins give the 2015 a good bit of early appeal. Perhaps most importantly, the 2015 is not penalized by the rustic tannins that have been an issue here in the past.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGI was able to taste the 2015 Phelan Segur on multiple occasion and it showed beautifully both times. Black currants, scorched earth, espresso and hints of chocolate all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, concentrated, firm, structured, dense Saint-Estèphe. It needs 3-4 years of bottle age but will see its 20th birthday in fine form. (Drink between 2021-2036)Jeb Dunnuck | 91+ JDMedium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Phélan Ségur has a nose of red and black currants with earthy notes of fungi, dried herbs, damp soil and tapenade. The palate is medium-bodied with a good fruit core, firm and chewy tannins and nice freshness.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90+ RP

Aromas of blackberries, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, dense and layered. Shows the structure and muscle of this estate. Needs time to soften and come together. Serious. Try in 2021.James Suckling | 94 JSWhile a step back from the sensational looking 2016, the 2015 Tronquoy Lalande is nevertheless a smokin’ good bottle of wine. Plums, graphite, earth and smoked herb notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, nicely concentration, plump, rounded 2015 that’s a huge success for the northern Médoc in 2015. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following two decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThe 2015 Tronquoy-Lalande feels just a little herbaceous (not green) on the nose. It is well defined but just lacks that extra zip and brightness demonstrated by some of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, quite fresh and classic in style with lightly spiced, black-pepper-tinged blackberry and bilberry fruit. Demonstrating ample grip on the finish, this should mature into a commendable Saint-Estèphe. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 91 VMWith the same winemaking team as Château Montrose, this ripe, dense wine has something of the same approach to the rich tannins and concentrated black fruit. This powerful wine has a dry, age-worthy character as well as generous fruit that keeps a crisp, succulent character. It will be best from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 91 WEAll the richness with none of the toughness this wine showed in the past – even some florality and freshness to make it more impressive. Drinking Window 2020 - 2030.Decanter | 90 DEC

This sister property to Château Giscours is firing on all cylinders with this wine. Rich, full of black-currant fruit and dark tannins, it is dense while also supple. It has excellent aging potential and should not be drunk before 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEA rich and layered red with dark-berry and chocolate character. Full-bodied, round and juicy with supple tannins. Delicious finish of spices and walnuts. Generous yet fresh. So approachable now but better in 2021.James Suckling | 95 JSGorgeous sandalwood, rooibos tea and warm raspberry aromas lead off, with silky and refined waves of cassis, blackberry preserves and black currant paste flowing through. The long, silky finish is laden with melted licorice, mesquite and iron notes. Best from 2022 through 2035. 13,333 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSFull of a late summer evening feel, where the sense of exuberance fits the sheer languid sexiness of the thing. This has smoky oak, rich blueberries and charcoal. The ripe fruit is not precise so much as enticing; it’s an unhurried and extremely beguiling wine.Decanter | 92 DECThe 2015 du Tertre is a firm, potent wine with plenty of energy and overall drive. As it did from barrel, the bottled 2015 comes across as lacking a bit of mid-palate depth, which makes the wine its rather compact feel. There is good nuance to the savory, earthy flavors, but I would like to see a little more fruit and overall depth. Even so, the 2015 is an attractive wine with plenty of character. The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Merlot and 10% Petit Verdot.Antonio Galloni | 91 AGThe 2015 du Tertre is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of baked cherries, blackberries and dried herbs with a waft of potpourri and fallen leaves. The medium-bodied palate is delicately styled with perfumed red and black fruits supported by firm, grainy tannins and it finishes with a refreshing herbal lift.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90+ RP

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier has turned out even better than I expected. Bright floral notes give striking aromatic lift to the rich, sumptuous fruit. A marvelously complete wine, the 2015 is racy and silky on the palate, yet also has tremendous freshness. Bright red cherry, blood orange, white pepper, spice and dried flowers build into the super-expressive finish. The 2015 has been nothing less than stunning the three times I have tasted it so far. This is a tremendous showing from proprietor Olivier Bernard and his team. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGI was able to taste the 2015 Domaine de Chevalier twice and it showed sensationally both times. A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was harvested between October 1st and October 15th, this deep ruby/purple-colored effort has soaring aromatics of caramelized black cherries, cassis, lead pencil shavings, and forest floor. Deep, full-bodied, intense and beautifully pure, with fine tannin and moderate acidity, it’s a gorgeous Pessac-Leognan that needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will evolve for three decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDSuave, spicy oak and warm, stony aromas, making immediate interest and giving way to vivid and fresh dark cherries, blackberries and cassis. The palate adds graphite-like, savory cherry-stone flavors amid smooth, velvety tannins. Tangy blackberries through the finish. Impressive. Try from 2020.James Suckling | 97 JSThe 2015 Domaine de Chevalier is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. It went through malolactic and aging on its lees during three months in 35% new, 35% one-year-old and 30% two-year-old barrels, with a total aging of 18 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it has lovely spiciness on the nose—Chinese five spice and black pepper—with a core of red and black cherries and smoked meats. Medium-bodied, finely crafted and refreshing, it’s quite minerally in the mouth and persistent on the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPSexy burnish of charcoal-grilled rich black cherry fruit with firmly held tannins. A lovely wine – fairly high powered compared to some; this is one to cellar for a while. Drinking Window 2025 - 2038.Decanter | 95 DECThis wine is ripe, rich and generous. It brings out the almost-sweet character of the fruit in this vintage. At the same time, the tannins are firm and support all this fruitiness. The wine will develop well. Drink from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThis has a solid core of gently steeped plum and blackberry fruit inlaid liberally with warm ganache and roasted vanilla notes. Warm, dark earth details pervade the finish, along with hints of tobacco and espresso, though this remains suave and perfumy overall. Best from 2021 through 2031. 9,167 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

This wine is definitely softening and taking on shape in the bottle. The juiciness is starting to appear and you can see why this is the most easily approachable of the Mouton stable when young. Really enjoyable, delicately shaped but with the Pauillac signature of menthol and slate. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drinking Window 2025 - 2036.Decanter | 93 DECBerries and smoke with some wet-earth and leather undertones. Medium to full body, round and velvety tannins and a juicy and delicious finish. Like the walnut and coffee undertone. Drink in 2020.James Suckling | 93 JSComposed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2015 D’Armailhac displays a medium to deep garnet-purple color and exuberant notions of exotic spices and potpourri over a core of black and red cherry preserves plus wild blueberries and a waft of tar. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals mouth-filling, juicy black berry flavors with approachable, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness on the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPA singed vanilla and alder frame keeps a medium-weight core of plum and black currant fruit coiled up while tobacco and violet details fill in. A pretty, fine-edged chalky spine holds the finish. Best from 2021 through 2031.Wine Spectator | 92 WSMade by the team at Mouton Rothschild, the 2015 Château D’Armailhac is a ripe, sexy 2015 that has plenty of power and depth in its cassis, lead pencil shaving, spice, and roasted herbs aromas and flavors. The 2015 is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon blended with roughly 30% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, and it’s medium to full-bodied, balanced, nicely concentrated and should keep for two decades or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThis wine is firm, almost classically Pauillac in its black currants and acidity. The tannins are present behind the bright fruit and crisp texture. This wine has a dry core that will need to soften. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEThe 2015 d’Armailhac has a precise, graphite-scented bouquet featuring black fruit laced with light rose petal aromas - discreet but engaging. The medium-bodied palate offers quite firm tannin framing dusky, dark black fruit laced with brown spices and sage. I am just seeking a little more brightness and verve on the finish, but otherwise, this is fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 91 VM

The 2015 Brane-Cantenac is powerful, structured and explosive in feel. A deep, resonant wine, the 2015 boasts off the charts ripeness allied to formidable structure and tannic heft. I imagine the 2015 is going to need a number of years to become approachable and more than that to be at its best. The dark stone fruit, smoke, tobacco, spice and leather flavors pack a huge punch, but it is the wine's balance that places it among the elite on the Left Bank in 2015. Brane-Cantenac is a total pleasure bomb. I can't wait to taste it with a little bottle age.Antonio Galloni | 96 AGRight from the attack this has beautiful intensity and focus, with tannins covered by a layer of silk. A dash of violet and white pepper comes in from the Carmenère and Cabernet Franc two-step (from now on you can expect this partnership to appear more regularly). This is frankly delicious, the generous berry fruits reverberating with some wonderful notes of coffee bean and charcoal smoke, outlined by a mouthwatering minerality. A step up in poise and texture from the 2014. 39% of production. Drinking Window 2025 - 2038.Decanter | 96 DECRich, fruity and with great potential, this ripe wine is also dense with firm tannins. Its juicy fruits are a part of a package with the concentrated tannins and smoky wood flavors that allow for long aging. This is an impressive wine from one of the Margaux properties owned by the Lurton family. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2015 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as a mix of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Carmenere brought up in roughly 75% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty excels on all accounts and gives up gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil, spice and hints of toasted bread. Polished, impeccably balanced, concentrated, and with ripe tannin, it’s a rock star in 2015 that can be drunk young or cellared for 20-25 years. Bravo!Jeb Dunnuck | 94 JDQuite impressive ripe dark plums and blackberries with sweet, earthy depth and cedary background oak on the nose. The palate has smooth, slick tannins that carry rich dark fruit long and fresh. This has terrific energy and depth. Really vibrant. Incredible length. Drink from 2022.James Suckling | 94 JSSilky and refined, with seductive crushed plum and raspberry fruit that glides along, perfectly melded with singed alder and mesquite notes along with black tea and warm licorice details. A violet element hangs in the background, adding to the elegance. Best from 2020 through 2035. 12,500 cases made. Wine Spectator | 93 WSThe 2015 Brane-Cantenac is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of crushed black berries and chocolate-covered cherries with touches of fried herbs and tilled soil. Medium-bodied, refreshing and elegant in the mouth, with chewy tannins, it has an herbal lift on the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RP

The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is phenomenally great. Inky, powerful and explosive, the 2015 pulses with energy in all of its dimensions. Creme de cassis, blackberry jam, graphite, smoke, leather and incense, along with the wine’s muscular tannins, convey an impression of brooding intensity. The 2015 has been nothing short of sensational on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. Readers should be prepared to be patient. Don’t miss it!Antonio Galloni | 98 AGThat sexy, smoky, exuberant feeling of La Croix and Lalande-Borie in 2015 is found here too, but with everything turned up a notch - or rather tuned up a notch, giving finesse and precision to the texture and shape. Pure blackberry and blueberry fruits and an incredibly silky texture draws out through the glass. You can almost slide off this wine it is so expertly played, finessed and presented. And you are so seduced that you almost miss the tannic build up that hits you on the finish. Great stuff! 100% new oak. Drinking Window 2025 - 2043.Decanter | 98 DECDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou rocks up with flamboyant baked black plums, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of cinnamon stick, black tea and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and spicy accents, with a firm, velvety frame and finishing with great length and perfume. Ideally, I’d give it another year to fan out just a bit more, but it is coming around nicely and is already fantastically delicious!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPShowy, with layers of warmed fig, roasted mesquite, black tea, incense and Turkish coffee notes, followed by waves of lush cassis, blackberry and raspberry confiture flavors. This has a graphite grounding rod, a tarry spine and riveting licorice snap details to keep it driving along. A head-turner for sure. Best from 2025 through 2045. 7,500 cases made.Wine Spectator | 97 WSAromas of oyster shell, iron and currants. Hints of iodine. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. Love the finish of sandalwood, cinnamon, violets and lavender. Wonderful tannin texture. Linear and driven. Drink in 2022.James Suckling | 97 JSWith its 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine has super-ripe black-currant flavors encased in firm, smoky tannins and hints of wood. Showing the opulence of the vintage and the style of Saint-Julien, it will age for many years. The wine will certainly not be ready before 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEThe 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated wine (there’s 5% Merlot) that was brought up in 100% new barrels. It’s a classic, elegant, classy 2015 revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as terrific notes of crème de cassis, smoked earth, lead pencil, and violets. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, and a stacked mid-palate, it should start to shine in 6-7 years and keep for three decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 96 JD

What a gorgeous and supple young wine with ultra-fine tannins and vivid acidity. Medium to full body and direct and driven tannins. Shows such beauty. Better in 2020 but already beautiful.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2015 Gloria is another Saint-Julien that has improved over the last 12 months. It has a bolder and more exuberant bouquet than some of its peers, featuring lush blackberry and blueberry fruit and revealing a touch of iodine and crushed violet with aeration. The medium-bodied palate displays supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and very pure fruit intensity (black cherries, bilberry and boysenberry), although it clams shut toward the finish. Slightly more modern in style than its peers, this should still age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 93 VMWell-steeped plum, fig and boysenberry fruit is richly layered, supported by embedded brambly grip and backed by waves of ganache and sweet tobacco on the finish. This has plenty of energy to carry it in the cellar while it rounds into form. Best from 2023 through 2038. 18,333 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSA blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that saw 40% new oak, the 2015 Château Gloria is a beautiful Saint-Julien that’s well worth seeking out and drinking. Blackcurrants, damp earth, spicy oak and hints of leafy herbs all flow to an upfront, elegant, yet fruit forward 2015 that has sweet tannin and good freshness. It’s no doubt a charmer, yet will see its 20th birthday in fine form. Tasted twice.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThe 2015 Gloria, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc, matured for 14 months in 40% new and 60% one-year-old barrels. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has an earthy/meaty nose with a core of black plums and blackberries plus touches of eucalypt and anise. The medium-bodied palate is just a little lean and chewy with an earthy finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RPFine, fragrant nose and succulent fruit. It has a lovely texture, rounded tannins and fresh finish, with more finesse than in past years. Drinking Window: 2020 - 2028Decanter | 90 DEC

This rich wine is full of fruit and structured with layers of tannin. It’s also stylish and elegant, with a suave texture that is already attractive. Black fruits mix with the structure to give a wine that will age well. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2015 Kirwan is positively stellar. Deep, fleshy and incredibly inviting, the 2015 will drink well right out of the gate. The balance of aromatics, fruit and structure is compelling. Plum, blackberry, chocolate, licorice and spice fill out the wine’s creamy, supple frame. Readers should expect bold, fleshy style.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGThe 2015 Château Kirwan showed beautifully and is just another data point pointing to Margaux being the star of the Médoc. It boasts a deep ruby/plum color as well as thrilling notes of black raspberries, toasted bread, Asian spices and lead pencil. With subtle background oak, a ripe, opulent texture, sweet tannin, and notable purity and elegance, give bottle 3-4 years in the cellar and enjoy through 2035+.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDA sleek wine with plenty of tannins, but they are already so well integrated that this has a very elegant personality. The long finish is rather mineral and very pure. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 93 JSLeans toward the old-school side, with singed cedar and alder notes, perfumy black tea and mulled spice aromas and a core of gently steeped plum and black currant fruit, all carried by lightly dusty tannins through the finish. Balanced, charming and certain to age gracefully. Best from 2020 through 2032. 10,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThe nose has a frankness of expression, with cinnamon spice, cedar and an enjoyable, seductive swirl of ruby and blackberry fruits. Animated on the attack, it is full of pleasure and should be ready just a touch earlier than some others in the appellation - think eight rather than 10 to 12 years. There is complexity here, and a sense of freshness that runs through the structure. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038.Decanter | 92 DECThe 2015 Kirwan has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of crushed red currants, black cherries and black plums with wafts of tilled soil, fallen leaves and bark. The medium-bodied mouth offers nice intensity with soft, fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness on the finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

The 2015 Léoville-Poyferré is spectacular. Inky, dense and explosive, the 2015 possesses off the chart richness, with soft contours, no hard edges and exceptional balance. All the elements are simply fused together. inky blue/purplish fruit, chocolate, new leather, blueberry jam, exotic spice and violet notes are all beautifully delineated throughout. Fresh, vibrant and totally sexy, Léoville-Poyferré is one of the wines of the vintage. Don’t miss it! Tasted two times.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGThe 2015 Leoville Poyferre is cut from the same cloth as the 2016, yet is more sexy, rounded and opulent. Notes of cassis, licorice, crushed rocks, lead pencil shavings and graphite all emerge from this unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty that’s absolutely loaded with fruit and texture. Reminding me of the 2003, yet only fresher, don’t miss this beauty. It should be drinkable in 3-4 years and last for 3-4 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDSumptuous and perfectly balanced, the 2015 Poyferre seems to have outshone both Leoville Barton and Las Cases (the latter is pretty unyielding now and needs lots of time). There is an intense, fleshy, dark fruit core with fine, polished tannins and a lingering, fresh finish. It’s very elegant and precise with only 13.5% alcohol. Although Saint-Julien was affected by rain, there’s no sense of dilution here. It finishes with a highly appealing stony, mineral textured aftertaste. Drinking Window 2022 - 2045.Decanter | 96 DECA rich and intense red with blackberries, tar and spices. Black tea and blueberries. Full-bodied, very layered and multi-dimensional. Very long and flavorful. Such great texture. A dynamic and superb red. Drink in 2023.James Suckling | 96 JSFollowing the style that this estate has now adopted, this is an ultra-rich, concentrated wine. However its acidity and bright black-currant fruits contrast well with this solid base. Drink this impressive wine from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEDark plum cake, blueberry reduction and açaí berry fruit tilts this to the exotic side of the ledger, with warm ganache, melted black licorice and tar notes providing the spine through the lush finish. Displays some serious latent grip, so there’s no rush despite the showy fruit. Best from 2022 through 2040.Wine Spectator | 95 WSThe 2015 Leoville Poyferre is deep garnet-purple colored with a nose of grilled meats, baked plums, crème de cassis and baker’s chocolate with nuances of dusty soil and iron ore plus a hint of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, very firm and muscular in the mouth, it is built like a brick house with a mineral-tinged finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RP

Rusticity on the nose, sour cherries, sweet strawberries and red plums. The texture stands out, smooth but succulent and quietly powerful. This is all in balance, not as mouthwatering as some, feels on the richer, slightly darker side of the spectrum with dark chocolate, fig, cocoa and even a tiny hint of leather, then sweet liquorice and some oak spice comes in at the end. Good winemaking on show, this has structure and sophistication with a nice balance of tannins and fruit. Easy drinking, a crowd pleaser but will continue to age. Have with food. Terra Vitis. (Drink between 2022-2032)Decanter | 92 DECSeriously savory and texturally complex this is a powerful wine that’s also very fresh. I love the long, crisp finish. If this had a little bit more concentration it would be sensational. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JSWith smoky aromas and structured tannins, this is still young and firm. Under those tannins, the black currant fruit is developing to give a ripe wine with fine acidity and structure. Drink from 2020.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEThe 2015 Beaumont feels quite sophisticated on the nose with wild strawberry and subtle pressed flower scents. The palate is medium-bodied with firm grip and fine tannin, plus plenty of classic tobacco-infused fruit on the finish. This is a superb wine from Beaumont. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 91 VMOne of the standouts in my Cru Bourgeois tasting was the 2015 Château Beaumont. This charming, plump, medium-bodied beauty has real class as well as traditional notes of ripe cherries, flowers, tobacco leaf and underbrush. With moderate tannin and an already approachable style, enjoy it over the coming decade or so. It’s well worth seeking out.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JDTasted at the Cru Bourgeois annual tasting, the 2015 Beaumont has a more exotic bouquet than its peers with red cherries, wild strawberry and pressed flowers. It gains more and more refinement as it aerates. The palate is medium-bodied with a structured opening, the tannin enrobed with clean and pure blackberry and raspberry fruit, leading to a dense finish that just needs to attain more detail. Good potential. Tasted September 2017.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90 RP-NM

Very rich, darkly concentrated berries and impressively structured tannins. Flavors are in the dark-berry/plum zone and they’re carried long and focused. Impressive wine. Try from 2021.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2015 La Sirene de Giscours is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. It has a crisp, quite pure black cherry, raspberry coulis and cedar-scented bouquet that gently unfolds in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with good depth for a deuxième vin, the 30% new oak nicely integrated with good depth and grip on the graphite and spice-tinged finish. This is worth seeking out - the best La Sirène de Giscours to date, but those with a wise head will give it 2-3 years in bottle.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 89-91 RP-NMThe 2015 La Sirene de Giscours is terrific. Deep and pliant in the glass, the 2015 offers superb intensity at this level. Crushed flowers, savory herbs, menthol, licorice and plums infuse this deep, pliant wine. This gorgeous second wine from Giscours is long on both texture and depth.Antonio Galloni | 91 AG

I love the enticing nose on this wine, and the dark rich fruit is bright on the attack. You can definitely see the success of this vintage. Oak influence is a little strong on the finish - it’s only 30% new oak, but the 70% Merlot in the blend highlights the sweetness. This should soften nicely over the next five years, offering a lovely mix of brambles, briar and herbs. This is evidence yet again of a rethink of winemaking process at the Magrez estates, towards a more terroir-centric approach. Consultant is Michel Rolland.Decanter | 93 DECThis has a wealth of brambly and spicy berry fruits with a succulent, plush and flavorsome palate delivering red plums and cherries amid smooth tannins. Try from 2022.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2015 la Tour Carnet, a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, has a clean and fresh, slightly smoky bouquet with blackberry and boysenberry scents. It is tightly wound at the moment and clearly needs a couple of years in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, crisp acidity, a little chewy in the mouth; there is good substance if not quite the elegance I was anticipating on the finish, but that will develop with time. This is an assertive La Tour Carnet that is intent on making an impression. It will. But it will reward those who will afford it 4 or 5 years in bottle.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 92 RP-NM

The ripe cassis and delicately herbal nose draws you into a really elegant wine that has very polished tannins for this category. Long, ripe and refined finish. A great food wine! Drink or hold. The second wine of Château Talbot.James Suckling | 92 JS

This perhaps the best wine ever from here with a very powerful and rich body, yet it shows such polished and lively tannins. Chocolate, meat and spice undertones. Full and flavorful. Long finish. Drink in 2023.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2015 Marquis d’Alesme Becker is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It has a deep garnet-purple color and a broody, earthy/meaty nose over a core of crushed black currants, plum preserves and blackberry pie with hints of Indian spices and potpourri. The medium to full-bodied mouth displays a great core of rich black fruit flavors and a firm frame of ripe tannins plus seamless acid with a long, earthy finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPFrom an estate readers should watch going forward, the 2015 Château Marquis d’Alesme Becker from relatively new owner Marjolain De Coninck is impressive and offers lots of Cabernet Sauvignon blue fruits as well as ample toasty oak in a relatively modern style. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 65% new oak, it has a ripe, full-bodied, opulent mouthfeel, bright acidity, and a tight, concentrated personality that’s going to take time to come together. Give bottles 3-4 years and drink over the following 15-20.Jeb Dunnuck | 93+ JDThe 2015 Marquis d’Alesme Becker was opulent a year ago, but now it has evolved a more reserved, Pauillac-like bouquet of delineated black fruit laced with graphite and cedar. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, good grip and fine acidity, fresh in the mouth and displaying surprising density and persistence on the finish. Still a superb Margaux with good aging potential. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.Vinous Media | 93 VMThis is broad and fleshy in feel, with smoldering tobacco, warm ganache and espresso notes that meld slowly into the core of steeped blackberry and black currant fruit. Shows a long tarry edge on the finish, with the fruit keeping pace. Rock-solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2035. 5,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WSA touch tight, this will flesh out further with time in bottle - give it five to eight years before opening. The gorgeous violet edges bode well for the integrity and potential of the fruit. It has depth to it, and great texture teased out by winemaker Marjolaine Maurice de Coninck, with a silky quality to the tannins and a kick of spice from the 3% dash of Petit Verdot. 65% new oak, malolactic in barrel. Michel Rolland oenologist. Drinking Window: 2025 - 2040Decanter | 91 DEC

Impressive ripe blackberry and darker plum fruits with notes of earth and warm stones. The palate has a supple, even-paced and fresh fruited heart of red cherry and plum fruits. Smooth tannins flow long. Try from 2021.James Suckling | 93 JS

Very complex aromas of currants, blackberries and iodine with hints of dried mushrooms and flowers. Full-bodied, very fine and silky with a very, very long finish. Shows tension and finesse. Structured yet shows an ultra-fine texture. Deep, dense center palate, yet it’s all so polished. A wine for the future. Drink in 2022.James Suckling | 96 JSThe 2015 d’Issan is a total knock-out. Spectacularly ripe and intense, the 2015 exudes richness in all of its dimensions. Super-ripe dark plum, lavender, spice, savory herbs, iron, smoke and new leather add myriad shades of nuance to this super-ripe, decidedly hedonistic Margaux. A powerful, dense wine, the 2015 is going to need a number of years before it is close to being ready to drink. I was quite impressed with d’Issan both times I tasted it. The 2015 has really come along nicely. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, aged in 50% new oak. Eric Boissenot consults.Antonio Galloni | 95+ AGA powerhouse offering from proprietor Emmanuel Cruse (with consulting advice from Eric Boissenot) is the 2015 Château d’Issan which in 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot brought up in just over 50% new barrels. Offering a spectacular bouquet of blackcurrants, lead pencil, chocolate and espresso, this full-bodied, incredibly sexy Margaux boast sweet, sweet tannin, lots of oak, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish. It’s a tour de force that’s going to benefit from 5-6 years of cellaring and keep for three decades. As I’ve stated numerous times in this report, Margaux was the place to be in 2015 and I suspect numerous estates have made their best wines to date.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDRosemary, sage, soft white pepper spice - this has a sense of levitation. It’s young but with acidity that bounces alongside the fruit. Good quality and still extremely young at this point. Margaux received less rain than Pauillac and St Julien in 2015 during harvest, and this has plenty of red berry fruits, with density and ripe flesh, if closed up right now. (Drink between 2024-2042)Decanter | 94 DEC93–95. Barrel Sample. This is a serious, structured wine. It has plenty of black plum flavor, although the firm tannins will play an important part in its development. The ample acidity and fresh finish are other harbingers for the wine’s good future.Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEA blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot aged in 50% new and 50% one-year-old barrels for 18 months, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 D’Issan simply sings with a beautiful perfume of wilted flowers, rose hip tea and mincemeat with a core of cherry preserves and blackberry tart plus a hint of underbrush. Medium-bodied, fine, fresh and elegant, it’s very soft and silky in the mouth with a long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPFocused, with a twinge of singed alder and cedar up front giving this a slightly old-school feel, followed by a good core of steeped plum and black currant fruit. Picks up a bit of the vintage’s velvety edge on the finish, though the cedar note lingers as well. Score Range: 88-91 Wine Spectator | 88-91 WS

Exuberant and rich with so much fruit and richness. Layered and almost exotic. Full-bodied, chewy and very dense. Structured and, at the same time, muscular. Needs four to five years to open.James Suckling | 94 JSA good quality wine that is well extracted and not overly pushed. It falls below the excellent 2016, but this is a lovely rich and alive Pauillac that has fresh, flexible tannins and lots to enjoy. It’s not overly exuberant at this stage but it’s clearly full of potential. 50% new oak. (Drink between 2025-2038)Decanter | 93 DEC92–94. Barrel Sample. This is a juicy, fruity wine that’s supported by dark fruit tannins. The black currant fruits are bright and crisp, while the structure is firm and the finish lignering.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2015 Pédesclaux offers attractive red fruit laced with cedar, tobacco and autumn leaves on the nose, gently unfolding with aeration to reveal violet scents. The nicely balanced palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a fresh bead of acidity and a lilting tobacco and cedar infused finish. Very fine and one of the most approachable Pauillacs. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Vinous Media | 92 VMThe first vintage made with Petit Verdot, the 2015 Château Pédesclaux (52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot) is deeply colored and has a rounded, sexy style to go with lots of cassis and black cherry fruit, notes of dried herbs, flowers, and tobacco, medium to full body, and sweet, silky tannin that emerges with more time in the glass. Drink this ripe, flamboyant Pauillac any time over the coming 15-20 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JDThe 2015 Pedesclaux is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in barrel, 60% new and 40% one year old. Medium garnet-purple in color, it has an earthy nose with dried herbs and garrigue notes over a core of red currants and black berries plus a touch of cedar chest. The medium-bodied palate is fine and fresh with juicy red and black fruits and a chewy finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

Taking its name from the hill or Cos on which the vines are planted, this wine is dense and full of firm tannins. The fruit is there as well, ripe black currants waiting to come through the tannins. Give this wine time and drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WECedary oak, red berries, fresh leaves and lightly spiced woody notes here. There’s a nicely crafted mid-palate focus of cola, mulberries and red plum fruits. The tannins wrap nicely around a fresh finish. Try around 2021.James Suckling | 92 JSThe 2015 Cos Labory is powerful, dense and super-concentrated. Although the new oak remains prominent, the wine has really come together very nicely during its aging and is now much more harmonious than it was from barrel. Sweet red cherry, tobacco, licorice and crushed flowers are all sketched in bold tones that convey an extroverted style. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc.Antonio Galloni | 90 AGLovely rich, plummy fruit here, with an enjoyable tannic structure and freshness. This is a good 2015, focussing on maintaining juiciness in the fruit without sacrificing structure. One of the earlier drinking wines in St-Estèphe - give it four or five years to integrate further then get stuck in! (Drink between 2025-2040)Decanter | 90 DEC

The currants and blackberries on the nose are very impressive with wet-earth and lavender undertones. Full body and super-integrated tannins that melt into the wine. The quality of the tannins is incredible with fantastic length and mouthfeel. So much concentration and balance at the same time. Such beauty. From biodynamic grapes. This is the greatest wine ever from here. Drink in 2022.James Suckling | 99 JSThis vintage is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in 65% new oak barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte has a totally dazzling nose of exotic spices—star anise, fenugreek and Sichuan pepper—over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, wild blueberries, plum preserves, violets and earthy wafts of truffles, moss, tilled black soil and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced and packing a lot of flavor into a relatively modest package, it fills the mouth with spice and herb-laced black and blue fruit layers, supported by very ripe, very finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. This is already a show-stopping, heart-pounding beauty, but should also age incredibly!Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThis pumps out some serious blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry and black currant fruit flavors, with the texture of compote and a racy edge thanks to a terrific bolt of graphite that runs throughout. Waves of anise, roasted apple wood and tobacco drive the finish, with the fruit keeping pace easily. Destined for a long life. Best from 2025 through 2045. 10,000 cases made. Wine Spectator | 96 WSAnother wine from the Cathiard family I was able to taste on multiple occasions is the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte and it’s brilliant stuff readers should snatch up. Offering a huge nose of chocolatey dark fruits, roasted herbs, graphite and flowers, this big, rich, opulent beauty has building tannin, loads of structure and great mid-palate. It will drink nicely for 20+ years.Jeb Dunnuck | 96+ JDSmith Haut-Lafite sits on free-draining, günz gravel, with the 2015 showing classic smoky, earthy Graves character with herbs, spices and freshness on the palate. On the intense nose, floral notes and subtle new oak support the fruit. Although there is a silky, intense and concentrated core to the fruit, this is not at all showy - just a wonderfully balanced and complete example of Cru Classé Pessac-Leognan (Drink between 2022-2045)Decanter | 96 DECThis wine is dense in expressive, dark fruit and solid tannins which give it a rich, enveloping feel. With its spicy score and crisp acidity, there is great potential for aging. Drink from 2025. Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEExplosive and powerful in the glass, the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte is going to need time to come into its own. Black cherry, gravel, smoke, bittersweet chocolate, leather, licorice and savory herbs effortlessly fill out the wine’s ample frame. The 2015 is an especially dark, concentrated Smith Haut Lafitte. Swaths of tannin carry the wine into a huge finish accented by hints of raspberry jam, chocolate, leather and tobacco. Today, the 2015 is more power than finesse. It will be interesting to see how things develop from here.Antonio Galloni | 95+ AG