I put on this tasting for my family last weekend. Very strong lineup, I’d be happy to have any of them in the cellar. Based on every 2015 red I’ve had so far, the vintage character is very consistent: ripe but very fresh, fleshy, mineral-driven, and more about elegance than power. And based on this admittedly small sample, it seems the whites have exactly the same character.
Also, 2010 made an impressive guest appearance as a bonus round.
Chateau Ferran, Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 2015
Lovely, light golden yellow. Lovely nose, rich, deep, fresh nose, with prominent hay/grass, and cashew. On the palate, rich, fleshy stone fruit (apricot and peach), lemon curd, cashew, and lots of stone and mineral, all with a touch of grapefruit. Full bodied, fleshy, racy, minerally (just like the 2015 reds). 5 - 10 years ahead. Exceptional! 70% Sauv Blanc, 30% Semillon. 4 Stars [3/23/19]
Chateau Ferran, Pessac-Leognan 2015
Medium ruby. Wonderful nose, loads of fresh dark berries, gravel/earth, and tobacco. On the palate, loads of fresh blackberry / black raspberry, with meaty cherry, plum, and black currant, and with tobacco leaf, loads of mineral, gravel, and spicy tannin. Full bodied, ripe and fleshy, with fresh acidity. The alcohol is just a bit exposed. Truly exceptional. 15 to maybe 20 years ahead. 70% Merlot, 25% Cab Sauv, 5% Petite Verdot. 4 Stars [3/23/19]
Chateau La Tour de Besson, Margaux 2015
Cru Bourgeois. Medium-dark ruby. Lovely nose of heady dark berries, with earth/gravel, a touch of tobacco leaf, and rose petals. On the palate, beautiful, silky red fruit, red currant, black raspberry, and cherry, with a touch of tobacco leaf, a whiff of flowers, lots of mineral, and spicy tannin. Very full bodied, fleshy, succulent, ripe and fresh. 10 - 15 years ahead. 61% Merlot, 39% Cab Sauv. 4 Stars [3/23/19]
Sarget de Gruaud Larose, Saint Julien 2015
2nd wine of Gruaud Larose (2eme Cru Classe). Dark ruby red. Excellent nose of ripe, dark fruit, but driven by chalk, leather, and tobacco. On the palate, sweet black cherry, currants, and blackberry, with slightly dusty earth, almost tarry notes, a touch of tobacco leaf, and lots of spicy, mineral-laden tannin. On the lighter side of full bodied, ripe and fleshy, with very prominent acidity. Revisited later, it had grown and rounded considerably. 5 - 20 years ahead. 61% Cab Sauv, 29% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc, 3% Petite Verdot. 4 Stars [3/23/19]
Chateau Bellegrave, Pauillac 2015
Very dark ruby. Exceptional nose of cassis, cured tobacco, earth, and a touch of graphite; great depth. On the palate, potent, wonderfully ripe blackberry and cassis, some nicely tart cranberry, a touch of cured tobacco, earth, and graphite/mineral. Very full bodied, wonderful concentration, fresh acidity, fleshy/succulent, with great depth. 10 - 20 years ahead. Love it! 61% Cab Sauv, 39% Merlot. 4 Stars [3/23/19]
Chateau Serilhan, Saint Estephe 2015
Cru Bourgeois. Very dark ruby. Wonderful nose of lovely, ripe, red berries, with dusty earth, leather, tobacco leaf, and evergreen; wonderful richness and depth. On the palate, red current, cassis, blackberry, with beef stock, tobacco leaf, earth, leather, dust and mineral. Very full bodied, ripe but with fresh acidity, savory, with great mineral depth. 15 to maybe 20 years ahead. Love it! 57% Cab Sauv, 35% Merlot, 8% Cab Franc. 4 Stars [3/23/19]
Petit Guiraud, Sauternes 2015
2nd wine of Guiraud (1er Cru Classe). Golden. Excellent nose of stone fruit, tropical fruit, honey/nectar, orange blossom, nutmeg/cinnamon, and lots of mineral depth. On the palate, rich, intense apricot, mango, passion fruit, and orange, with loads of spicy mineral, and cinnamon/nutmeg. Intense, very rich and sweet but with great acid balance and structure. Lush, racy and mineral driven, just like the reds of the vintage. This Sauternes lover is very happy. 10 - 20 years ahead. 65% Semillon, 35% Sauv Blanc. 3.5 Stars [3/23/19]
Chateau Marquis de Terme, Margaux 2010
4eme Cru Classe. Impressive color, opaque ruby/garnet. Great nose, deep, earthy, dense, with fragrant cassis, black raspberry, black cherry, and boisenberry/blueberry, with licorice, tobacco leaf, earth/loam, coffee, and roses; wonderful density and fragrance. On the palate, concentrated raspberry, black cherry, cassis, plum, tobacco leaf, roses, slightly citrusy acidity, earth, and stoney depth. Very full bodied, with bright acidity, impressive density and depth, and loads of tannin. The fruit is beginning to mature, but the structure is very potent still, and it best days are ahead. Very impressive. 15 - 25 years ahead. 4 Stars [3/23/19]