Chateau Margaux: The big winner and most highly rated wine of the 2015 Bordeaux vintage.
In 2015, all of the First Growths seem to have produced outstanding wines. To get a complete understanding of their quality, I compiled all the ratings from the wine professionals, ie Neal Martin (Wine Advocate or WA ), James Suckling (JS), Wine Enthusiast (WE), Decanter Magazine (Dec) and Galloni (Vinous or AG).
In Pauillac, Lafite Rothschild, with its tight tannins and refined aromas of cedar and graphite and Mouton Rothschild, with its notes of leather and cedar and its overall elegance, scored well.
Latour no longer offers their wine “en primeurs “.
Lafite Rothschild / total points 480 / average rating : 96 pts
Mouton Rothschild / total points 484 / average rating : 96.8 pts
Mike Shelton, an avid wine collector and Pomerol lover, shows off a bottle of Petrus he purchased while traveling in France.
In Pessac, Haut Brion showed its finesse and silkiness while La Mission Haut Brion highlighted its smoky notes of elegance. Haut Brion / total points 483.5 / average rating : 96.7. La Mission Haut Brion / total points 486 / average rating: 97.2
On the right bank, both newcomers to First Growth status (both since 2012), Pavie and Angelus, ran parallel courses: both wines are loaded with dark, ripe fruit and intense concentration. Main difference: Angelus’ s tannins are silkier. Angelus / total points 482.5 / average rating : 96.5. Pavie / total points 482.5 / average rating : 96.5
Still on the right bank, the two senior first growths, Ausone and Cheval Blanc were stars of the vintage. Ausone with amazing structure and deep creaminess and Cheval Blanc featuring a bouquet of exotic aromas mixed with broad opulence, had huge ratings: Ausone / total points 488.5 / average rating 97.7. Cheval Blanc / total points 486.5 / average rating 97.3.
Petrus produced the second highest rated wine of the vintage.
The second highest rating though went to no other than Petrus. With its incerdibly iron rich terroir and Olivier Berrouet ‘s masterful winemaking techniques, Petrus again showed its class. Petrus / total points 489 / average rating 97.8
It is no surprise to many folks familiar with the 2015 vintage that the big winner is Chateau Margaux. In fact, the entire appellation did well, led by superstars such as Palmer, Rauzan Segla, Cantenac Brown and Issan. But Chateau Margaux, with its complexity, purity of fruit and total freshness stole the show. Margaux / total points 492.5 / average rating 98.5. An amazing score when you consider that it comes from five separate and distinctly different palates of professionals!
Indeed, 2015 is a great year for first growths in terms of quality. Let us hope that pricing wil not kill the goose with the golden eggs…or wine!!!
Pricing is not currently available for these First Growth Premium wines. Stay tuned! We will offer them as soon as they come out.
Meantime, many well-priced, highly-rated 2015 vintages are available. Some of the best are listed below and can be ordered here on our site.
