Cru Bourgeois to be classified again

As you can read in my just published story in Wine-Chronicles, we have (good) news from the Alliance des Crus Bourgeois that the French government this month approved specifications and a verification procedure to be used to establish a new Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification.
Good news, for wine geeks like myself, although I am not sure it will matter all that much to the broader wine buying public.
Texts that define the selection criteria and procedures for candidate properties were approved at Extraordinary General Meetings of the members of the Union of the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc.
For whatever it is worth, this represents a return to the historical hierarchy of the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc, with three categories: “Cru Bourgeois”, “Cru Bourgeois Supérieur” and “Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel.” These designations should be (re)appearing on wine labels again starting from the 2018 vintage.
Some of my preferences among members from the 2015 vintage - recently bottled - are included in the tasting notes below. For more tasting notes from in bottle Cru Bourgeois, please go to my website. Cheers!

• 2015 Barton & Guestier Château Magnol 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Just at 48 hectoliters per hectare, with 48% Merlot and 12% Cabernet France and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon. With 13.5% alcohol. Deep, rich fruit on the nose, dark fruit and plum. Very enticing. The palate is robust and succulent, if not the most refined wine from the Médoc, it is delicious.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Château de Gironville 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  Lovely ripeness. This has fresh bouquet on the nose, with bright fruit. Quite rich too, but not over done. A certain finesse. A bit more focused than the Magnol, tasted just before. In any case, bravo as well. 13.5% alcohol and a blend of 50% CS, 40% M and 10% PV

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Château Charmail 90 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  An old favorite of Robert Parker, and deservedly so, this blend includes a whopping 11% Petit Verdot, along with 41% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot at 14% alcohol. Yields at 43 hectoliters per hectare. Quite a powerful nose, with cool fruit as well as burgeoning tobacco and plum. Richness on the palate, but also grip and finesse. A hint of drying however on the finish? Still, pretty darn good.

  Post a Comment / Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Château Belle-Vue (Haut-Médoc) 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Haut-Médoc

  45% CS-40M% Merlot and … 15% Petit Verdot! 13.5% alcohol. A large bottle, thick, but not a garage wine. 😂 Serious cassis and plum nose, with oak related aromatics that do not distract too much. 30% percent new oak. The palate is well structured, yet succulent, too. While not as impressive as Cambon La Pelouse, it is very nice. Tasted again, and I like its expansive qualities on the finish.

  Post a Comment / 3 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Château d'Arsac Margaux 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  This is smooth and elegant and a lovely wine – and better than their 2014. 13.5% alcohol and nearly 60 hectoliters per hectare in yields. High yields and excellent wine, a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and 28% Merlot. A bit more austere than the also excellent Paveil de Luze.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Château Paveil de Luze 92 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux

  Succulent and refined. Floral. Rather elegant, even if the tannins are somewhat austere at this stage. But I think it is more a question of their calming down in bottle. I love the medium-bodied mid palate here. Very juicy too. A certain aspect of fine breed comes through as Margaux.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Château Fonbadet 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac

  The blend is of course dominated by 60% CS and the rest being 20% M, 15% CF and 5% PV and Malbec. Robust and savory at the same time: this is a darn good drink! 13% alcohol. It feels like a 2009, but more constrained. Structure and richness, with a fine tannic aspect. Ripe and never drying.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

• 2015 Château Pomeys 91 Points

  France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Moulis en Médoc

  This provides a fine bookend to the Moulis wines I tasted. A very pleasing wine. It has structure and ripeness with no loose ends. Fresh and ripe. Medium to full-bodied, and elegant overall.

  Post a Comment / 1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Report Issue

Although prices for classified growths in Bordeaux have been tamed in recent years, they remain in many cases very high. For that reason, savvy consumers should reach out to the Cru Bourgeois category which includes wines that do indeed "punch above their weight" and still don't cost too much.