Five 2015 Classed Growths (Left Bank) Tasted Over Several Days
Tasted Saturday, July 30, 2022 by Motz with 272 views
Introduction
These bottles had been whispering sweet nothings to me for a while...so, naturally, I gave in. Always a pleasure to maintain benchmarks on quality Bordeaux.
Flight 1 (5 Notes)
Closing
The Pontet-Canet stood a cut above the rest...but I am not complaining about the other four. If any one of them were to be the only wine I could drink over the next two decades, it would be a great life! All five wines should evolve and hold through 2035+.
2015 Château Lynch-Bages 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasted over three days, alongside the same vintage Pontet-Canet.
Highly appealing bouquet from the outset, featuring blackcurrant, blackberry, pyrazines, intense graphite, spent coffee grounds, creosote, black earth, and light funk. The bouquet strengthened with air and held its delightful form over all three days.
Striking tension, precision, and lift. In the Old School style, showing tremendous balance of high-pitched leanness and layered, terroir-driven substance. Light, piercing, and broad.
The wine delivered enhanced roundness on the second and third days. Perfect extraction, imperceptible alcohol, judicious oak treatment.
More piercing than the Pontet-Canet but not quite as deep. Moving between both wines over all three days proved informative. A better wine than the same vintage Lafite. I kid you not!
An evocative tasting experience! All elements point to a long maturation curve. This bottle would have peaked after 2040 and held for a decade+ thereafter. Improvement seems possible.
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2015 Château Pontet-Canet 97 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Pauillac
Tasted over three days, alongside the same vintage Lynch-Bages.
Riveting bouquet - shading to Margaux - of ripe berries, thick petal flowers, plum and berry compote, Crème de Cassis, berry liqueurs, potpourri, 'sweet' herbs, molasses, pipe tobacco, and gravel. As with previous bottles, the bouquet also shows Burgundy-like elements. In a word: ethereal!
Equal parts piercing and deep. Incredible saturation! Merlot shows prominently upfront, its suave velvet draping a deep purple core. Exceptional balance of fruit, terroir, structure, alcohol, and oak. It changes inflection throughout, consistently delivering Crème de Cassis and blueberry liqueur top notes.
Even better on the second and third days. It matched the Lynch-Bages in tension and lift, and delivered greater range and depth. Mint and eucalyptus essences dance offer titillating interplay with the crimson and purple berry notes. While hinting at Margaux in perfume, the middle to back transitions leaves no doubt as to its Pauillac provenance.
A next level offering! Truly profound! Likely to peak after 2040, probably around 2045. Drink by 2050 or so.
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2015 Château Prieuré-Lichine 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Tasted over three days, after having tasted the same vintage Lynch-Bages and Pontet-Canet.
Pure Margaux! Wholly seductive. Merlot shows prominently on the bouquet and palate, enshrouding a compelling, deep purple core. Flowers, red fruits, summer potpourri, red berry liqueurs, and mint blackcurrant, pipe tobacco, and graphite top notes.
Sensuous, velvety attack, expansive and generous middle, gripping back, high-quality, long-lingering finish. The wine strengthens from front to back, a hallmark of exceptional offerings. Perfect extraction, unobtrusive alcohol, judicious oak treatment.
It held form over all three days. This may not be as long-lived as the Lynch-Bages and Pontet-Canet, but I would not hesitate to hold bottles until 2035. It should last through 2040.
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2015 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) 94 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien
Tasted over two days, alongside the same vintage Giscours.
Similar in bouquet and style to the same vintage Lynch-Bages, tasted recently. Cabernet Sauvignon shows prominently, on the bouquet and palate, with lovely Merlot accents, and seductive Petit Verdot top notes.
Lean yet expansive, sleek yet gripping, noteworthy precision, grip, and lift. Wholly expressive of Saint-Julien. The back and finish command attention! Exceptional harmony and balance throughout. Fuller on the second day.
Likely to continue its evolution through 2038-2040. Improvement seems possible.
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2015 Château Giscours 95 Points
France, Bordeaux, Médoc, Margaux
Drank over two days, alongside the same vintage Lagrange. The last of five 2015 Classed Growths (Left Bank) tasted over several days.
Still bringing it! Sleek and sexy as hell! All Margaux, all the way. Perfume of red and purple fruits, summer flowers, 'sweet' herbs, red berry liqueurs, with purple and blackberry accents. GORGEOUS!!!
Per my notes of 4/21, the wine has shed a bit of its slutiness, turning more seductive. She still knows how to please...with increasing sophistication. Seamless in all phases, offering a charmingly elegant finish. Powerfully structured, featuring medium plus acid and deceptive, medium tannins. Oak in fine balance. Even the 14.5 abv is well integrated.
All indications point to continued evolution, through 2035, perhaps longer, depending on alcohol integration. I am glad to have several bottles. As with many 2015 Left Bank offerings, approachable now...thus...why wait? Then again...patience will certainly be rewarded.
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