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2015 UGC- The long awaited day and the tales of the Euro
Tasted January 27, 2018 by Purple Tooth with 626 views
Introduction
For me the room filled full of the long awaited wines seemed to have a big divide in the center of it. There they were, the long awaited high scoring wines, and all the overlooked ugly ducklings innocently looking for wondering eyes. There I was, overwhelmed as usual, with the allowed marathon time of 2:30 to make sense of it all...The divide was from the 2 distinct approaches to picking. The room was in conflict. Some producers had clearly taken the dry route, while others cradled the fruit and took the sweeter route. And unfortunately, with 2 exceptions, there was not al whole lot of good funk in the room. The prices seemed to be about 30% higher than 2014 (Do you remember the great vintage of 2014? right...) and while some wines such as the Chateau Margaux fetch 1,500.00 plus straight out of the chute, I was more enamored by some of the ugly ducklings that modestly took the middle route and made balanced wines suitable for early drinking or mid term aging.
Flight 1 - 2015 BDX (25 notes)
Walking amongst the masses
Red
2015 Château Malartic-Lagravière
93 points
Dense, dry, serious. Needs at least 5 years to be drinkable. Red fruit dominated, mineral heavy, mouth coating, with lots of tug and pull...One to HOLD
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Saint-Pierre
94 points
In the most Bordeaux correct tier of the 2015 UGC lineup, and maybe the most correct. Loads of scorched earth, coffee and nuances of tobacco, in a well balanced red and black fruit dominated blend. Persistent, and drinkable now! Very nice. Clearly one of my favorite in the lineup. drink or HOLD
2 people found this helpful
Comments (3)
Red
2015 Château Le Bon Pasteur
94 points
This was another shining star, being poured next to Gazin. Loads of earth, crave satisfying funk, and gobs of fruit. This wine has fruit to shed, and a nice bright future for more "funkalution"..A killer Pomerol for the price...drink or HOLD
Red
2015 Château Gruaud Larose
90 points
One of the most fruit forward wines I tasted in the 2015 lineup, and the fruitiest Gruaud to date for me...Not what I look for in this wine. A 180' deviation in style. There is a bit of good brett on the nose that gives me hope...HOLD
Red
2015 Château Malescot St. Exupéry
94 points
Another favorite in the 2015 lineup as usual. Good balance with a bit of lean on oak cream...Lots of fruit, lots of graphite, lots of density. Thick, double knit, well made...This one will be one to keep an eye on. Reminds me of a cross between a 2005 and a 2009...Seriousness of 05, with 09 lushness...drinkable but a HOLDer
6 people found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Gazin Pomerol
Very closed. Has high hopes. Too early to judge. But this maker made a strong commitment to ageworthyness. HOLD HOLD HOLD
Red
2015 Château Smith Haut Lafitte
97 points
One of, if not THE superstar of the 2015 wines that crossed by path. A true accomplishment of TOTAL BALANCE. Wow! I love the deviation from oak heaviness..They got this one very right. Everything you want in a young sexy Bordeaux. You must try for yourself. Drink or BIG HOLD
6 people found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Lagrange (St. Julien)
91 points
A classic Lagrange, made in a serious mineral packed style with great balance. Good pull...Seemed a wee bit hot...HOLD
Red
2015 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion
92 points
Cab Franc is king here..Lots of smoke, fruit, and good balance. Mid term beauty...drink or hold
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2015 Clos Fourtet
97 points
This is a massive wine with a head bending exit. Red fruit, pomegranate pith, seeds, skin, the whole nine yards...It is going to need at least 10 years to come to, but man, this one is the most structured wines of the 2015's for me. Love the youth and long throbbing of the massive finish. This stays in the mouth for about 2 minutes right now. I know its a bit much for most, but its a tannic monster that needs some love and understanding. HOLD HOLD HOLD HOLD....
Red
2015 Château Léoville Barton
97 points
This is a winner and one of the most unique wines of the 2015 lineup. Loads of violets intermingle with the dense, balanced, fruit and licorice packed wine. Good oak, good vibration, and super sexy and flirtatious. This is one that will climb and be a superstar with time. HOLD
8 people found this helpful
Comments (3)
Red
2015 Château Léoville Poyferré
92 points
Rather reserved yet elegant. Definitely one of the most feminine wines of the pack with some snob to go with it. I think that this wine will become fragrant, correct and delicious with time, but today it seems mediocre and underdone amongst its peers. This may be a 96' in the making...We shall see...HOLD
2 people found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Clerc Milon
91 points
A very predictable Clerc Milon. Always hitting the mark with reserved elegance and lift. Needs 5 years...HOLD
Red
2015 Château Valandraud
96 points
The sluttiest one of the bunch, this lady is throwing perfume, sexy oak, and lots of sweet kisses as she walks into the room. A very ostantatious and flamboyant bitch. I can only take her for a night...Drink or Hold
2 people found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Canon
98 points
This is a no brainer. Even someone that does not have much experience with good wine, or Bordeaux will get this. Very easy to understand...Very balanced with perfect balance of fruit, graphite, smoke, flowers, and a non stop pull that lasts seemingly 2 minutes or more at the moment. Drinkable, but a definite HOLD. WOW good!
9 people found this helpful
Comments (5)
Red
2015 Château Pape Clément
92 points
Hmmm...Surprised here. They deviated from the massive style. Medium to light heavy and a little lop sided and wobbly from wood. Should round out in time, but its missing that dense violet and roast that this wine usually sports. A rather elegant PC without the mini skirt and red lipstick. drink or hold
1 person found this helpful
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White - Sweet/Dessert
2015 Château Doisy-Daëne
95 points
So elegant, so distinct, so fresh, so young....So beautiful. This is a light bodied sauternes that always delivers on creme brûlée and butterscotch. A dream sauternes. Drink no need to hold
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Talbot
93 points
This was way too overlooked. Its a very balanced medium weight wine with elegance and a true expression of St. Julien. Hints of tobacco and earth and a cute amount of brett are floating off the glass in a mild mannered and seductive way. Very very nice! Drink or HOLD
Red
2015 Château du Tertre
92 points
Light to medium in style and very ready to drink. Funk, flowers, tobacco and red fruit. Very elegant and nicely pungent. A lovely and drinkable Margaux. Drink or Hold
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château La Cabanne
89 points
This is toughly. Needs time, but should deliver in 3 years...Very mineral driven with chocolate and red fruit. HOLD
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
94 points
This was quite open and drinkable with allot of depth and weight. Embracing atypical St. Emilion modern style, full of ripe red fruit, coffee grounds, smoke and oak charr. Long, delicious finish...Needs time to let the oak integrate more and pick up polish. drink or HOLD
Red
2015 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron
95 points
A wine that needs faith. Quite reserved and holding back until it unleashes in the mouth with a whop of cold metal shavings and minerals. This is on the opposite side of the room from the wines that showcased fruit in 2015. Its a serious, no nonsense wine with demand for time...Very nice, should climb in time. HOLD HOLD
1 person found this helpful
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Red
2015 Château Lynch-Bages
91 points
The greenest wine of the pack out of the hopeful bunch. It totally chickened out at some point and took the safe route. The cedar is evident due to the lack of fruit and balance. It does have the feel of a modern Pauillac because there's no hiding the graphite in the veins of this wine. Should improve with time, but nor now its a No go for me. HOLD
Red
2015 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
93 points
Dense, fruit packed wth Bordeaux demeanor. Modern in the sense that its a ready to drink wine, showcasing sweetness and good use of oak charr...A bit disjointed but should pull in down the line. Regardless, I would hold this for at least 5 years. HOLD
Red
2015 Château La Gaffelière
92 points
Firm plums, cedar, licorice, all good elements that need to come together. Should start drinking in 5 years, and will be better when some of the fruit fades and converts into its terroir. HOLD
Closing
I think that prices are going up, and 2015 may soon be coined as the "year of the Euro"! What a great reason to lift prices and get some long awaited redemption for the 5 year long slump...Either way, its clear that more and more winemakers in Bordeaux, are aiming for early drinking wines and the reception is mediocre at best with the old school Bordeaux nuts. Never the less, drink and be happy!