Updated: Jun 5, 2024
This 2015 Haut-Brisson is a deep, ruby wine with a tight rim. Its nose reflects the palate, offering perfumes and violets. The sweet fruit of this fuller-bodied wine has started to unfurl. It has moderate tannins wrapped in oak and spice, with fresh and ripe black cherry, currant, and liquorice flavours supplying the long fruit finish. This is a solid Right Bank wine stuffed with flavour. It can be enjoyed now and improved over the next five years.
2015 is a landmark year for Haut-Brisson, debuting its first vintage without a reserve wine. This unique feature catapults the 2015 Haut-Brisson to the pinnacle, making it the sole and most sought-after cuvee. The blend, a harmonious marriage of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, promises a palate-pleasing experience. Crafted by renowned winemaker Jérôme Aguirre, who honed his craft at Christine Péré-Vergé's vineyards in Pomerol, this wine embodies a 'lush' and 'riper' style. With Michel Rolland as the consultant, each sip is infused with modernity. This 2015 vintage lives up to these accolades and is indeed exceptional. It offers superb value, particularly in this excellent 2015 vintage, instilling confidence in its quality.
Awarded RP95, Hauty Brisson was highly praised by Robert Parker, who called it 'one of St-Emilion's most attractive over-performers' and 'generally available for a realistic price.' Rest assured, this 2015 Haut-Brisson has garnered excellent scores from two of the most respected voices in the wine industry: James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast.
James Suckling awarded it 95 points, describing it as a standout wine with enticing aromas of ripe dark plums and chocolate. It's a symphony of silky tannins and luscious fruit on the palate. The whole body, rich fruit, and complex aftertaste make for an unforgettable experience. The wine is impeccably balanced, a testament to its precision and impressiveness. It's a texturally complete wine that can be enjoyed now or cellared for future indulgence.
Wine Enthusiast gave it 93 points, noting that the new wood flavours are intense and have a minty character and bright acidity. The wine is dry and concentrated, with a firm core and juicy black fruits. It balances well. This bottle is a deep, ruby wine with a tight rim. It has a nose that reflects the palate, offering perfumes and violets. The sweet fruit of this fuller-bodied wine has started to unfurl. It has moderate tannins wrapped in oak and spice, with fresh and ripe black cherry, currant, and liquorice flavours supplying the long fruit finish. Haut Brisson 2015 is a solid Right Bank wine stuffed with flavour.
The 2013 Langoa Barton has an aromatic bouquet with touches of Asian spice and cedar infusing the black fruit. With aeration, a touch of cold stone surfaces. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, minerally red berry fruit. This description of the wine from Neal Martin applies well. There is delicate tension here, with a simple, nicely balanced, fresh cedary finish. This wine pairs well with various dishes, including roasted lamb, grilled steak, and aged cheeses, enhancing the dining experience.
Today, Léoville Barton is a standout traditional Saint-Julien, showcasing a unique blend of power and finesse. Its ability to age and improve over many years is a testament to its quality. A blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc undergoes a 20-month ageing process in oak barrels (50% new). The 2013 Langoa Barton has the potential to age for an impressive 10 to 20 years and, in many cases, even longer. Despite being a lighter and elegant vintage, this 2013 can survive and improve for some years.
The score of WE92, which is a humble yet respectable rating, says, "The wine now in the bottle has maintained the lively character found in the barrel tasting. It also has a firm structure, with layers of wood and intense acidity. This wine will age over the medium term, so drink from 2019." This score indicates that the wine is of high quality and has the potential to age well, making it a good investment for wine enthusiasts. Also, JS92, opined. 'I like the pure, clean fruit with medium to full body, integrated tannins, and juicy finish. A sliced lemon and dark fruit undertone. Long subtle finish.' Edited.
The wine is almost entirely opaque and has a deep, dark ruby-red colour. On the nose, dark fruit aromas are dominant, with earthy notes and toasty oak. The palate offers indistinct black fruit of medium weight, along with attractive cedary oak and vanilla hints. The acidity is a bit flat, and the alcohol is slightly warming. The fruit flavour lingers, but the tannins give length to the finish.
James Suckling awarded it 93 points, describing it as decadently rich with a meaty and ripe fruit aroma. He called it full, dense, and juicy, with round, velvety tannins and a long finish, labelling it a big burly wine. He suggested it should be opened after 2015, as it needs time to mature. Edited.
Neal Martin awarded it 91 points, noting its good deep red-ruby colour and extravagantly ripe, exotic aromas of roasted dark fruits and roasted meat. He described it as large-scaled, fat, complete, and atypically sweet, nicely balanced by harmonious acidity. He praised its smooth tannins and excellent palate-saturating length, stating it's a great vintage for this chateau.
Wine Spectator awarded it 90 points, saying it presents fascinating aromas of crushed blackberry and lightly smoky barrels. It's full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium finish. While it may feel tight now, it's a balanced wine that promises to evolve beautifully with time. Edited.
Wine Advocate writes, 'The 2003 Lafon Rochet is fully mature, round, soft, and reasonably complex. It exhibits notes of cedarwood, liquorice, Christmas fruitcake, and a delightful blend of red and black fruits. The tannins are resolved in this medium-bodied, low-acid St.-Estephe, making it a wine to savour over the next 4-5 years. Edited.
