Chateau Senejac 2015, Haut Medoc

Classic ruby, tight rim. Fragrant dry purple flowers. Cherries and plum fruit and cranberries on the first nose. Meaty, cedar notes with a touch of chocolate and wood spice on the second. Round, earthy and tamed tannic on the palate - well balanced- with adequate length leading to medium finish reflecting grapes characters. Quite a severe wine despite its humble CB classification and origin, Chateau Senejac 2015 has intensity re-designed with creating certain complexities in blending 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot to start. It is oak fermented, nurtured in French oak for 15 months, where 33% is new. Grapes handpicked and sorted. Vines are 45-year-old; sufficient production to provide good economies of scale. From excellent vintage showing outstanding balance, structure and phenolic ripeness, this wine shouts quality for the class and is stylistically akin to a mature Arsac Margaux. We think that's good because this wine has thus been aggressively priced low! Indeed, Tasting Team tasted 2006, 2009 and 2010 and 2015. All are very consistent in style. Where Left-Bank structural character is most robust with 2006, vintage 2009 is most elegant and delicate; 2010 is worthy of keeping for some years, 2015 is most balanced with a wild spectrum of nose and taste for the age. Nonetheless, there is always a freshness to the ripe, dark fruit of 2015; also, very floral, a touch of mintiness, tobacco and liquorice, in that order.

Jennie C Lee and Jeff Leve scored 90. The other international commentators are quite conservative, though.