2015 bordeaux - home - the wine society€¦ · 11 cs10151 château vieux clos saint-emilion,...

Amongst the top vintages of the last quarter-centuryWe are delighted to report that in 2015 Bordeaux has produced avery good, and in some cases excellent, vintage. It is without doubtthe fi nest for the past fi ve years and ranks amongst the top handfulof vintages of the last quarter-century. The reds have attractive balance, with perfumed bouquet, fresh fl eshy fruit and silky tannins. Some French wine experts use the word ‘peps’ to describe wines with’energy and vitality, and it is a word that neatly captures the essence of 2015. While the reds do not have the density of the 2009s and 2010s, they have real charm, fi nesse and vibrancy of fruit, expressing the terroirs from which they come. Those with long memories have compared the style of 2015 with 1985, which produced wines thatwere not overly concentrated, but had lovely balance and freshness of fruit when young, and aged well.

A dream vintage for Sauternes and BarsacThe vintage is also very good for dry whites and sweet wines. The dry whites have a little more body than in recent vintages, whilst retainingtheir aromatic profi le. Sauternes and Barsac have enjoyed a dream vintage, the wines displaying plenty of noble rot character, backed up by balancing freshness.

Careful selection required The good news is that there are very attractive clarets to be foundat all price levels in 2015. We spent two full weeks in April tastinghundreds of wines, many of them on several occasions, in order to pick out the very best of the vintage for this offer.

thewinesociety.com/enprimeurBORDMAY16/1

It is important to point out that the 2015 vintage is less homogeneousin quality terms than most of the top vintages of recent times, withdistinct irregularity within certain communes and appellations. The most consistent left bank wines are those of the southern Médoc, with Margaux and Saint-Julien performing particularly well. Pauillac produced some outstanding wines, but there is less consistency here (and in Saint-Estèphe), and as a result we have been particularly selective in our purchases from the northern Médoc this year. Pessac-Léognan and Graves made some lovely wines, both reds and dry whites. On theright bank, the wines of Saint-Emilion are excellent, displaying plump, ripe merlot character and polished tannin texture. Pomerol is slightly less consistent, but nevertheless produced some delicious wines with good ageing potential. At the more affordable end of the spectrum, Castillon, which adjoins Saint-Emilion, was especially successful andwe are offering several of the best wines from that appellation.

WeatherBordeaux was blessed by the weather gods in 2015, with optimalconditions throughout much of the growing season. Flowering was early, quick and even, ensuring a good fruit set. This was followed by a very warm, dry June and July.

BY 8PM TUESDAY 12TH JULY 2016

PLACE ORDE RS BYWEBSITE, TELEPHONE, POST, FAX

2015 BORDEAUX PERFUMED, BAL ANCED REDS WITH FLESHY FRUIT AND SILK Y TANNINS

EN PRIMEUR

2015_BordeauxOpeningOffer_v9.indd 12015_BordeauxOpeningOffer_v9.indd 1 13/06/2016 15:5113/06/2016 15:51

Weather cont…Just as the châteaux began to worry that their vines were starting tosuffer from the drought conditions, August brought cooler weather and a sprinkling of light rain showers which stopped the vines fromshutting down.

September was warm, but with cool nights, allowing steady ripening of the grapes, and picking began in mid to late September in most areas. There was some rain in the second week of September in the morenortherly reaches of the Médoc, particularly in Saint-Estèphe, but ingeneral the ensuing days were dry and the harvest took place in a remarkably unhurried manner, with the châteaux able to wait for full ripeness within their different vineyards before picking. The grapes had thick skins and were in a healthy condition.

Pricing The 2015 wines are more expensive than the 2014s, partly becauseof the high quality of the vintage, but also because the pound has weakened by over 10% since this time last year. However, the winesare in general below the 2010 release prices and in the main thechâteaux owners and decision makers in Bordeaux have not beenirresponsible with their pricing this year. There is good value to be had at all price levels for those wanting to stock up on wines to drink in the coming years.

Tim Sykes Head of Buying

For members looking for a variety of wines, we include nine mixed cases priced from just £94.

Orders by website, telephone, post and fax will be accepted. If you would like to order online, visit thewinesociety.com/enprimeur Fax number r 01438 761167

For information regarding this offer after the close date please e-mail [email protected] or telephoneThe Society on 01438 741177.

RED WINESIn-bond price, UK delivered, per six and per dozen

Ref Six Dozen

1 CB4891 Château Pey la Tour Réserve, Bordeaux Supérieur – £60 A wine that we rarely offer en primeur, but one that stood out at the more modest end of the price spectrum. A high proportion of merlot (94%) lends the wine deep colour, a fragrant nose of bilberries and tar, with plenty of healthy ripe fruit on the palate. 2018–2022.

2 CB4881 Nectar de la Grave, Bourg – £75 Seductive, plush fruit and suave tannins characterise this 100% merlot. Nectar is the top wine from the Bassereau family who own and run the excellent Château de la Grave in Bourg. 2018–2024.

3 CM19541 Château Tour Saint Bonnet, Médoc* – £79 A Wine Society favourite for many years, the 2015 Tour Saint Bonnet is fresh and attractive with a perfumed, mulberry nose, layered fruit texture and sleek tannins on the fi nish. Approachable and satisfying. 2018–2024.

4 CB4911 Château Reynon Rouge, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux – £79 Owned and run by Denis Dubourdieu and his family, Reynon has well-sited vineyards in the lesser-known Cadillac appellation. Mainly merlot, but with 15% each of cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot, this has fi nesse in abundance. Restrained when young, but ages well, as a recent vertical tasting demonstrated. 2018–2025.

5 CB4851 Château Ampélia, Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux – £80 A gem of a property owned by François Despagne of Grand Corbin-Despagne in Saint-Emilion. The higher proportion of old-vine cabernet franc in this year’s wine has added depth and complexity. Amongst the best Ampélias we have tasted, with lovely fruit texture and a most promising future. 2018–2024.

6 CM19231 Château Cissac, Haut-Médoc* – £90 A blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot and 5% petit verdot, this impressive Cissac has a nose of cassis and graphite, with appetising, savoury fruit character on the palate. A traditional claret made in a classic northern-Médoc mould. 2022–2030.

THE WINES

8PM TUESDAY 12TH JULY 2016

To order thewinesociety.com/enprimeur 01438 741177

ONCE THE WINES ARRIVE

We are now giving members the opportunity to store their enprimeur wines with The Society ‘in bond’.

When the wines from this offer arrive in Stevenage in 2018 members will be given three options: 1. To take delivery of the wines. Duty and VAT will be payable immediately. 2. To store the wines in duty-paid Members’ Reserves. Again, duty and VAT will be payable immediately. 3. To store the wines in our new ‘in-bond’ Reserves area. With this option, duty and VAT will only be payable (at the prevailing rate) when the wines are fi nally withdrawn*.

Please visit our website for more details: thewinesociety.com/inbondreserves

*Unless you are exporting the wines or transferringthem to another in-bond storage facility – for which a smalladministration charge would be payable.


Ref Six Dozen

7 CM19211 Château Caronne Sainte Gemme, Haut-Médoc* – £92 Since the arrival last year of winemaker Olivier Sèze, Caronne Sainte Gemme is certainly back on song. The blend this year includes 5% petit verdot that has added an attractive spiciness. Ripe, juicy and satisfying. 2021–2030.

8 CB4861 Madame de Château de Pitray, Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux* – £95 Fruit from Pitray’s oldest vines, some over 80 years of age, fi nds its way into the château’s fl agship wine, this year a blend of 60% merlot, 30% cabernet franc and 10% malbec. Perfumed and supple with succulent black-fruit character and velvety tannins. Quite possibly the best ‘Madame’ yet. 2020–2030.

9 CM19121 Château Beaumont, Haut-Médoc* – £95 The most complete Beaumont since the delicious 2010, it has classic Médoc character with plenty of ripe cabernet and merlot fruit, balanced with fi ne-grained tannins. Classically framed claret from a château that consistently delivers exceptional value. 2019–2027. Magnums and halves available.

10 CS10131 Château Puygueraud, Bordeaux, Côtes de Francs – £95 The Côtes de Francs appellation was one of the best-performing ‘satellites’ in 2015, and Puygueraud, owned and run by Nicolas Thienpont, was a standout wine during our en primeur tastings. Merlot dominates, but the cabernet franc in the blend adds freshness and lift. An appetising, charming wine which will develop well in bottle. 2020–2028.

11 CS10151 Château Vieux Clos Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion* – £100 Exclusive to The Society in the UK, and a wine we have bought consistently for over a quarter of a century, the 2015 is a blend of 50% merlot, 40% cabernet franc and 10% malbec. A harmonious, balanced and supple wine with perfumed fruit and smooth tannins. 2018–2024.

12 CB4871 Château Mont-Pérat Rouge, Premières Côtes de Bordeaux – £100 A mouthwatering, well-structured wine from the Despagne family this year, this blend of 70% merlot, 20% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon has a savoury nose of cedar and cloves, with stone- fruit notes on the palate. 2019–2026.

13 CM19511 Château Sénéjac, Haut-Médoc – £105 The best Sénéjac we have tasted for a decade. Cabernet sauvignon makes up just over half of the blend and merlot one-third, with the balance split between cabernet franc and petit verdot. The wine displays classic Médoc character with a perfumed, smoky nose, and plenty of savoury black-fruit on the palate. 2022–2030.

14 CM19301 Château Dutruch Grand Poujeaux, Moulis-en-Médoc £55 – Jean-Baptise Cordonnier, not a man given to hyperbole, describes his 2015 as having the tannins of 2009 with the balance of 2010, and his best vintage ever (his fi rst was 1993). A structured but appetising blend of very healthy cabernet sauvignon (58%) with 36% merlot and the balance petit verdot and cabernet franc. 2021–2031.

15 CM19371 Château Lanessan, Haut-Médoc £55 – After years of underperformance this well-placed property, with vineyards across the border from Beychevelle and Branaire-Ducru in Saint-Julien, has undergone a renaissance. The 2015 has notes of mocha coffee on the nose with ripe black fruit and spice on the palate. A wine with good keeping potential. 2025–2033.

16 CM19251 Clos Floridène Rouge, Graves £55 – Supple, fresh and vibrant fruit are the characteristics of 2015 Clos Floridène. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon and 28% merlot, the wine has hints of mulberry and cloves, with velvety fruit texture on the fi nish. 2020–2029.

17 CM19411 Château Mauvesin Barton, Moulis-en-Médoc £56 – Our fi rst offer of the Barton family’s latest acquisition, which has seen considerable investment since it took over in 2011. Anthony Barton’s granddaughter Mélanie is making the wines, which show great promise. An appetising, fresh claret in the traditional mould that will provide attractive drinking in the medium term. 2021–2028.

18 CS10121 Château Puy-Blanquet, Saint-Emilion* £58 – Fresh, juicy and perfumed, with crunchy merlot fruit in abundance and silky, ripe tannins on the fi nish. Succulent and satisfying Saint-Emilion that won’t break the bank. 2018–2027.

indicates magnums available indicates half bottles available, see order form for prices. * These wines feature in mixed cases on pages 10 and 11.

M H

M H

In-bond price, UK delivered, per six and per dozen


In-bond price, UK delivered, per six

Ref Six

19 CS10001 Château de Fonbel, Saint-Emilion* £68 Owned by the Vauthier family of Ausone fame, de Fonbel is a consistently high achiever at a somewhat more approachable price. Lush fruit texture overlaid with creamy, ripe tannins ensure a harmonious and complete merlot-dominant wine. 2020–2028.

20 CM19551 Château Beau-Site, Saint-Estèphe £70 A notable success from the Saint-Estèphe appellation. The wine has a smoky, spicy nose and generous cabernet fruit on the palate. Winemaker Arnaud Durand considers this to be his best Beau-Site to date, even eclipsing his excellent 2014. 2019–2028.

21 CS9971 Château Cap Saint-Georges, Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion* £73 Following last year’s impressive debut vintage, Jean-Philippe Janoueix has made a charming, silky 2015. A blend of 86% merlot and 14% cabernet franc, the wine has pronounced notes of black cherries on the nose, with fl eshy ripe fruit on the palate. A château with a bright future. 2020–2028.

22 CM19571 Château Le Boscq, Saint-Estèphe £80 A savoury and layered wine from this underrated property, owned and run by négociant Dourthe. Classic cabernet freshness combines with graphite and dark-fruit notes on the palate. Stylish and sensibly priced. 2021–2029.

23 CB4841 Château D’Aiguilhe, Castillon, Côtes de Bordeaux £83 Reassuringly, the leading château in Castillon has produced the best wine of the appellation in 2015. Intense stone- fruit and balsamic aromas on the nose give way to lush fruit character and velvety tannins on the palate. A very complete wine. 2019–2026.

24 CM19101 Baron de Brane, Margaux* £88 Henri Lurton has made what is probably his best ever ‘Baron’ in this classic Margaux vintage. With 57% merlot, 39% cabernet sauvignon and 4% cabernet franc the wine has generous plumpness of fruit and silky tannins. A highly satisfying wine that will be approachable from an early age. 2020–2028.

25 CM19361 Lacoste Borie, Pauillac* £90 Second wine of Grand-Puy-Lacoste and one of the best-value Pauillacs you will fi nd. Made in a friendly, approachable style, this blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 10% cabernet franc is supple, fl eshy and attractive. 2019–2026.

26 CM19421 Château Moulin Riche, Saint-Julien £93 A perfumed and supple offering from the Didier Cuvelier stable (which includes Léoville Poyferré), the wine has attractive purity and fruit defi nition. A well-judged Saint-Julien with plenty of personality that will be ready to drink relatively early. 2020–2029.

27 CM19131 Château Belgrave, Haut-Médoc £98 Still one of the best-value classed growths, notwithstanding the considerable investment in the vineyards and cellar by respected négociant Dourthe which manages the property. The 2015 reveals hints of damsons and cloves on the nose, with appealing freshness and lift on the fi nish. 2023–2034.

28 CM19351 La Parde de Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan* £98 One of the original second wines, La Parde is a consistent performer and refl ects the style and character of the

grand vin. With merlot to the fore (60%) the wine has a plush ripeness and pronounced minerality. 2022–2032.

Healthy spring vines in Margaux Ben Sichel, Château Angludet



In-bond price, UK delivered, per six and per dozen

Ref Six

29 CM19521 Château Siran, Margaux* £100 Our fi rst purchase of Siran for a while, this wine stood out at the en primeur tastings as one of the most impressive at its level. Crunchy, ripe merlot fruit and taut, spicy cabernet combine to form a generous, classically structured Margaux. A wine with a promising future. 2022–2034.

30 CM19181 Château Camensac, Haut-Médoc £103 A well-balanced and savoury wine that has impressive purity and weight of fruit. The nose displays berry-fruit perfume and a touch of smokiness. On the palate the wine is taut, gravelly and has a satisfying freshness on the fi nish. 2020–2030.

31 CM19221 Château Chasse-Spleen, Moulis-en-Médoc £103 A notable success this year, the wine has crimson colour, with a perfumed cabernet nose and plenty of substance on the palate. Grainy tannin texture rounds off a complete and harmonious wine which will develop substance and complexity in time. 2025–2035.

32 CM19451 Château Poujeaux, Moulis-en-Médoc £105 A noteworthy wine in a strong vintage for Moulis, with an expressive, spicy nose, good purity of fruit on the palate and ripe, silky tannins. A very complete and attractive left bank claret. 2022–2033.

33 CS9991 Clos René, Pomerol £105 A bright and appetising wine with hints of chocolate and wild cherries on the nose and medium-bodied, crunchy merlot fruit on the palate. A sensibly priced Pomerol that will provide drinking pleasure in the medium term. 2020–2027.

34 CM19141 Château Bouscaut Rouge, Graves £105 Sophie Lurton has once again made a refi ned Bouscaut with true Graves character. The cabernet sauvignon fruit (56% of the blend) is fresh and ripe and balances well with the supple merlot (38%) and spicy malbec (6%) that make up the assemblage this year. 2021–2030.

35 CM19071 Château Angludet, Margaux* £105 Margaux was the most consistent region in Bordeaux in 2015 and Ben Sichel has made a deliciously refi ned and scented Angludet with impressive depth of fl avour. A wine of real charm. 2021–2032. Magnums and halves available.

36 CS10031 Château Grand Corbin-Despagne, Saint-Emilion £105 The 204th vintage by the Despagne family on the Grand Corbin terroir, and the knowledge built up over generations is clearly refl ected in the wines. A fresh and vibrant wine with silky tannins and plush merlot-fruit texture. François Despagne believes passionately that wine is produced in the vineyard rather than the winery, and the 2015 certainly bears this out. 2021–2033.

37 CM19191 Château Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc* £105 A consistent performer and a Society favourite. The 2015 Cantemerle exudes freshness and charm. Ripe cabernet fruit lends the wine a nose of damsons and on the palate the wine has medium weight of fruit and sleek, well-judged tannins. 2022–2035.

38 CM19501 Ségla, Margaux* £115 The second wine of Rauzan-Ségla this is a fresh and vibrant wine that captures the essence of the grand vin, but in a more approachable, earlier-drinking style. Crunchy, bright fruit character with the hallmark elegance associated with good Margaux. 2020–2030.

39 CM19391 Château Latour-Martillac Rouge, Pessac-Léognan £120 With classic Graves character, this has a perfumed, smoky nose of damsons and vanilla balanced by ripe supple fruit on the palate. A juicy and appealing blend of 55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 5% petit verdot which will age gracefully. 2023–2034.

40 CS10081 Château Moulin Saint-Georges, Saint-Emilion* £125 A small property owned by the Vauthier family of Ausone, making just 2,500 cases of classically styled Saint-Emilion each year. Fruity and supple, but with good mid-palate density, this amply refl ects the quality of the vintage in Saint- Emilion. 2021–2028.

41 CS9981 Château Chauvin, Saint-Emilion* £130 In the short time since Sylvie Cazes bought this impressive, well-sited Saint-Emilion property the wines have shone. The 2015 Chauvin is generous and fl eshy, thanks to the high proportion of merlot, with considerable charm and fi nesse. Classic Saint-Emilion character. 2021–2032.

42 CS9941 Château Berliquet, Saint-Emilion £130 A standout wine in an impressive vintage for Saint-Emilion, Berliquet is part of the Nicolas Thienpont stable, and the wine delivers plenty of plush, supple merlot fruit character backed up with silky tannins. Layered and rewarding. 2022–2033.

* These wines feature in mixed cases on pages 10 and 11.

M H


Ref Six

43 CS10011 Domaine de l’Eglise, Pomerol £135 A dense and appetising wine based on 94% merlot with the balance cabernet franc. Classic Pomerol character, with chocolate and black-cherry aromas, and smooth tannins on the palate. Will be ready to drink relatively early. 2020–2033.

44 CS9951 Château Bourgneuf, Pomerol £138 Bourgneuf ’s vineyards are located next to Trotanoy on the Pomerol plateau. The 2015 is very much in the traditional mould, with weighty fruit texture, perfumed merlot character and sinewy tannins on the fi nish. 2024–2035.

45 CM19401 Château Lynch-Moussas, Pauillac £138 More structured than many Pauillacs this year thanks to the high proportion of cabernet sauvignon (79%) in the blend. Notes of liquorice and cedar on the nose, with plenty of savoury, fresh-fruit character on the palate. Grainy tannins on the fi nish suggest good ageing potential. 2023–2037.

46 CM19481 Réserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac £143 A refi ned and polished second wine from one of the outstanding châteaux of 2015, this year’s Réserve de la Comtesse has elegant fruit structure coated in a jacket of svelte tannins. 2020–2030.

47 CS10041 Château La Pointe, Pomerol* £148 One of the rising stars of Pomerol, under the guidance of Eric Monneret, La Pointe has seen a leap in quality over the last few years. The 2015 is a blend of 84% merlot and 16% cabernet franc and displays an appealing chocolatey nose, with succulent berry-fruit fl avours and suave tannins. Attractive Pomerol at an equally attractive price. 2022–2034.

48 CM19461 Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux* £148 A full-fl avoured Margaux with plenty of spicy fruit character and fi ne-grained tannin structure. Prieuré-Lichine is a château on form, and its 2015 doesn’t disappoint. 2023–2035.

49 CM19331 Château Haut-Batailley, Pauillac £150 Sister wine to Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Haut-Batailley is equally adept at turning out impressive, sensibly priced Pauillacs. The 2015 has elegant cabernet fruit character, notes of plums and vanilla with good depth of fl avour on the palate. 2022–2035.

50 CM19561 Château Lafon-Rochet, Saint-Estèphe £150 A notable success in 2015 from a château that is making wines in a traditional (in the best sense of the word) Saint- Estèphe style. A blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and equal parts cabernet franc and petit verdot, this has notes of cedar and pencil lead on the nose, with layered fruit texture and sinewy tannins. 2024–2036.

51 CM19441 Château Phélan Ségur, Saint-Estèphe £150 A savoury blend of 53% cabernet sauvignon and 47% merlot, the 2015 Phélan Ségur is well structured, with mineral and stone-fruit character. The tannins will round out in time leaving a classic, layered Saint-Estèphe of considerable fi nesse. 2022–2033.


Margaux vineyards did exceptionally well in 2015 Chasse Spleen – a complete and harmonious wine in 2015




Ref Six

52 CM19081 Château d’Armailhac, Pauillac £155 A supple and generous wine in 2015, d’Armailhac comes from the Mouton-Rothschild stable and in good vintages displays hints of the class and refi nement of its more senior stable-mate. The 60% cabernet sauvignon lends the wine its classic Pauillac freshness, with merlot adding plushness of texture. 2021–2033.

53 CM19261 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien* £160 Due to increasingly rigorous selection by Bruno Borie for his grand vin, the second wine of Ducru, La Croix, has seen its quality soar in recent years. A juicy and fragrant blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon, 43% merlot and 3% petit verdot, the wine is supple and complex. 2022–2032.

54 CM19381 Château Langoa Barton, Saint-Julien £170 The Bartons have increased the merlot content of their Langoa this year which has lent the wine more density on the palate, whilst retaining the wine’s unique character. A perfumed nose with notes of violets and vibrant fruit on the palate ensure a very complete and harmonious wine. 2023–2038. Halves available.

55 CM19341 Château La Lagune, Haut-Médoc £173 A vivid and fragrant blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and 5% cabernet franc. A wine of poise and elegance, rather than weight and concentration. Perfumed and with fi ne-boned structure, it displays notes of graphite and stone fruits on the fi nish. 2025–2039.

56 CM19291 Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux* £175 Durfort is undergoing something of a renaissance under the aegis of Gonzague Lurton. Traditionally the wine has been diffi cult to taste when young, only revealing its class after lengthy ageing. But recent vintages have shown charm and style from the outset. The 2015 is a notable success with a cedary nose and mulberry notes on the palate. 2022–2035.

57 CM19111 Château Batailley, Pauillac* £177 A clear favourite during our en primeur tastings this year, Batailley displays impressive depth and precision, the result partly of one-third of the production having been set aside for a second wine. The grand vin shows lovely perfume, purity of cabernet fruit and refi ned tannin structure on the fi nish. 2023–2036. Magnums available.

58 CM19201 Château Cantenac Brown, Margaux £180 Supple, fresh fruit character is the hallmark of Cantenac Brown in 2015. The wine has black-olive and nutmeg hints on the nose, and plenty of ripe cassis fruit on the palate. A rewarding wine with a promising future. 2023–2034.

59 CM19311 Château Giscours, Margaux* £195 A property in the ascendancy, Giscours fashioned a fi ne-boned and complex 2015. A blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 5% petit verdot, the wine has bright, lifted fruit character and well-integrated tannins. 2025–2037.

60 CM19241 Clos du Marquis, Saint-Julien £195 Clos du Marquis has impressive credentials, coming from the same stable as Léoville Las Cases, and the wine displays much of the fi nesse and class of its big brother. Black-fruit character on the nose and pliant, sleek tannins on the fi nish. 2022–2037.

61 CM19531 Château Talbot, Saint-Julien £200 Talbot is consistently making attractive wines in a classically structured style. The 2015 has a fresh nose of dried herbs, with mineral and bramble notes on the palate. Tannins are fi rm, but in balance. A wine to appeal to traditionalists. 2023–2037.

62 CM19151 Château Branaire-Ducru, Saint-Julien £202 A particularly successful Branaire this year, with an expressive nose of violets and cloves, and plenty of layered cabernet fruit on the palate. Plush, ripe tannins complete a harmonious and appealing Saint-Julien. 2023–2035.

63 CM19271 Château d’Issan, Margaux £210 We have recently seen an uplift in the quality of d’Issan and the 2015 is a fi ttingly impressive wine in the 70th vintage since the Cruse family bought the property. Supple, elegant fruit character and fi ne balance mark the wine out as a classic Margaux. 2025–2038.

64 CM19491 Château Saint-Pierre, Saint-Julien £210 One of the smallest of the Saint-Julien properties, Saint-Pierre is often overlooked, yet it makes some of the most consistently good wines of the appellation. The blend is 75% cabernet sauvignon with 19% merlot and 6% cabernet franc, and the wine has bright, polished character and pronounced notes of stone fruits and pencil shavings on the palate. Restrained, classy Saint-Julien. 2024–2039.

M

H

indicates magnums available indicates half bottles available, see order form for prices. * These wines feature in mixed cases on pages 10 and 11.

M H


Gazin – good concentration and structure Sauternes – plenty of noble rot character


Ref Six

65 CS10091 Château Nénin, Pomerol £223 Owned by the Delon family of Léoville-Las-Cases, Nénin has ripe berry-fruit perfume and good depth of fl avour on the palate, whilst maintaining admirable freshness and lift. A higher proportion of cabernet franc this year (33%) lends the wine an attractive spiciness. 2024–2038.

66 CB4901 Roc de Cambes, Bourg £230 François Mitjavile, owner of Tertre Roteboeuf in Saint-Emilion, makes the star wine of the Bourg appellation in Roc de Cambes. A ripe, opulent wine with real energy and weight. Notes of incense and coffee on the nose, with perfumed fruit character on the palate. 2021–2030.

67 CM19281 Domaine de Chevalier Rouge, Pessac-Léognan £230 A blend of 65% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 5% petit verdot, this is plush textured and mouthwatering. Vibrant fruit and hints of bilberries and vanilla on the palate provide a most appealing wine. A consistently strong performer and a wine that remains sensibly priced for its considerable quality. 2025–2040.

68 CM19171 Château Brane-Cantenac, Margaux £235 A particularly suave Brane-Cantenac this year, and one of our favourite wines. The cabernet sauvignon fruit, which dominates the blend, is fresh and succulent, and displays impressive purity. Margaux at its most elegant. 2023–2035.

69 CS10061 Château Larcis Ducasse, Saint-Emilion £240 A rich and satisfying blend of 87% merlot and 13% cabernet franc, with all the weight and depth that one has come to expect from this fi ne property with vineyards on clay-limestone soils next to Pavie. A dense and generous claret. 2024–2036.

70 CS10021 Château Gazin, Pomerol £240 Gazin is located on the Pomerol plateau, and produced one of the appellation’s most attractive wines this year. The 2015 has concentration and considerable structure, but retains its balance thanks to ripe merlot fruit. Plummy, pure and persistent. 2025–2040.

71 CM19321 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac £250 A château at the top of its game that has once again produced a wine of considerable class. A blend of 75% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot and 2% cabernet franc the wine has a refi ned nose of cassis and cloves, with a hint of camphor. On the palate the purity of fruit is impressive, backed up by generous, smooth tannins. 2025–2040.

72 CS10141 Château Trotte Vieille, Saint-Emilion £264 A small gem of a property owned by the Castéja family (who also own Batailley) making fi ne Saint-Emilion in a traditional mould. Equal parts merlot and cabernet franc with a splash of cabernet sauvignon, the 2015 is elegant and harmonious, with lovely purity of fruit. Fine-grained tannins give the wine lift and freshness. 2024–2038.

73 CM19471 Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux £275 The winemaking baton passed from John Kolasa to Nicolas Audebert this year and we are delighted to see that the wine has maintained the level of excellence upon which the château has built its reputation. A taut, complex wine, the 2015 has mineral and spice notes on the nose with polished cassis fruit on the fi nish. 2025–2040.



Ref Six

74 CS10101 Château Pavie Macquin, Saint-Emilion £280 A bold, deep-coloured Pavie Macquin this year with more power and weight than most wines from the right bank. Mulberry and nutmeg fruit character combine with balsamic notes to produce a wine of singular character. A keeper. 2025–2039.

75 CS9961 Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, Saint-Emilion £295 An impressive wine from Stephan von Neipperg this year, with plump, healthy fruit balanced with a seam of fresh acidity. A wine with the freshness and vibrancy that defi ne the best wines of the 2015 vintage. 2022–2039.

76 CM19431 Château Pape Clément, Pessac-Léognan £313 A full and rich wine with bilberry fruit and chocolate notes. The wine has more cabernet than usual in the blend and this lends the wine a gravelly freshness and intensity. The most complete Pape Clément that we have tasted for a decade. 2024–2036. Low stock, limited availability.

DRY WHITE WINES

77 BW5521 Château Rahoul Blanc, Graves £48 With a mere four hectares of white grape vines, and a growing reputation for its whites, Rahoul is in great demand. An appetising, aromatic blend of 70% semillon and 30% sauvignon banc, the wine has citrus notes on the nose and a lovely creamy texture on the fi nish. 2017–2021.

78 BW5541 Clos Floridène Blanc, Graves* £63 Denis Dubourdieu makes one of the undoubted stars in the dry white Bordeaux fi rmament, and at a remarkably approachable price. Plenty of fl oral and citrus character can be found in this blend of 52% semillon and 48% sauvignon, which enjoyed particular success in 2015. Aromatic and fresh with a crystalline fi nish. 2018–2024.

79 BW5531 Château Bouscaut Blanc, Pessac-Léognan* £115 A lively blend of 57% sauvignon blanc and 43% semillon, the 2015 Bouscaut Blanc displays grapefruit character on the nose and mouthwatering, aromatic fruit character on the palate. A hint of oak on the fi nish adds a creamy note to the wine. 2018–2024.

80 BW5681 Château Latour-Martillac Blanc, Pessac-Léognan* £115 A taut and mouthwatering blend of semillon and sauvignon blanc, with notes of grapefruit and vanilla on the nose and green-apple freshness on the palate. Refreshing and complex, the wine has a promising future. 2018–2024.

81 BW5551 Domaine de Chevalier Blanc, Pessac-Léognan £345 One of the great white wines of Bordeaux, this blend of 70% sauvignon and 30% semillon has a level of complexity and age-worthiness few wines can match. Delicious crisp fruit, reminiscent of biting into an apple, and creamy texture on the fi nish ensure a very appealing wine with a distinguished future. 2020–2032.

SAUTERNES/BARSAC

82 BW5561 Château Cantegril, Barsac £70 With one of the highest proportions of semillon (93%) of recent vintages, the 2015 has lovely richness and opulence, but balanced by a seam of fresh acidity. Especially good value and a wine that will age beautifully. 2018–2030.

Halves available.

83 BW5651 Château Lamothe Guignard, Sauternes £75 Honeyed, round, and ripe with bright, luscious fruit character. A modestly priced Sauternes that punches well above its weight. Fresh and appetising. 2018–2029.

84 BW5581 Cyprès de Climens, Barsac* £93 Phonetically, the best name for any second wine (si près de meaning ‘so close to’), and without doubt the most impressive of the second wines of Sauternes, Cyprès is made in the same exacting way as grand vin Climens, but matures sooner. Hints of apricots and grapefruit on the palate. 2019–2028. Halves available.

85 BW5611 Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac* £125 A harmonious and expressive wine with exceptional balance and lift. Notes of pineapple and candied orange on the nose and palate, with a creamy fi nish. Delightful, well-priced Barsac. 2019–2035. Halves available.

86 BW5591 Château Coutet, Barsac* £140 A particularly rich and luscious Coutet this year with generous tropical and honeyed notes. Sweeter and more opulent than most of its peers, the wine nevertheless retains lovely balance and will age for many years. 2022–2042.

Halves available.

H

H

H

H

indicates half bottles available, see order form for prices. * These wines feature in mixed cases on pages 10 and 11.H



MIXED CASES

94. 2015 GOOD-VALUE CLARETS

Drinking Window: 2022 to 2024

OC4076 at £94

A 12-bottle case containing three bottles of eachof the following four red wines:

Château Tour Saint Bonnet, Médoc

Château Beaumont, Haut-Médoc

Madame de Château de Pitray, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux

Château Cissac, Haut-Médoc

96. 2015 SIX CLASSIC COMMUNES


OC4096 at £129

A six-bottle case containing one bottle eachof the following six red wines:

Château de Fonbel, Saint-Emilion

Château La Pointe, Pomerol

La Parde de Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

Château Batailley, Pauillac

Château Angludet, Margaux

Croix de Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien

95. BORDEAUX 2015 OLD FAVOURITES


OC4086 at £221

A 12-bottle case containing three bottles of eachof the following four red wines:

Château Caronne Sainte Gemme, Haut-Médoc

Château Angludet, Margaux

Château Cantemerle, Haut-Médoc

Château Batailley, Pauillac

† Drink dates for these mixed cases refer to theperiod when all the wines will be at their peak. Please refer to the individual wine for itsrecommended drink date.

Ref Six

87 BW5601 Château Doisy-Daëne, Barsac* £143 The wine is 100% semillon this year, and retains a lovely freshness. Textured and with plenty of noble rot in evidence, it displays notes of orange peel and apricots. Intense and scented with a fi nish that goes on and on. 2019–2035.

Halves available.

88 BW5661 Château Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes* £143 A great success in 2015 with impressively rich, orange peel perfume and enticing notes of butterscotch and honey on the palate. A very complete wine. 2019–2031. Halves available.

89 BW5631 Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes* £148 A full, rich and almost heady wine with a nose of peaches and cream. Opulent and ripe, with marmalade notes on the palate. A Sauternes with a promising future. 2021–2037.

90 BW5621 Château Guiraud, Sauternes* £158 An impressive Guiraud with a nose of peach blossom and honey. On the palate the wine has freshness and balance, with mandarin and lemon-curd overtones. Balancing acidity lends fi nesse and lift. 2021–2038. Halves available.

91 BW5641 Château Lafaurie-Peyraguey, Sauternes £180 Splendid intensity and precision, with a fragrant, honeyed nose and a palate that delivers the depth of fl avour and fi nesse you would expect of a fi ne Sauternes. Very lovely indeed. 2023–2040.

92 BW5671 Château Suduiraut, Sauternes* £240 A precise, elegant wine with impressive fruit defi nition backed up with intense, aromatic notes of honeysuckle and apricots. A vibrant and beautifully balanced wine which will reward keeping. 2023–2042. Halves available.

93 BW5571 Château Climens, Barsac £258 Owner Bérénice Lurton describes a nigh-on perfect vintage in 2015 with favourable weather conditions for the development of noble rot, and generous yields. A great Climens with complexity, depth and richness, balanced by a freshness that will ensure a very long life and years of pleasure. 2022–2050. Halves available.


H

HH

H

H

H

indicates half bottles available, see order form for prices. * These wines feature in mixed cases overleaf.H


MIXED CASES

100. 2015 DRY WHITES


OC4136 at £101

A six-bottle case containing two bottles eachof the following three white wines:

Clos Floridène, Graves

Château Latour-Martillac, Pessac-Léognan

Château Bouscaut, Pessac-Léognan

102. 2015 TOP SWEET MIXED CASE


OC4156 at £135

A six-bottle case containing one bottle each of the following six white wines:

Cyprès de Climens, Barsac

Château Coutet, Barsac

Château Doisy-Daëne, Barsac

Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac

Château Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes

Château La Tour Blanche, Sauternes

97. 2015 MARGAUX CASE


OC4106 at £141

A six-bottle case containing one bottle eachof the following six red wines:

Ségla, Margaux

Baron de Brane, Margaux

Château Siran, Margaux

Château Durfort-Vivens, Margaux

Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux

Château Giscours, Margaux

98. 2015 SAINT-EMILIONS


OC4116 at £172

A 12-bottle case containing two bottles each of the following six red wines:

Château Puy-Blanquet, Saint-Emilion

Château de Fonbel, Saint-Emilion

Château Vieux Clos Saint-Emilion, Saint-Emilion

Château Chauvin, Saint-Emilion

Château Cap Saint-Georges, Saint-Georges Saint-Emilion

Château Moulin Saint-Georges, Saint-Emilion

99. 2015 SMART SECOND WINES


OC4126 at £221

A 12-bottle case containing three bottles eachof the following four red wines:

Lacoste Borie, Pauillac

Croix de Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien

La Parde de Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan

Baron de Brane, Margaux

101. 2015 SWEET WHITES HALF-BOTTLE CASE


OC4146 at £165

A 12 half-bottle case containing two half bottles each of the following six white wines:

Château Doisy-Védrines, Barsac

Château Coutet, Barsac

Château Doisy-Daëne, Barsac

Château Guiraud, Sauternes

Château Sigalas Rabaud, Sauternes

Château Suduiraut, Sauternes



IN-BOND RESERVESMembers can now store their en primeur wines with The Society ‘inbond’. Duty and VAT on wines stored in this way will be payable only when the wines are withdrawn from Reserves. What the price includes• Prices shown include delivery to a UK address. They do not include

excise duty or VAT payable at the prevailing rate once the wines arewithdrawn from Stevenage.

• When the wines arrive in Stevenage (expected to be summer 2018) members will be given three options: • To take delivery of the wines. Duty and VAT will be payable

immediately. • To store the wines in duty-paid Members’ Reserves. Again, duty

and VAT will be payable immediately. • To store the wines in our new ‘in-bond’ Reserves area. With this

option, duty and VAT will only be payable (at the prevailing rate)when the wines are fi nally withdrawn*.

Please visit our website for more details: thewinesociety.com/enprimeurreserves

*Unless you are exporting the wines or transferring them to another in-bond storage facility – for which a small administration chargewould be payable.

Notes • Wines are offered in cases of 12 or 6 as indicated. • Please note that these wines cannot be collected from our

showroom in Montreuil.

Please read the full terms and conditions for this offer set out on theenclosed order form and on our website before placing your order.

For information regarding this offer after the close date please contact The Society on 01438 741177 or [email protected]

8PM TUESDAY 12TH JULY 2016

How this offer worksOrders by telephone, website, post and fax will be accepted. If you would like to order via the website, visit thewinesociety.com/enprimeur You will be required to log in with your password to placean order. If you need a new password visit thewinesociety.com/forgottenpassword. Orders need to arrive at Stevenage by 8pm,Tuesday 12th July, 2016 and will be processed thereafter. Members whose orders have been received by this date will receiveconfi rmation of their purchase by Wednesday 3rd August, 2016at the latest.

Members whose orders have been received after this time will receive notifi cation by Tuesday 23rd August, 2016.

If you wish to receive e-mail notifi cations for this and subsequent opening offers, and have not already notifi ed us, please see the order form for instructions.

If demand exceeds supply The Society has a long relationship with many of the producers in thisoffer and access to good quantities of wine. It is possible however that demand may exceed supply for individual wines, in which case we willshare out (as far as is practical) the available stock equally amongstordering members. If this still does not allow every member to have some wine, then as a fi nal resort we divide members into groupsdepending on their level of support for The Society (quantity of winebought, spend, orders placed etc). Members who have given greater support to The Society will have a better chance (but no certainty) of being allocated wine, and those who have given less support will have a lesser chance (but still a chance). The Society will offer a similar wineas a substitute if the original choice cannot be provided, or membersmay nominate their own substitute when ordering. Doing so will not lessen the chance of receiving the original wine.

Members’ ReservesThe Society’s Members’ Reserves is a purpose-built, temperature-controlled facility offering members access to optimum storage conditions. The annual rental charge (currently £8.28 per dozen if paid by direct debit, £9.48 if not) includes VAT and insurance atreplacement value. Any wine bought from The Society, by the unmixedor pre-mixed dozen, may be added or removed at any time. Memberscan also remove a few bottles of a full case stored in Reserves. Wines removed in this way need to be made up into 12-bottle cases using no more than four different wines from the member’s unmixed casesstored in Reserves. Please visit our website thewinesociety.com/reserves for more detail.


THE SOCIETY’S PROMISEUncork with confi denceThe Wine Society is a mutual organisation, so our members’ satisfaction is paramount. If, for any reason, you haven’t enjoyed a wine we want to hear about it and will happily offer a credit, areplacement or a refund. thewinesociety.com/promise


2015 bordeaux - home - the wine society€¦ · 11 cs10151 château vieux clos saint-emilion,...

Documents