The Right Bank in 2015 performed extremely well, especially for merlot-based reds. The summer was warm, with a moderated month of August marked by punctual showers that extended the tannin maturation. St.-Emilion and Pomerol are among the best appellations of the 2015 Bordeaux vintage. Here, we interviewed 10 leading winemakers from famous estates in the Right Bank, from Pétrus to Lafleur to Cheval Blanc. Below are their detailed comments on the vintage.
Jean-Luc Thunevin, general manager of Château Valandraud
“A mix between 2009 and 2010 in terms of taste and we did even better in 2015 with this great balance between freshness and concentration.”
Sylvie Cazes, owner of Château Chauvin
“First time we can express all qualities of the terroir since we purchased the winery two years ago. It is also the first year we benefited from the work we have invested in the vineyard, and thanks to perfect conditions we could achieve perfect ripeness with our merlots and cabernets francs.”
Christian Moueix, president of Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix
“I find honestly those wines fantastic, almost extravagant with great concentration that came naturally. It reminds me of the great 1961.”
Babptiste Guinaudeau, co-owner of Château Lafleur
“The concentration and structure of the wines in 2015 were built in June following three months of drought, which led to production of small berries. August’s rainfall softened the wines and September’s weather offered the nuances and final settings in the vineyard before the harvest.”
“2015 offered us our best merlots since the 2000 vintage. They bring an interesting creamy texture to the wines.”
Pierre Lurton, general manager of Château Cheval Blanc and CEO of Château d’Yquem
“It is a classic Cheval Blanc. It is a multi-layered wine that evolves in the glass as the tasting goes.”
“2015 for d’Yquem is like a firework. It is very vinous and shows an integrated botrytis spice in the mid-palate and a long fresh finish.”
Alexandre Thienpont, co-owner of Vieux Château Certan
“It has been a while since we are able to fully ripen our cabernet francs like in 2015, which offers us a classic Vieux Château Certan with great balance and a tannin texture close to cashmere.”
“We are not far from the 1940s wines at Vieux Château Certan with a slight softer touch.”
Olivier Berrouet, general manager and winemaker of Pétrus
“The wine has a big shoulder and is very approachable, even en primeur. It has less tannin concentration than for 2009 and 2010 vintages, however, it has a lower pH, giving purity and clarity to the wine. A lot of aromatic complexity too. To me it is one of the best Petrus’ of the last 50 years.”
Marielle Cazaux, winemaker at Château La Conseillante
“We had great grape maturity and there was no need to extract. We could work in best conditions and be precise on the harvesting time for each parcel. This was an easy vintage that helped us make a wine revealing true character of La Conseillante.”
Stephan Von Neipperg, owner of Vins Von Neipperg incuding estates of Canon La Gaffelière and La Mondotte
“It is an accomplished vintage for a winemaker. Freshness and great precision in those powerful wines. Closer to 2009 and 2010 but is, however, more precise.”
Frédéric Faye, general manager of Château Figeac
“In the lines of 2005, 2009 and 2010. It shows precision and delicacy. It has a very important ageing potential with its strong and qualitative structure, thanks to its high proportion of fully ripe cabernets.”
– Alexandre Centeleghe
