2015 Clos St Julien

A towering, magnificent wine, the 2015 Clos Saint Julien captures all of the richness of the year in stunning style. Rich, unctuous and deep, the 2015 possesses exceptional beauty to match its exotic, flamboyant personality. Inky blue/purplish fruit, crème de cassis, violets, licorice, dark spices and leather meld together in a seamless, racy St.-Émilion oozing with personality. The 2015 is going to need time to shed some of its baby fat, but it will never be a subtle wine, rather it is a full-throttle St.-Émilion that takes over all the senses and never lets up. Clos Saint Julien is equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc aged in 100% new barrels. Tasted two times. Apr 2016, www.Vinous.com

The 2015 Clos St Julien, which is surrounded by Soutard, Cadet-Bon and Guadet, comes from a 1.2-hectare vineyard owned by Catherine Papon-Nouvel, and is an equal blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Cropped at 42 hl/ha between 18 September and 8 October, it has a very intense bouquet with small dark cherries, kirsch and a subtle marine influence, a touch of oyster shell perhaps. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, crisp and pure, possessing a sense of symmetry with a long, mineral-tinged finish. I would just like a little more flesh, but it is certainly very fine Saint Emilion that should repay 3-5 years in bottle. Apr 2016, www.eRobertParker.com, Drink: 2018-2032

A blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot aged in 100% new oak, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Clos St Julien has a provocatively savory nose of smoked meats, roasted nuts and iron ore over a core of baked plums and dried mulberries with a cedary undercurrent. The medium-bodied palate is earthy with oak tannins that make it pretty chewy at this stage and a little hard on the finish. Feb 2018, www.robertparker.com