UGC 2015 Vintage Tasting \u2013 1\/19\/2018<\/p>\n
These notes are from the Boston tasting. The first in Boston since 2008. Similar notes are from the Los Angeles tasting, however the wines in the Los Angeles tasting seem to be less open and accessible. Not sure if that was due to temperature, humidity, travel of the wines, etc. Overall the wines were relatively accessible, more so than in recent years, yet do show much aging potential.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Carbonnieux.\u00a0 On the nose, the 2005 Carbonnieux presents some smoke, red plums and a hint of mint.\u00a0 There is a good deal of earth on the on the medium-bodied palate, along with a gravelly, rock-like character and a medium-length finish.\u00a0 A solid wine that should start drinking well in about 5 years. WB 91.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Haut-Bailly.\u00a0 Very polished aromatically, with notes of red raspberries, mocha, incense and a touch of mint.\u00a0 On the palate, this is incredibly refined, with a cashmere-like texture, a plush mouth feel, and copious minerals, earth and black cherries.\u00a0 Very complex on the very long finish.\u00a0 Simply outstanding \u2013 this must be one of the best vintages of Haut-Bailly in recent years.\u00a0 Great stuff! Needs 10+ years, but will be worth it. WB 96.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Larrivet Haut Brion.\u00a0 A slightly reduced nose is currently dominated by violets and barbeque smoke.\u00a0 Medium-bodied, with good refinement, this contains mostly dark berries and stony fruit.\u00a0 A solid wine that will benefit with a few years in the cellar. WB 90+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Pape-Clement.\u00a0 Sweet cherry aromas, along notes of burning embers.\u00a0 In the mouth, there is a very strong sense of extraction, with loads of vanilla, along with blueberries and black cherries.\u00a0 This is a very modern style \u2013 I would imagine that this is very polarizing.\u00a0 10+ years in the cellar would certainly be of great help here. WB 94.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.\u00a0 Spices, barbeque smoke and a floral note are present here.\u00a0 Modern, very dense and drying in the mouth, with ample black fruits, charcoal and bittersweet chocolate.\u00a0 An excellent wine of you like the style. Will require many years of cellaring (10+). WB 93.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot.\u00a0 Violets, bitter chocolate, beeswax and a hint of vanilla bean on the effusive nose.\u00a0 On the palate, it is medium-bodied, filled with dark chocolate, boysenberry and a serious mineral streak.\u00a0 Finishes fairly long, with a whiplash of tannin and mineral coating the gums.\u00a0 Very promising, if embryonic Merlot-based blend. WB 92+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Canon.\u00a0 Powerful aromas of melted fudge, sweet berries and violets.\u00a0 Incredibly complex in the mouth, with red cherries, plums, earth, licorice and a smidgeon of citrus, all in perfect harmony and with outstanding definition.\u00a0 Very long on the rising, complex finish with fine-grained tannins that simply refuse to let go of the palate.\u00a0 This extraordinary wine needs to be tasted to be believed!\u00a0 Unfortunately, it is also likely to require a minimum of 15 years in the cellar to be at peak, but accessible now.\u00a0 But, it will be worth the wait!\u00a0 WB 97+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Clos Fourtet.\u00a0 Aromatically, the 2015 Clos Fourtet is dominated by flowers, mocha and a hint of cotton candy.\u00a0 There are sweet berries on the attack, transitioning into black plums, minerals and a touch of vanilla bean.\u00a0 Very long on the finish, with some serious tannic grip.\u00a0 This will require a good decade of cellaring, but should reward handsomely.\u00a0 A worthy challenger to the 2014, 2010 and other recent successes here. WB 95.<\/p>\n
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2015 Valandraud.\u00a0 With minimal swirling, notes of red raspberries, incense and melted fudge jump out of the glass.\u00a0 Very fruity on the highly refined, medium-bodied palate, but is underpinned with excellent definition and freshness that extends all the way to the very long and complex finish.\u00a0 This one is modern-styled, but is not at all overdone.\u00a0 Will benefit from 7-8 years of cellaring. WB 95.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau La Cabanne.\u00a0 Dark cherries, chocolate, licorice and vanilla bean dominate the aromatics here.\u00a0 It is very woody and over-extracted in the mouth, with bitter, astringent tannin gripping the palate like a vise.\u00a0 There is clearly some good material lurking underneath all that oak, but I am skeptical that it will ever come into balance. WB 85?.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Gazin.\u00a0 Red cherries, violets and smoked herbs on the nose transition into a medium-bodied wine that is crammed with black plums, iron and strong, refreshing acidity on the long finish.\u00a0 This is clearly a very promising Pomerol, but it will take a long time to come into its drinking window.\u00a0 Yet another winner from Gazin. WB 94.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau La Pointe.\u00a0 Aromatically, the 2015 La Pointe has moderately intense notes of mocha, flowers and red raspberries.\u00a0 Medium-bodied on the palate, with good grip and black fruit throughout.\u00a0 Finishes with some late-arriving tannin.\u00a0 Very good stuff here, though additional complexity would be beneficial.\u00a0 Let\u2019s hope that come about with some bottle age. WB 90+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Rouget.\u00a0 Melted fudge, herb and underbrush aromas make up the aromatics here.\u00a0 Medium-bodied in the mouth, loaded with plums and herbs, underpinned by good definition and gentle grip.\u00a0 This red-fruited elixir will drink well on release. WB 91.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau de Camensac.\u00a0 Smoke, mocha and some reductive notes are present in the aromatic profile.\u00a0 On the palate, there is a medium body and slightly sweet red fruits.\u00a0 Overall this gently tannic and moderately complex bottling is already drinking well and will not require much — if any — cellaring for enjoyment. WB 88.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Cantemerle.\u00a0 Lovely aromas of blackcurrant and spice, with a hint of lavender are found with minimal coaxing.\u00a0 Medium- to full-bodied in the mouth, with cassis and red cherries, good depth and cut.\u00a0 Finishes long, with lots of late-arriving tannins.\u00a0 Very promising vintage here \u2013 could eventually wind up being nearly as good as 2010. WB 92+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Citran.\u00a0 Mocha and fudge, along with berries and hints of flowers, make up the aromatics here.\u00a0 Medium-bodied, perhaps a bit four-square on the palate, with moderate tannin on the finish.\u00a0 Solid, relatively early drinking Citran. WB 89.<\/p>\n
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2015 La Lagune.\u00a0 The nose is dominated by some red but mostly black berries.\u00a0 Dark, brooding fruit, with bittersweet chocolate, minerals and charcoal.\u00a0 A long, minerally and tannic aftertaste suggests that this will require 10+ years in the cellar to round into form.\u00a0 A serious, high quality Haut Medoc. WB 93.<\/p>\n
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2015 La Tour Carnet.\u00a0 Spices, mocha, vanilla and herbs are present on the nose.\u00a0 Medium-bodied in the mouth, with red raspberry compote-like sweetness and traces of vanilla.\u00a0 This plush, modern-styled wine possess good density and texture, and should be approachable by 2020.\u00a0 Solid value as well. WB 91.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Brane-Cantenac.\u00a0 Cranberries, flowers and bittersweet chocolate practically jump out of the glass.\u00a0 Very graceful in the mouth, with a near-even mix of red and black fruits, as well as earth and a liquid stone-like character, all underpinned by exceptional balance.\u00a0 This has it all \u2013 elegance, balance and density.\u00a0 A real winner! WB 95+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Ferriere.\u00a0 Black cherries, toast and smoked herbs are found on the nose.\u00a0 Medium-bodied and somewhat simple, with black cherries and vanilla beans on the mid-palate.\u00a0 This is pretty good, but could use a bit more density and refinement. WB 87.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Giscours.\u00a0 Aromatically, the 2015 Giscours is composed of violets, red cherries and licorice.\u00a0 It is quite dense in the mouth, with some oaky overtones, accompanied with some bitterness.\u00a0 It does finish very long, and is rather refined.\u00a0 If the oak subsides, this will turn out quite well. WB 91?.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Rauzan-Segla.\u00a0 Highly perfumed nose of cherries, licorice, flowers, cranberries and a hint of blood orange.\u00a0 Medium- to full-bodied, with a complex, very refined mid-palate loaded boysenberry, red plums and mineral.\u00a0 This, outstanding, modern-leaning concoction deserves to be cellared for 10-15 years.\u00a0 WB 95+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Siran.\u00a0 Strawberries and sweet red cherries dominate the aromatic profile here.\u00a0 Rather simple in the mouth, with a lingering sweet sensation of red fruits and a modest, gentle finish.\u00a0 This pleasant wine is open and ready for business. WB 88.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Du Tertre.\u00a0 Very aromatic, with lots of freshly-picked flowers, cherries and mint notes.\u00a0 A solid core of dark fruit, powdered stone and earth can all be found on the palate.\u00a0 Embryonic and loaded with potential, this will undoubtedly be excellent with considerable cellar time.\u00a0 A good value to boot. WB 91+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Beychevelle.\u00a0 Nearly purple in color, the Beychevelle gives off aromas of smoke, exotic spices and flowery overtones. Medium-bodied and quite refined, with bitter chocolate and some vanilla on the palate.\u00a0 This is obviously very young, but is oh so promising! WB 93+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Branaire-Ducru.\u00a0 With some coaxing, the 2015 Branaire-Ducru reluctantly gives off with notes of baking spices, mocha and red cherries.\u00a0 Medium-bodied, earthy and rather monolithic in the mouth, the wine appears to be shut down for business.\u00a0 Hard to get an accurate read on this today.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Giraud Larose.\u00a0 A nose that\u2019s dominated by animal, wet fur, and herbs.\u00a0 Dark in character on the palate, with loads of earth and some mineral.\u00a0 Little in the way of any obvious fruit.\u00a0 Overall, this is rather modest in length and density.\u00a0 I expected more from this address. WB 87.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Lagrange.\u00a0 Somewhat closed aromatically, but eventually some hints of blackcurrant, charcoal and vanilla can be discerned.\u00a0 Medium-bodied, with good density of fruit, and at this juncture, somewhat simple.\u00a0 Very tannic and clearly needs a minimum of 10 years in the cellar.\u00a0 My hunch is that this is mostly shut down for business. WB 90?.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Langoa Barton.\u00a0 Mocha, violets and hints of red cherries can all be found in the aromatics of the 2015 Langoa Barton.\u00a0 Medium-bodied, with sweet red cherries dominating the rather four-square palate.\u00a0 This is pretty good on its own, but in this vintage, it is overshadowed by many other wines in its appellation.\u00a0 WB 88.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Leoville Barton.\u00a0 Violets, mint, and smoke are readily apparent in the aromatic profile.\u00a0 Medium- to full-bodied, loaded with minerals, earth and bitter chocolate, and foreboding tannic structure that suggests \u2013 no, make that demands \u2013 a minimum of 15 years of slumber in the cellar before drinkability.\u00a0 An excellent wine, but will require tremendous patience. WB 93+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Leoville Poyferre.\u00a0 This gives off powerful and well-defined notes of cassis, lavender and melted fudge.\u00a0 Dark fruits, excellent refinement and a full body characterize the palate, along with some minerals and a hint of coffee.\u00a0 Very long on the finish, with fine grained tannin coating every nook and cranny in the mouth.\u00a0 An excellent wine that needs 10+ years in the cellar. WB 94+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau D\u2019Armailhac.\u00a0 Black cherries, flowers and hints of chocolate make up the aromatic profile. Medium-bodied, with vanilla bean, bitter chocolate and earth.\u00a0 It has surprisingly good refinement and length, and a good amount of tannin as well, so some patience in needed.\u00a0 Might be the best D\u2019Armailhac I\u2019ve ever had. WB 91+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Clerc Milon.\u00a0 Mostly cassis notes dominate here, along with some mocha.\u00a0 Medium-bodied, with good refinement, a medium-length finish with black fruits and a touch of vanilla.\u00a0 Solid wine that ideally needs 7-8 years in the cellar. WB 91.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse.\u00a0 Smoke, blackberries and a floral top note. Very tannic and black fruited in the mouth, with moderate length on the finish.\u00a0 Could use a bit of refinement, as it comes off as a bit rustic compared to other 2015 Pauillacs. WB 89.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste.\u00a0 Mocha, cassis, red berries on the highly aromatic nose.\u00a0 Quite dense on the mid-palate, with excellent refinement, plush mouth feel, licorice and black cherries, minerals and a very long finish. This is obviously young, and will benefit from at least 8 years of cellaring.\u00a0 A top-notch Grand-Puy-Lacoste that reminds me of the 1990. WB 95.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal.\u00a0 Aromatics here are composed of cassis, cherries and smoke.\u00a0 It is modestly dense in the mouth, with some black fruits and very drying tannin on the short, rather abrupt finish.\u00a0 Seems quite simple. WB 85.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Lynch-Moussas.\u00a0 One whiff here and aromas of vanilla and campfire smoke become quite apparent. Dark fruits are everywhere on the palate, along with some earth.\u00a0 Finish is of moderate length, with rather coarse tannin arriving late.\u00a0 Could really use a bit more refinement, but otherwise a good claret. WB 88.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Pichon Baron.\u00a0 Nearly impenetrable dark ruby, the 2015 Pichon Baron presents powerful notes of cassis, vanilla bean and flowers.\u00a0 It is full-bodied, with licorice, coffee, black cherries and even some blueberries on the palate.\u00a0 This very masculine wine will require at least 10+ years to become drinkable, but all the elements are there for it to become a superstar.\u00a0 Clearly one of the best Pichon Barons since 1989. WB 95+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande.\u00a0 A veritable smorgasbord of aromas, with violets, blackberries, exotic spices, cocoa and graphite.\u00a0 Incredibly refined in the mouth, with black cherries, licorice, mocha and minerals present everywhere.\u00a0 Finishes with exceptional persistence and very fine-grained tannin and cut.\u00a0 Flat-out great! WB 96+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau De Pez. \u00a0Currently dominated by a smoke and red berries, the medium-bodied 2015 De Pez has modest density but surprisingly big and firm tannin. Overall, it is somewhat simple, but needs a few years in the cellar to round into drinking form. WB 88.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Coutet.\u00a0 Marmalade, apricot and quince are quite apparent in the aromatics.\u00a0 Rather sweet in the mouth, but the sweetness is buffered by lots of acidity.\u00a0 The end result is that this medium- to full-bodied wine never heavy or cloying.\u00a0 A solid effort. WB 93.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau de Fargues.\u00a0 Grass, fresh hay and orange rind notes make up the aromatic profile.\u00a0 Full-bodied on the palate, with minerals and yellow fruits, it also has good acidity.\u00a0 At the moment, though, that acidity is not nearly enough to overcome the sweetness.\u00a0 Perhaps time will be kind here and bring the wine into better balance. WB 90+.<\/p>\n
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2015 Chateau Guiraud.\u00a0 Sweet oranges and apricots, peaches, along with a whiff of straw.\u00a0 Marmalade on the mid-palate, as is good acidity and a long finish.\u00a0 A very nice Sauterne. WB 92.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
UGC 2015 Vintage Tasting \u2013 1\/19\/2018 These notes are from the Boston tasting. The first in Boston since 2008. Similar notes are from the Los Angeles tasting, however the wines in the Los Angeles tasting seem to be less open and accessible. Not sure if that was due to temperature, humidity, travel of the wines, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[19,21,22],"class_list":["post-113","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-wine-events","tag-bordeaux","tag-ugc","tag-union-de-grand-cru-de-bordeaux"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=113"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":116,"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/113\/revisions\/116"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=113"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=113"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wineandbeertasting.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=113"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}