Bordeaux 2015 Vintage Sets Record for 100-point Wines

Stone marker in the Ch芒teau Ausone vineyards, Saint-脡milion / Getty
Stone marker in the Ch芒teau Ausone vineyards, Saint-脡milion / Getty

Five 100-point wines have emerged as the stars among the 1,220 reviews of Bordeaux鈥檚 2015 vintage. It鈥檚 the first time Wine Enthusiast has awarded so many top scores for the region at the same time.

The five鈥擟h芒teaux P茅trus, Ausone and Cheval Blanc on the Right Bank of Bordeaux, and Ch芒teaux Lafite Rothschild and Margaux on the Left Bank鈥攈ead the list of these top-scoring stars. Alongside these powerhouses are some lesser-known names that performed magnificently, in what has been the best Bordeaux vintage since 2010. Check out the full list of reviews now in the Wine Enthusiast Buying Guide.

What鈥檚 equally exciting about this vintage is the range and depth of quality. That has meant the many smaller estates, at lower prices, are just as satisfying as the big names. Consumers and importers alike have a choice from hundreds of dollars per bottle for a top estate to options like a 93-point Best Buy for only $14. See a selection of both in the reviews below.

The 2015 Vintage Impresses at Bordeaux's En Primeur

The Five 100-point Wines of the 2015 Bordeaux Vintage

Ch芒teau P茅trus 2015 Pomerol; $N/A, 100 points. This is like drinking liquid black currants and blackberries. The wine has great intensity and richness from the superbly generous Merlot. The wood aging is still there as a hint in the background although the fruit and acidity dominate. Drink from 2026. Cellar Selection.

Ch芒teau Ausone 2015 Saint-脡milion; $N/A, 100 points. This magnificent wine brings together the great fruit of the vintage with a complex structure. The acidity, ripe tannins and the power of this dense wine are enormous, as is its aging potential. With that acidity and tannic structure, and with the perfumes from the Cabernet Franc, this wine will evolve slowly and with a measured pace. Drink from 2028. Cellar Selection.

Ch芒teau Cheval Blanc 2015 Saint-脡milion; $N/A, 100 points. Made with 45% Cabernet Franc, this great wine offers a beautiful, rich and perfumed character. This is an exceptional vintage for this estate which incorporated into the blend fruit from parcels of the vineyard that would normally go into the second wine. It is packed with black-fruit flavors and broad tannins, with a background of juicy acidity and a firm structure. Drink from 2027. Cellar Selection.

Ch芒teau Lafite Rothschild 2015 Pauillac; $N/A, 100 points. This is a great vintage from Lafite. The profile is rich in feel, with a seriously firm tannic structure. Solid, complex and with great authority, this Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine, is impressively dense in dark-fruit tones. It will age for many years. Drink from 2027, although that would almost be too soon. Cellar Selection.

Ch芒teau Margaux 2015 Margaux; $N/A, 100 points. Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine shows a wonderful black-currant purity on the palate, along with intense, vibrant acidity. The background is all tannin, which speaks to its aging potential. This wine is the last vintage produced by Paul Pontallier, who was general manager from 1990 until his death in 2016. It’s a memorable wine and one for aging. Drink from 2027. Cellar Selection.

Five Bonus Bordeaux Best Buys to Try

Ch芒teau d’Hanteillan 2015 Haut-M茅doc; $14, 93 points. Produced close to Saint-Est猫phe, this Merlot-dominated wine is powerful and dense. Great black fruits and juicy acidity contrast with firm tannins and the ripe texture from wood aging. This rich wine will age well. Drink from 2024. Advini USA. Best Buy.

Ch芒teau Tour de Pez 2015 Saint-Est猫phe; $15, 92 points. Generous in its ripe Merlot, this wine is sumptuous and full bodied. Although there are plenty of tannins, they give just the right structure to this wine. From a 74-acre property that is named after the small village of Pez, the wine is rich and will age well. Drink from 2025. Mill茅sima USA. Best Buy.

Ch芒teau Leboscq 2015 M茅doc; $13, 90 points. From a blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a structured wine. Its tannins and black-currant fruit are balancing well, giving both a dry side and a rich, juicy aftertaste. This wine has good potential, so drink from 2022. Advini USA. Best Buy.

Ch芒teau Lacombe Noaillac 2015 M茅doc; $12, 88 points. This is one of the most northerly of the M茅doc estates, only six miles from the ocean. That gives a cool feel to the wine, emphasizing fruit rather than structure. Plenty of juicy acidity gives the wine a lift. Drink from 2022. USA Wine West. Best Buy.

Ch芒teau Tourteyron 2015 M茅doc; $12, 87 points. This soft, juicy wine has ripe black-currant fruits and some smoky tannins. It is warm, generous and likely to mature quickly. Drink from 2020. Leonard Kreusch, Inc. Best Buy.

Published on March 13, 2018
Topics: Bordeaux's Best