En Primeur Bordeaux 2015

The 2015 Batailley is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot cropped at 48 hl/ha picked between 17-30 September. Matured in around 55-60% new oak, it has a very focused, intense bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, cedar and mineral notes, perhaps a little Margaux-like in style as those violets blossom with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well-judged acidity, a touch of white pepper here lending edginess, gradually building to a very composed and structured finish. This is an excellent Batailley, meliorated by the introduction of a second wine, that continues the upswing in quality over the last six or seven years. I would not be surprised if this settles at the top of my banded score once in bottle.

Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2022-2050

Wow. The shows a new level of excellence with mint, mineral and currant character. Full body, super fine tannins and a savory finish. New definition here. Precision. New second wine from this estate moved up the quality.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

This has nice energy, with a brambly frame around the notes of cherry paste and currant preserves. There's a solid bolt of iron through the finish, with lots of tobacco. A touch old-school and solidly done.

Score: 89 - 92 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

The 2015 Beaumont has a more floral bouquet compared to other Haut-Médoc barrel samples: well-defined with subtle cold granite scents percolating through the red berry fruit. The palate is fresh and crisp with fine tannin, plus there is satisfying depth of fruit. It is your classic Bordeaux here, the kind of bottle you happily find on your dinner table and is finished down to the last drop. This is a well-made, straight down the line Claret that is probably overlooked these days. I would buy a couple of cases and just enjoy them with Claret-lovers over the next decade.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2019-2030

A firm and silky red with chocolate, berry and chewy aromas and flavors. Medium body. Straightforward finish.

Score: 88 - 89 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

A dark, brooding wine, the 2015 Beaumont is full of character and personality. Tobacco, scorched earth, black cherry and licorice are some of the signatures in a hearty, pleasantly rustic Haut-Médoc that will deliver excellent drinking, especially at the dinner table.

Score: 86 - 88 Antonio Galloni, www.vinousmedia.com

The 2015 Beauregard has undergone a complete overhaul since its purchase by the Moulin family of Gallarie Lafayette, of which the Cathiards at Smith Haut Lafitte are shareholders. Chancing upon Daniel Cathiard at the UGC tasting held in Beauregard's new vat-room, he told me how stressful it was, seeing the Italian-made, concrete vats being lowered by crane just a few days before the harvest. Their shape, not unlike an English cooling tower, is certainly an arresting sight. But Daniel's high blood pressure was not in vain, since this wine has one of the best bouquets that I have encountered from this Pomerol estate. The 30% Cabernet Franc imparts wild heather and fennel aromas intermixed with the pure black fruit that are entrancing. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweet opening, very smooth and sensual for Beauregard, perhaps needing a little more tension and backbone on the finish. There is satisfying body and depth, though I think the investment will really pay off in a future vintage rather than 2015.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2019-2035

Dark lustrous crimson. Bought by Smith Haut Lafitte and Galeries Lafayette family. Debut vintage. Floral nose. Polished. Dry finish but lots of attention clearly went into this wine! There's an Edinburg rock quality.

Score: 16 - 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2023-2033

The 2015 Beauregard shows a more intensely earthy, savory side of Pomerol. Hints of iron, smoke, tobacco and leather are nicely delineated in the glass. Pliant and succulent, the 2015 shows plenty of raciness, while the significant presence of Cabernet Franc (25%) in the blend comes through in the wine's floral, savory aromatic finish. Beauregard is not a huge wine, but it does appear to have considerable latent potential. Needless to say, it will be interesting to see what Daniel and Florence Cathiard, along with the technical team led by Fabien Teitgen, do here over the coming years. Tasted two times.

Score: 88 - 91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinousmedia.com

The 2015 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) is a blend of 90% Merlot picked between 25 September and 5 October, 10% Cabernet Franc picked on 5 and 12 October. It was cropped at 34 hl/ha. It has a very intense, quite opulent bouquet, just like the 2015 Pavie-Macquin from barrel, with fig-tinged red cherry fruit, hints of kirsch and glycerin. The palate likewise shows more refinement and class, the tannins fine and the acidity well judged. It has a fresh finish, though it just needs to muster a touch more tension and sense of energy right on the finish. Let's see what happens during its élevage, because it has the materials to turn into a very fine Saint Emilion.

Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2022-2045

A Stéphane Derenoncourt wine. Nicolas Thienpont has been making this wine since 2009. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc. 34 hl/ha yield. Very dark crimson. Brooding and vibrant on the nose. Sweet and fully ripe - almost Pomerol-like in its intensity. Big and bold. Even a bit brutal.

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Jancisrobinson.com Maturity: 2025-2038

A dark, brooding wine, the 2015 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse may need twenty years to start drinking well. Today, the 2015 is imposing, with massive concentration and fabulous persistence, all supported by a vertical spine of tannin that is impossible to miss. Hints of graphite, smoke and licorice struggle to emerge from a huge wall of fruit and tannin. This is another wine that will require considerable patience. The 2015 is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, brought in between September 25 and October 12 and aged in 60% new oak. Tasted two times.

Score: 95 - 98 Antonio Galloni, www.vinousmedia.com

The 2015 Belgrave has a vivacious bouquet with cedar and cigar box-infused black fruit that really leaps from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, well-judged acidity, plenty of blackberry and crushed strawberry fruit with fine mineralité coming through on the finish. This is a very fine 2015 from this Haut-Médoc estate.

Score: 90 - 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate Maturity: 2018-2032

A rich and spicy young red with chocolate, plum and berry aromas and flavors. Full and silky textured. Very attractive.

Score: 90 - 91 James Suckling, Jamessuckling.com

Plump and soft-edged, with cherry and blackberry notes lined with light cedar and tobacco hints.

Score: 87 - 90 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator