Cabanne 2015

95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, aged in 55% new oak and 45% 1 year barrel. This Pomerol estate is well situated not far from Trotanoy and Clinet, on clay with gravel soils, and produces on average 2500 cases per year from vines of around 30 years of age, and a second wine, made from the younger vines. Owned by the Estager family since 1952. following a fire at the property in 2010 which destroyed the vat room and the entire 2008 crop, renovations have been carried out with state of the art new winemaking facilities. A Chateau to watch.

Score: - Albany Vintners, - Date: 10 May 2016

The 2015 La Cabanne is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Proprietor François Estager told me that this was the first vintage were he has not used any sulfur (one of a few that are moving in that direction). Tasted on three occasions, the nose is offers brambly black fruit mixed with wild hedgerow and cold stone, certainly more sophisticated than recent vintages, with impressive purity. The palate is built upon fine grain tannin, well-judged acidity, and is nicely proportioned with the fruit, given lift by the new oak on the finish. I suspect that the aromatics were just having an off day; given the performance of the palate and knowing how fine this Pomerol can be, it should turn into a delicious, perhaps relatively approachable Pomerol that will give a couple decades of pleasure.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2035 Date: 01 April 2016