'Nature Gives a High Five'

- Neal Martin, erobertparker.com, 29 April 2016

It's been a quiet start to the 2015 campaign as Bordeaux proprietors ruminate on all the usual issues: Wine Advocate scores, the risk of frost, exchange rates, the Brexit referendum, the election for the new mayor of Liverpool. Of course, those Wine Advocate scores are the big news since our last update. Many in the trade thought Neal Martin would put his stamp on his new top Bordeaux job with a mean set of scores. In reality, what we got was a fearless range of numbers which included no fewer than six potentially perfect marks, but also some relatively low ones. Overall, he is one of the more enthusiastic critics of the vintage, concluding that 'the heady peaks of 2015 stand shoulder to shoulder with 2009 and 2010.'

While the big guns line up, the glorious spring sunshine has seen a fusillade of the lesser ones. The latest releases are in the table below, while all the wines released so far are viewable on our website by going to the En primeur button on the navigation bar and selecting 2015 Bordeaux - all released. As is usual with a vintage of this calibre, there are some good wines at this more pedestrian level, and our favourites include:

Beaumont Try telling this chateau's owners that Bordeaux is too expensive
Fourcas Dupre 91-93 points from Neal Martin - at this price!
La Tour de By Perennial Uncorked favourite
Picque Caillou Time to wake up to Pessac-Leognan, says Neal Martin - start here!
Cote de Baleau Pretty St-Emilion from the owners of Clos Fourtet
Clos Puy Arnaud Pioneer of biodynamics in Cotes de Castillon
Siran Best one in recent years makes a bargain Margaux
Cantemerle Great vintage for the cheapest of the 1855 classed growths
Angludet Cheaper than the 2010 - but possibly even better

'The level of interest in the glorious wines [of Sauternes] is about the same as a vegan's interest in the best steak restaurants,' writes Neal Martin in his 2015 coverage. One hesitates to mention value when it comes to Sauternes en primeur - just in case the wines end up cheaper 10 years down the line - but then again maybe they won't, and we've put our money where our mouth is with Doisy-Vedrines, Doisy-Daene and Coutet and bought them regardless. 'Sauternes 2015. They are fabulous. They may well be ignored. But they are still fabulous.' (Neal Martin) /AR

Offered subject to remaining unsold; available spring 2018