2015 Château Pichon, Baron, Clos Fourtet & Pavie Maquin

by Charles Lea

This week will almost certainly see the final wines released from the 2015 Bordeaux primeurs, so likely to be a busy one.

Kicking off with one of the wines of the vintage 2015 CHÂTEAU PICHON LONGUEVILLE BARON at the fairly feisty price of £995 per case IB. This represents a discount of about 10% against the 2009, and just over 20% against the 2010, but as Neal Martin says, “If you want to know whether this 2015 is up there with the 2009 or 2010, the answer is unquestionably yes.” 96 – 98/100 Neal Martin, www.erobertparker.com (Apr 2016). First-Growth quality level here.

Also out this morning is one of the most highly regarded Saint Emilions, 2015 CLOS FOURTET . This property has been on the up for several years and at £715 per case IB is well-priced compared to other recent top vintages. “What a fabulous Saint Emilion from Mathieu Cuvelier and his team – Clos Fourtet with breeding and class.” 95-97 Neal Martin.

This afternoon we have 2015 CHÂTEAU PAVIE MACQUIN at £560, 94-97 in the Wine Spectator. Another wine from the Nicolas Thienpont stable which produced one of the wines which has flown this year, 2015 CHÂTEAU LARCIS DUCASSE (£480). We went to Pavie Macquin to taste all the Nicolas Thienpont wines, and absolutely loved the Larcis. Coming to Pavie Macquin after it, we liked it a lot, but were perhaps slightly less captivated than we had been by the Larcis. Both are available in small volumes now. Offered subject to stock remaining.