CHÂTEAU GAZIN
2015 Pomerol
Supple start but dry and drying. Very charcoal black fruit expression, some of which could be down to cooperage. A bit of controversy on this one, maybe down to sample preparation - eg Neal Martin 94-96, Tim Atkin 96, but Antonio Galloni on 89-92. Could be worth a punt at this price? Rating: 90-91 L&S (Apr 2016)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
The 2015 Gazin has a more floral bouquet compared to its Pomerol peers. This is fresh and vital with black truffle-infused red fruit and a dab of fresh tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins and a mixture of red and black fruit. This is still resolutely classical in style with commendable sapidity toward the finish. This is a Gazin that I have admired for many years…and I still do. NB The bottle served blind at Farr's tasting did not exhibit the same lustre of vibrancy. Tasted at the 2015 Ten-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index. Drinking range: 2025 - 2042 Rating: 92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jun 2025)
The 2015 Gazin has a fragrant bouquet of blackberry, briary and truffle; a whiff of bonfire smoke emerges with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, quite edgy and tensile with a fresh, graphite and tobacco-laced finish that is classic in style. Superb, if missing the same horsepower of 12 months ago. This might well be closing down. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting. Rating: 93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2019)
Lots of cedar, tea-leaf and hazelnut character and ripe fruit aromas. Citrus peel, too. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Smoky undertone. This is structured and so complex. Drinking range: 2023 - Rating: 97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Feb 2018)
Plush and warm, with fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture notes inlaid with light charcoal, black tea and fruitcake hints. Fleshy finish. Drinking range: 2022 - 2032 Rating: 93 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Jan 2018)
I can’t remember tasting a better vintage of Gazin at this age. Exceeding my expectations, this is a lovely, harmonious, well balanced blend. This carries its 14.5% alcohol with ease, thanks to the succulent black fruits balanced by acidity and minerality. Drinking range: 2022 - 2030 Rating: 96 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (May 2016)
The 2015 Gazin has a perfumed bouquet with layers of black cherry, raspberry coulis and truffle scents, more welcoming and sensual than the wines a decade ago from barrel when they intermittently felt under-ripe. There is none of that here for sure. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit on the entry. There is excellent structure here, a masculine Gazin with plenty of grip, counterbalanced by abundant tertiary, tobacco-tinged black fruit. There is real salinity towards the finish, completing a superb wine by Nicolas de Bailliencourt and his team. Do not overlook this Pomerol. It is one of the subtler expressions of the 2015 vintage and one that I am sure will develop beautifully in cask. Drinking range: 2020 - 2050 Rating: 94-96 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2016)
Bright crimson. Appetising and savoury on the nose. Much drier than most Pomerols. Racy and mineral. Drinking range: 2024 - 2040 Rating: 17 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2016)
Maintaining great consistency these days. Big, bold and succulent with an impressive depth of ripe fruit and tannins. Rich but balanced. A reliable purchase. Drinking range: 2022 - 2037 Rating: 92 James Lawther MW, decanter.com (Apr 2016)
The assemblage here is 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc. The alcohol is 14.5%. This has a very dark, serious, spiced-fruit nose, with nuances of roasted black cherry fruit. The palate has an immediately apparent creamed black plum texture, with a charcoaly tannic underpinning. Despite this it still feels fresh, pure and bright, but all the same there is no denying the structure and oaky underpinnings ere. The overall substance still feels fresh, bright and vigorous, the tannins only coming out to the fore at the finish, where they are ripe, broad and lightly drying. Although it is very masculine and broad in its composure, the fruit still feels taut and lifted, and the overall effect is a good one. Rating: 16.5-17.5/20 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2016)
The 2015 Gazin has a perfumed bouquet with layers of black cherry, raspberry coulis and truffle scents, more welcoming and sensual than the wines a decade ago from barrel when they intermittently felt under-ripe. There is none of that here for sure. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit on the entry. There is excellent structure here, a masculine Gazin with plenty of grip, counterbalanced by abundant tertiary, tobacco-tinged black fruit. There is real salinity towards the finish, completing a superb wine by Nicolas de Bailliencourt and his team. Do not overlook this Pomerol. It is one of the subtler expressions of the 2015 vintage and one that I am sure will develop beautifully in cask. Drinking range: 2020 - 2050 Rating: 94-96 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2016)
The 2015 Gazin is dark, fleshy and wonderfully expressive. Mocha, bittersweet chocolate and a host of ripe dark fruit, along with the wine's contours, give the 2015 much of its sumptuous personality. This is a decidedly plush, extracted style, but all the elements are nicely balanced throughout. Rating: 89-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2016)
Ripe, rounded and inviting in feel, with a red licorice frame around a core of plum sauce and cherry preserves. A touch of alder peeks out on the finish, as this has yet to digest the oak, but the pieces are in place for a rock-solid Pomerol. Rating: 91—94 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2016)
Château Gazin
It is said that Château Gazin occupies the site of an old Knights of St John hospital that tended to pilgrims on their journey to Santiago de Compostella - a legend that is reflected in the cross on the label and in the name of the second wine, l'Hospitalet de Gazin. During the 19th Century, Gazin was one of the most highly regarded estates in Pomerol. The Bailliencourt family came into the estate by marriage in the early years of the 20th Century but, sadly, their tenure has mostly been of a château in decline. However, the estate's inheritance by the dynamic Nicolas de Bailliencourt in the 1980's has completely turned Gazin around and, once again, it is one of the châteaux to watch. The machine harvesters, bought as recently as 1979, were disposed of, a new chais was built, the second wine was introduced to allow stricter selection for the grand vin, and the services of Pomerol guru Jean-Pierre Moueix were engaged. The wine is typically 90% Merlot and spends 18 months in barrique, of which 50% are new wood.
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.
Ordering
Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.
Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.
Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.
When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.
Additional charges are as follows:-
- +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.