How the Médoc classified wines taste now: Bordeaux in bottle 2015

The Hommage à Paul Pontallier bottling: a tribute to the estate's late managing director, who died in March 2016. Other-worldly, intoxicating Margaux perfume of soft...

Initially very dark-fruited. So classically Mouton. Animalistic. All about pencil shavings, cedar and tobacco. Wonderfully classic in the mouth, loaded with red fruit, ample concentration...

Although Lafite is often the most elegant of the first growths, it sometimes takes the longest to come round. There is a touch of spice...

At 94% (85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc) this is the highest-ever Cab content in this grand vin. Very dense at first but full...

The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is very reminiscent of the style of the vintage with dark berry aromas, smoky notes, spices, liquorice, and graphite. Very elegant oaky...

Six months from the last time I tasted this wine and it is a little more closed than it was, as the 2015s begin to...

Beautifully concentrated black fruits on the nose and palate – a classy and elegant blend.

Dating back to 1661, Rauzan-Segla had under-performed for many years prior to its purchase in 1994 by Chanel owners, the Wertheimer family. With significant investment,...

Bramble tones with gorgeous green pepper Cabernet styling, from the 65% in the blend, alongside chocolate and raspberry and a delicate hint of perfume on...

Plump fruit, rich raspberry puree and cassis flavours, layered through with chocolate and grilled cedar. This was the same score as I gave it when...

Incredibly dark in colour still at a decade of age. Initially slightly closed and inexpressive but begins to reveal rose, violets and jasmine after a...

Beautifully extracted, this is rich, ripe and layered. It is utterly gorgeous and has real precision and tension. It delivers its Pauillac swagger with the...

Really lovely bouquet: totally aromatic and full of finesse and restrained power. Great charm and purity of fruit on the palate, showing lovely precision and...

Rich fruit that is full of that classic exotic Cos spice, yet more restrained than in the past with a slatey graphite base. Beautifully put...

Slightly smoky cassis nose then good florality and fine depth of Cabernet fruit and fine tannins. Has the classic Giscours charm with more weight than...

Developed nose, with a touch of brick red on the rim in the glass. Plenty of oak in evidence on a palate which is rather...

This showcases just how well the Margaux (or Margaux-adjacent) area did in 2015. The finessed quality of the tannins stands out as a signature of...

Deep, velvety texture on the palate and wild flowers on the nose; unctuous yet firm with pristine clarity. A great wine by any standards –...

Yet another nose with standout freshness, even delicacy, but still quite youthful, mingling black fruit, spices, and spring flowers. A bit massive and still tightly...

Fine concentration of fruit and lovely fragrance; quite discreet for this château. The controlled vigour of better vintages has been replaced by classic ripeness, integrated...

This needs time, even in the glass, but it is rich, confident and really rather wonderful. Good quality, with depth and complexity to the fruit...

Very fine florality and purity on first impression – less of the meatiness of past vintages. The classic Gruaud-Larose smoothness is there along with added...

Massively extracted ripe fruit – lots of depth but little finesse evident so far but it will age well.

Fleshy, spicy red and black fruits of good florality and grip, with balanced acidity and tannins. Shows the continued progress of this highly regarded estate.

The 2015 grand vin was the last vintage produced by Paul Pontallier (see pXX) and is a contender for wine of the vintage, so I...

Robust yet firm expression of Cabernet fruit with good structure and depth. A wine built to last.

<p>Lots of depth and more complexity of fruit than usual &ndash; more layered and better grip. This is a very classy Beychevelle, well up to...

A great vintage, warm but retaining freshness. This is concentrated and beautiful, with so much depth, clarity, and finely turned tannins. It's not the perfect...

<p>I love this from the first nose. It&rsquo;s not quite as complex as the 2017 at Grand-Puy-Lacoste, never mind the 2016, but this is still...

Deep florality and wonderful black fruit. Surprisingly smooth and silky at first then the classic firmness becomes plain towards the finish. It has more natural...

Juicy and alive, this shines out the glass, compelling and charming with a searing brightness and zestiness - just great acidity that lifts the initial...

Softer, more rounded and complete, this is a generous Lafon-Rochet with a bit less focus on the mid-palate. Plenty of lift, not at all heavy...

Fine fragrance and fruit: shows the purity and depth of a classic vineyard with nothing exaggerated. Discreet but full of character; in perfect balance.

Saint-Pierre is the smallest of the classed growths in St-Julien, with just 1 ha under vine, and parcels near Ducru-Beaucaillou and Beychevelle. Jean-Louis Triaud directs...

Very pure Margaux fruit showing classy Cabernet of beautiful length and balance. Always discreet at en primeur, this will have a very good future.

<p>Fine briary fruit that is clear and well-structured with good density and nice lift on the finish. A classy wine.</p>

<p>Bright, broad cassis fruit and all the exuberance typical of Mouton, but more grip than in the past thanks to the new cellar. No hint...

Fine expression of cassis Cabernet fruit. Has elegance and depth in a straightforward style. Could be more complex but will mature well.

The first one of these three Alter Egos to have Petit Verdot in the blend and it works really well, adding a swirl of cinnamon...

Much more restrained and tighter on the nose than 2014, with concentration and leafy blackcurrant/blueberry fruit. Decidedly more Pauillac in character with fine tannin and...

This third growth Margaux estate has seen extensive investment since the late 1990s under the stewardship of the Schÿler family, which acquired the property in...

Good black fruits on a smooth palate with silky tannins. A charming, elegant wine for the mid term.

The vines are located 300m from the Clos de Marquis, and yet the difference in terroir expression is remarkable. I just love Le Petit Lion,...

Quite smoky nose and richness of fruits shows the proximity to St-Julien. There's a certain earthiness and good tannins. A very good, solid wine; fine...

Fine expression of fruit with elegance and class, This is never a big wine but it has fine natural depth and harmony.

<p>Very good expression of elegant floral fruit and real class from Cabernet Sauvignon. This estate continues the good form it reached in 2014.</p>

The gentle 2015 Talbot shows the charms of claret. Not a powerhouse, it caresses the palette. Its restraint and elegance are the epitome of Talbot....

This wine is definitely softening and taking on shape in the bottle. The juiciness is starting to appear and you can see why this is...

Lovely expression of cassis Cabernet fruit with Margaux charm and lift. This third growth is really coming into its classification.

<p>Deep cassis fruit with lifted fragrance that shows Margaux elegance, good depth and good future once the tannins have blended in.</p>

Lots of natural concentration and real elegance – the high percentage of Cabernet shows well with both grip and charm. Very good in Malescot's individual...

<p>Slightly lean and leafy fruit, but this wine is never on the plummy side. It already shows finesse and grip and will gain weight.</p>

<p>Very good extraction of spicy 81% Cabernet &ndash; firm and muscular with very ripe middle fruit and noble tannins to give both length and power....

Good ripe fruit – smooth, quite easy and accessible, with good tannins. Needs time to gain complexity.

<p>Good broad fruit and depth of flavour from old vines. Always forward at this stage, but it gains in barrel and ages very well.</p>

Very good briary, slightly spicy fruit. Good depth and freshness – quite seductive for St-Estèphe and continues the success of this château.

Feels like a wine from a very different era with a dry character on the palate, combined with pronounced leafy notes. There are certainly dark...

Initially slightly reduced on the nose, but leads to a very elegant and perfumed, red fruit-dominated aroma. The palate is refined and elegant, as one...

Fine clarity of fruit, but not quite the depth of other fifth growths, along with a touch of greenness that needs to soften.

Very good, broad, spicy Cabernet fruit; discreet at first but fine and long. Good middle richness and the classic firmness of Las Cases on the...

The second wine of Clerc Milon, this is very delicate, the structure floating gently above the palate showcasing soft silky tannins. It builds in impact...

<p>It&rsquo;s hard to argue with the success of this second wine from Pichon Baron. There&rsquo;s clear depth and richness of fruit, damson and cassis abounds,...

Fine, firm 73% Cabernet fruit with a brambly middle ripeness from 27% Merlot. Shows polish, depth and a restrained elegance – a firm, classy wine...

Strong, muscular 79% Cabernet fruit yet also floral with lots of flavour – 'just what we are looking for' says the winemaking team.

Good, deep spicy fruit with freshness and even a little charm. An attractive wine.