Clos de l'Oratoire Grand Cru 2015

I loved the 2015 Clos De L'Oratoire and this beautiful Saint-Emilion comes from the northwest sector of the appellation and a mix of limestone and sandy soils. Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc aged in 40% new oak, it has an incredible floral streak as well as perfumed notes of spring flowers, black raspberries, charcoal, and a salty minerality that shows more on the palate. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, background chocolaty oak, and a terrific elegance, this beautiful 2015 is already impossible to resist yet I suspect will last for two decades or more. It's impressive.

The 2015 Clos de la L'Oratoire is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked between 25-30 September at 45 hl/ha. Matured in 40% new oak, it has perhaps the most reticent bouquet at the moment, yet there is very pure dark cherry and blackberry fruit here, very "cool" aromatically and with several swirls of the glass it begins to find its voice. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. There is good density here, very well balanced, very precise with perhaps the best tension on the finish that I have discerned in this particular Saint Emilion. This comes highly recommended.

The 2015 Clos de l'Oratoire has a convincing bouquet with red cherries, black currant, cedar and mint, almost Left Bank in style. I love the brightness on display here. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well judged acidity, cohesive and silky with hints of peppermint surfacing toward the persistent finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.