Château Barde-Haut 2015

A restrained style, with a core of damson plum, raspberry and cassis flavors held in check for now by fine-grained cedar, sanguine and iron hints. There's racy acidity running underneath and a long, focused finish, so cellar this to let the two sides meld fully. Best from 2022 through 2032. 5,000 cases made.

The best yet from this estate. More harmony and precision than in the past. Lovely pitch of ripe fruit, freshness and finely woven tannins. Limestone terroir really comes through.

Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, wet earth and black tea. Full-bodied, dense and layered with medium, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus and power. Needs three or four years to start coming together.

The 2015 Barde-Haut is forward, simple and lacking in both depth and structure, just as it showed en primeur. The dark cherry, espresso, plum, licorice and mint flavors are attractive, but there is just not enough textural richness to be compelling. Sadly, the 2015 is short, compact and missing the exuberance and complexity that have been the norm here in the past.

Rich, opulent, with layers of dark red berries, plums, and blackberries, complicated by chocolate, licorice, and smoke. The wine is concentrated, ripe, sweet, and mineral-driven, serving up layers of supple-textured, delicious, ripe berries from start to finish. You can enjoy it now, or age it for more secondary characteristics. Drink from 2025–2040.

An awesome Saint-Emilion, the 2015 Château Barde-Haut showed even better on this occasion than on release. A huge nose of sweet crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, leather, and dried herbs gives way to a full-bodied wine that has a great mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, not a hard edge to be found, and a great, great finish. I love it even today, yet it has a full two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with a violet rim. The bouquet shows dark aromatics—malt, chocolate, pumpernickel. Only on a second pass does fruit emerge, in the form of blackcurrant. The palate is intense, creamy, almost opulent, with ample glycerol and a tightly focused, powerful finish. On the aftertaste, you can still feel plenty of tannins that will need time to integrate. In terms of potential, this is the greatest Barde-Haut I have ever tasted. I believe there’s even another point to be gained at full maturity. That would make it the best value in Saint-Émilion.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with a violet hue on the rim. The bouquet shows dark aromatics—malt, chocolate, pumpernickel. Only on the second pass does fruit emerge, in the form of blackcurrant. An intense, creamy, almost opulent palate, with plenty of silkiness and a concentrated, powerful finish. On the aftertaste, you still feel ample tannins that will need time to integrate. In terms of potential, this is the greatest Barde-Haut I have ever tasted. I believe there’s even another point to be gained at full maturity. That would make it the best value in Saint-Emilion.

(80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc) Opulent, fruity, sweet bouquet with strawberry jelly, redcurrants, cassis, cedar, dark chocolate, licorice. Fruity, velvety, fresh, elegant palate with powerful, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, intense aromatics, dense structure, long, full finish. Can improve further. 17/20 2023 - 2038

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Barde Haut features lifted roses, kirsch, and redcurrant jelly scents with a core of juicy black plums, clove oil, and cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, it is firm and grainy, with bright, fragrant fruit, and a long and earthy finish.

The 2015 really came into focus during its ageing. Heavily influenced by oak, we didn’t fully grasp it en primeur; today it offers fine fruit quality and structure, in a complete, harmonious whole.

Major developments at Barde-Haut with a wine of great length, judiciously oaked, showing an elegance not seen until now and even a certain refinement. We want more.

Deep garnet-red. Intense notes of praline, as well as prunes and morello cherries. I’m dreaming of a Black Forest tart! On the palate, the wine is tasty, suave, yet also fresh thanks to its tension. The tannins are indeed well integrated, but they provide excellent support and ensure the future alongside the structure, which also upholds the flavor expression through to the finish. A seductive and charming wine that one can begin to savor peacefully.