Château Desmirail 2015

Lovely, with crushed plum, boysenberry and blackberry fruit inlaid seamlessly with warmed anise, singed mesquite, Lapsang souchong tea and sandalwood notes. The fine-grained finish flows wonderfully. Best from 2022 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 6,667 cases made.

Here the oak (which is 50% new barrels) comes through as a smoky edge that is fairly prominent. Behind charcoal hints there are rich and firm damson and redcurrant fruits. Almost tarry in quality, it is certainly impactful, managing to come off as a sense of abandon rather than being too overblown. But be aware that it will need decanting and careful food matching.

Quite some smoky oak and a hint of caramel in here, but there are also some nice powdery tannins to balance the richness. Fair length. Drink or hold.

The 2015 Desmirail is a forward, juicy Margaux to drink now and over the next handful of years. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, cedar and tobacco all flesh out in this attractive, plump Margaux. The 2015 is a bit simple, but absolutely delicious at the same time.

Finesse in style with freshness on the finish, earth, caramel and black cherries create the nose of this soft, medium-bodied wine. 88 - 90 pts

Deep ruby with purple reflections and subtle rim brightening. Ripe plum fruit, a touch of nougat, candied orange zest and fine tobacco savouriness. Juicy and elegant, with ripe cherry fruit, silky tannins and pleasant sweetness on the finish, elegant and lasting, good future with certain ageing potential.

The 2015 Château Desmirail shows how good 2015 was for the appellation of Margaux. Offering classic red fruits (some cassis as well), toasted bread, white chocolate, and background oak, this beauty is medium to full-bodied, elegant, and polished on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins. With the telltale elegance and nuance of the appellation, it needs 2–3 years to integrate its oak and then will shine for at least 10–15 years.

Deep purple, dense at the core, with garnet glints at the rim. Spicy bouquet that comes across a bit dry; the fruit emerges only on the second approach, but unfortunately with some vegetal notes as well. On the palate, generous extract that feels slightly mealy, showing blackcurrants and Morello cherries on the finish.

Restrained, austere, vegetal bouquet, red berries, wood. Firm, light palate with delicate fruit, fine sandy tannins, sweet, light aromatics, dry finish. 16/20 2022 - 2032

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Desmirail is medium to deep garnet in color. It springs from the glass with vivacious kirsch, raspberry coulis, and blackberry pie scents, followed by hints of spice cake, clove oil, and incense. Medium-bodied, the palate is both refreshing and satisfyingly fruity, delivering soft tannins and a long, perfumed finish.

A touch light for the vintage but balanced, tender, floral, and will come around fairly quickly.

Complete, with dense substance. The oak is still slightly perceptible. The wine is lively and youthful, with lovely polished tannins. It will evolve well.

Garnet color with a delicately smoky nose. The wine is supple, charming, lightly extracted, and pleasing, with notes of freshness.

Garnet red with violet highlights. A youthful bouquet marked by notes of roasting and spices. With aeration, I detect wafts of red berries. Lively, gourmand attack. On the palate, the wine is creamy and suave. The tannins are well integrated and the structure provides solid backbone. The oaky character remains a prominent component, but it seems to me that the body has sufficient resources to handle this aspect. A slightly drying yet also fruity finish.

The nose is aromatic and offers good structure as well as a certain elegance. It reveals notes of cassis, cherry and cocoa/woody tones, with slight touches of vanilla and a subtle hint of flowers. The palate is fresh, mineral, well-built, well-balanced and offers good definition. On the palate, this wine shows notes of fresh boysenberry, raspberry and slight notes of cassis, with discreet touches of black cherry as well as racy minerality and sweet spices/toasted hints. The tannins are a bit firm and tight. Good length. The finish is discreetly dry. (2022+)

Darker color than usual. Moderately intense nose, fruity and slightly reduced. Don’t hesitate to decant it. Fruity palate with a tender, savory body, although still a touch light. Normal length, with a hint of oak.

Piled high with new wood, dark-chocolate flavors and dryness, this wine will be a tough call for many years. It will show better, although the over-indulgent use of wood will likely always keep it dry.