Bordeaux En Primeur 2015: Vintage Report, Best Wines

The exciting 2015 Bordeaux En Primeur week, held in April 2016, allowed passionate wine collectors to come together and taste some of the finest Bordeaux vintage wines.

The event hosted over 300 wines served straight from the barrel, but the ones from Margaux, Pessac-Leognan, and the right bank appellation of St Emilion especially stood out.

Let’s discover what made 2015 a good year for Bordeaux, how the 2015 Bordeaux En Primeur wines performed against previous years, and the tasting notes of the wines.

We’ll also discover 10 of the finest bottles that stole the spotlight at the Bordeaux En Primeur 2015 tasting and how you can invest in en primeur wines through Vinovest easily.

Was 2015 a Good Year for Bordeaux Wine?

Bordelais saw a slightly unusual growing season in 2015. July was hot and dry, giving rise to a brief but solid flowering period. Subtle storms and rain followed in August, which helped the white grapes retain acidity.

There was some relief from the rain in September. However, the Medoc appellations of Pauillac and St Estephe had to face a few days of extended wet weather. 

In September, the slightly cooler weather allowed the producers to keep the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes on the vine for a bit longer - resulting in perfect maturity.

In Sauternes & Barsac,  the August rains were a boon for the white wine grapes - Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Muscadelle. The grapes developed thinner skins, and the humid weather created the perfect condition for the noble rot.

Were the Bordeaux En Primeur 2015 Prices Higher than Previous Years?

The two-week Bordeaux En Primeur 2015 tasting saw several high-profile releases, including Château Latour, Beychevelle, Pape Clement, Valandraud, and Saint Emilion’s Chateau Pavie. 

Compared to 2014, these fantastic wines saw an average increase of 24% in their release prices. Valandraud was released at $1,400+, 27% higher than its 2014 vintage, while Gazin saw an increase of 18%.

However, the average release price of 2015’s great vintage was much lesser when compared to vintage wines of 2010, 2009, and 2005.

For instance,

• 42% less than the current price of the 2010 vintage
• 35% less than the current price of the 2009 vintage
• 44% less than the current price of the 2005 vintage

So, if you had secured a Bordeaux 2015 vintage at the time of release, you would be able to guarantee some great returns.

As for Cru Bourgeois wines, the average percentage increase predicted in a trade survey conducted by Wine Lister was 3%. But, the release prices of Cru Bourgeois wines are more likely to increase by 9%-12%. 

How do the 2015 Bordeaux En Primeur Wines Taste?

The 2015 white Bordeaux wines are dominated by Sauvignon Blanc, which resulted in rich, opulent white wines with a crisp finish. 

Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon dominated the reds with small quantities of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec, and Carmenere.

Pauillac and St Estephe wines were lighter than usual. Wines from northern Graves, especially Pessac-Leognan, were rich and concentrated.

The Right Bank appellations, St Emilion and Pomerol, won considerable praise for their opulent, intense, fruit-forward wines similar to New World Merlot. 

The Right Bank Merlot wines of Pomerol are decadent and sensual, with the perfect balance of acidity and fruitiness. According to wine critic Jancis Robinson, Petrus and Lafleur were the standouts of Pomerol.

The sweet wines of Sauternes & Barsac have a light touch of botrytis with ethereal freshness and acidity. Honey is the dominant tasting note of these sweet wines with subtle apple and lemon flavors.

10 Best Wines From The 2015 Bordeaux En Primeur Week (Including Tasting Note, Prices)

These wines from top Bordeaux producers were a hit at the 2015 En Primeur event and are worth adding to your cellar.

• Château Haut Bailly 2015
• Chateau Haut Brion 2015
• Château La Mission Haut Brion 2015 Blanc
• Château Margaux 2015
• Château Latour 2015
• Château Petrus 2015
• Château Canon 2015
• Château d’Yquem 2015
• Château Coutet 2015
• Château Mouton Rothschild 2015

1. Château Haut Bailly 2015 ($147)

This Bordeaux wine is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. 

It’s a finely balanced wine with ripe, dusty tannin, bold blackberry fruit flavor, and amazing freshness. Its remarkable structure shows the quality of the Cabernet in the 2015 vintage.

2. Chateau Haut Brion 2015 ($695)

The 2015 vintage Chateau Haut Brion wine is solid and firm and packs a bold, opulent side. The palate has powerful black fruit notes with fine tannin. It is a concentrated, impressive wine that requires a few years in the cellar.

Neal Martin gave this vintage wine a score of 97+, and Robert Parker adorned it with a perfect 100 score.

3. Château La Mission Haut Brion 2015 Blanc ($746)

This 2015 vintage white wine is beautifully ripe yet hasn’t lost its characteristic mineral side. The palate has pure citrus flavors, cut with tense acidity that gives it amazing freshness.

4. Château Margaux 2015 ($1,991)

This charming red wine has the easy accessibility of 2009 but with greater precision and freshness. Tasting reveals a rich and velvety palate with relatively high alcohol.

5. Château Latour 2015

A smooth yet structured wine from one of the finest Bordeaux producers, this Château Latour red boasts a robust tannin structure. The palate has terrific juiciness with a tense firmness that would loosen by the time it will be released.

6. Château Petrus 2015 ($5,343)

A near-perfect red wine, the 2015 Château Petrus has a balance of fruit character and impressive acidity on the palate. This elegant Right Bank wine also packs touches of wood that would fade into the great fruit as it ages.

Wine critic Neal Martin gave this excellent wine a 98+ score, while Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate awarded this great vintage bottle a perfect 100.

7. Château Canon 2015 ($286)

This 2015 vintage Château Canon is made primarily from Merlot, spiced by a quarter of Cabernet Franc. 

Tasting reveals juicy fruit on the palate with rich and tense tannins that will develop into very fine wine.

8. Château d’Yquem 2015 ($443)

This 2015 vintage wine is ethereal with its attractive honey and bitter orange flavors, fine tannin, and a bright freshness that gives it lift and crispness. 

9. Château Coutet 2015 ($45)

The 2015 Château Coutet is a great wine with bright acidity and rich fruitiness. It's opulent and structured - needs a bit of time to develop.

10. Château Mouton Rothschild 2015 ($754)

This 2015 vintage Mouton Rothschild wine is sweet, opulent, and quite forward with a wonderful approachability. The wine has firm tannins and a well-structured body wrapped around ripe, sweet blackberry and plum fruit. 

A few other Bordeaux producers to consider are Calon Segur, Chateau Angelus, and Chateau Pavie Macquin.

Even though your chance of investing in En Primeur 2015 Bordeaux wines is gone, you can still invest in these fine bottles now.

Here’s how:

Invest In 2015 Bordeaux Wines through Vinovest

Vinovest is a trusted wine investment company that lets passionate wine buyers like you curate an authentic portfolio of en primeur wine bottles and any other fine wine.

Vinovest’s team of Master Sommeliers will help you build a balanced portfolio of fine wines - including handpicked en primeur bottles from reputed chateaux.

Not only this, but Vinovest will also store your fine Right Bank Bordeaux and other great wine bottles from New World and Old World wine regions in bonded warehouses under optimal humidity, light, temperature, and vibration. Your bottles are also insured against breakage, loss, and theft.

All you need to do is follow a simple process:

• Sign up
• Answer a questionnaire on your investment preferences and risk appetite.
• Add funds to your account.
• Track your portfolio as it grows over time.

Vinovest charges a minimal annual fee of 2.85% (2.5% for a portfolio above $50,000), which includes buying wines, fraud detection, storage, insurance, portfolio management, and selling.

Add a Fine Bordeaux En Primeur Wine to Your Cellar!

The Bordeaux En Primeur week that takes place every April is an excellent way for you to get your hands on the best of Bordeaux when they’re still young and affordable. 

However, sourcing an en primeur wine can be difficult, especially if you don’t have good connections in the wine industry.

Luckily, you can sign up with Vinovest and let a team of wine experts select, authenticate, and source your en primeur wines and other bottles from Saint Emilion, Pomerol, or even Burgundy!