2015 Le Boscq

48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. The first six months of the year saw favourable conditions, getting the vineyard off to a good start. After a cool, damp winter, the first buds appeared on 13 April. The glorious weather that set in soon after triggered rapid vine growth and early, rapid flowering at the end of May – lasting barely a week and almost two weeks ahead of schedule. After a rather hesitant start to veraison, due to very hot weather at the start of summer, rain came just at the right time in early August. Veraison was accelerated as a result and the berries, which at that stage were still quite small, developed normally. At the beginning of September, the fruit was already looking very promising. An unrushed harvest from 22 September to 6 October. Sweet red plums and savoury spices on the nose. Fairly plump with red fruits at the core. Though the tannins are grippy they soften through the mid palate, making this wine approachable. Peppery plums and a little baked vanilla on a long and pure finish. (TP)

The 2015 Le Boscq has an attractive and quite floral bouquet with raspberry jam and wild strawberry aromas, becoming more floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, but I feel this becomes quite pinched toward the finish and leaves you wanting for more. This actually showed better just after bottling, whereas it chimes more with its rather mediocre performance from barrel. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Tasted blind. Deep dark garnet. Much more interest on the nose than than one might expect for the money, though much less tannin. Better put together. An early-drinking charmer, though it falls away on the end. (JR)