2015 Tour Baladoz

Owned by the De Schepper family since 1950 and the wines have been made for 20 years by Jean-Michel Garcion who apparently likes to ensure his wines are drinkable relatively early without prejudicing their ageability. Mainly Merlot. Vines partly on the limestone plateau and partly on more clay-based soils towards St-Étienne de Lisse. Bottle is adorned with gold medals from Lyon and Vinalies. Deep blackish garnet shows the odd bit of evolution. Clean, sweet, fresh and vital on the nose. More concentrated than the Ch Magnan La Gaffelière 2015. Lightly inky with a little tannin in evidence as well as all that ripe fruit. Quite ambitious and long. (JR)

The 2015 Tour Baladoz is a straightforward, juicy wine to drink now and over the next few years. Sweet red cherry fruit, spice and floral notes lead into the pliant finish.

The 2015 Château La Tour Baladoz has a refined and pure bouquet that blossoms in the glass, the oak beautifully integrated and the terroir coming through. The palate is sweet on the entry but does not become cloying. It is modern in style, but not overdone, and it has silky smooth tannins with a lush, precocious finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is a well-crafted, hedonistic Saint Emilion made with style.