2015 Clos Manou

The 2015 Clos Manou is a blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It matured for 17 months, 60% in new French oak, 28% in one-year-old barrels from nine coopers and 12% in concrete eggs. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has good intensity of black cherries and black plums scents with hints of violets, licorice and fertile loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich with firm, grainy tannins—this is seriously impressive stuff with a long, perfumed finish.

Clos Manou is in the Northern Médoc and consists of 18 hectares of gravely/limestone soils and high-density plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The second wine of the estate is called the Petit Manon (not tasted here). Described as a “Mini-Mouton” by American merchant Jeffrey Davies, the flagship 2015 Clos Manou is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated cuvee that includes 23% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, all of which was harvest between October 6-13. This pretty, elegant, nicely concentrated 2015 gives up lots of blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, notes of pine resin, dark chocolate and graphite, medium to full-bodied richness, and building tannin on the palate. It needs 3-4 years of cellaring and will shine for a decade.