2015 St Pierre (Pomerol)

The 2015 Saint-Pierre is plump, juicy and delicious, all of which make it easy to drink and enjoy over the next 10-15 years, maybe more. Seamless and silky on the palate, with good freshness, the 2015 is sensual, inviting and impeccable in its balance. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, licorice and incense add shades of nuance. There is real depth and density here. The 2015 spent 14 months in French oak, of which 30% new.

A Stéphane Derenoncourt wine. Very dark. Then a little underripe note on the nose. Rather tart and jagged. Not luscious! On later tasting, this was richer and rounder than I thought. Mark went up to 16. Though with an inky finish. (JR)

The 2015 Saint-Pierre, 100% Merlot, emerges from two tiny parcels totalling just one hectare, the first on gravel/clay soils, the second on gravel/sand soils. Beams of tannin and acidity give the 2015 much of its persistence, but there is plenty of depth as well. There is good purity to the stone fruit and floral flavors. I very much like what I have tasted from Saint-Pierre over the last two years. Frédéric Massie and Romain Bocchio are the consulting winemakers.