2015 Enclos Tourmaline

The 2015 Enclos Tourmaline is a 100% old-vine Merlot that emerges from the heart of Peter Kwok's La Patache property in Pomerol. There is no shortage of depth or intensity, yet the 2015 comes across as a bit rough around the edges and also stylistically forced into trying to be something it might not be able to be. Hints of mocha, espresso, black stone fruits and licorice open into the finish. This is a heavily extracted style. Apr 2016, www.Vinous.com

The 2015 L'Enclos Tourmaline comes from a one-hectare parcel directly opposite Clinet and owned by Peter Kwok, part of what appears to be his expanding "empire" on the Right Bank. Readers should be aware that this particular vintage includes a new parcel that is close to La Fleur Petrus. Pure Merlot, it has a seductive bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and a touch of truffle that is very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, intense but not powerful, fine mineralité with subtle black pepper and truffle notes on the long finish. I can see this ageing well, though I want to see more personality articulated once in bottle. Apr 2016, www.eRobertParker.com, Drink: 2020-2040

Produced from 100% Merlot that was fermented entirely in French oak barriques, 100% new, and aged for 20 months, the 2015 Enclos Tourmaline is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with a nose of crushed blackberries and black cherries with touches of dried herbs, underbrush and cedar plus wafts of menthol, pencil lead and dried lavender. Full-bodied in the mouth with fantastic delineation and sporting wonderful purity, it has concentrated, tightly wound, crunchy black fruit and savory layers and a firm frame of grainy tannins, finishing long with a perfumed lift. Feb 2018, www.robertparker.com