2015 Cap de Faugeres La Mouleyre

The 2015 La Mouleyre emerges from Côtes de Castillon side of Silvio Denz's property. Ripe, exotic and totally unctuous, the Mouleyre captures all of the intensity and pure richness of the year in spades. A host of mocha, tobacco, smoke, licorice and menthol notes meld into the deep finish. La Mouleyre is roughly 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from parcels that sit on the border with the Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse sector of St.-Émilion. Apr 2016, www.Vinous.com

The 2015 Mouleyre from Cap de Faugeres is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc picked October 6-10 at 32 hectoliters per hectare, and it comes from a 2.5-hectare block. The nose is intense, well defined, touches of tobacco infusing the red and black fruit, almost Graves-like perhaps. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, much more structured and precise than the regular bottling with fine mineralité coming through on the finish. There is breeding interwoven into this Côtes de Castillon and it has the substance to last 20 years. Apr 2016, www.eRobertParker.com, Drink: 2020-2045

The 2015 La Mouleyre is medium to deep garnet-purple in color with aromas of baked plums, spice cake and Christmas pudding with touches of licorice, tar and hoisin plus a waft of Indian spices. Big, rich, full and opulent with plenty of fruitcake-inspired flavors and a chewy backbone, it finishes long and spicy. Feb 2018, www.robertparker.com