2015 Clos Saint-Martin
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
This captures the exuberance of the 2015 vintage with seductive layers to the fig, cassis and blueberry fruits well balanced by juice, and powerful liqourice root. A sense of pushing at the boundaries of ripeness but rooted in a sharper, limestone-drenched freshness. This really works, shows what can be achieved on this terroir. A trace of heat on the finish but plenty of interest.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
The 2015 Clos Saint-Martin was the first vintage to be partly matured in clay amphora. The impressively intense bouquet features black currants, raspberry preserve, pressed iris and light vanilla scents emanating from a little new oak that is waiting to be assimilated. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins and a gorgeous creamy texture, becoming more powdery toward the finish. Very good acidity and harmony, with closing salinity that is perhaps absent in previous vintages. This is a very impressive showing - much better than at last year's blind tasting. A wine embarking upon an upward curve? Tasted at a vertical of recent vintages at the château.
The 2015 Clos Saint-Martin feels quite reduced with a metallic trait on the nose that slightly occludes the fruit at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with good grip, a fine bead of acidity and a dash of white pepper and sage toward the finish. Once that reduction goes, this should be a very decent Saint-Émilion. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.
Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Round – the tannins are almost invisible! Meat-and-two-veg sort of flavours. Confident and meaty. Just a bit chewy on the end. (JR)