Critic Notes
This tends to be the freshest and “most European” of Jonathan Maltus’ wines, and that’s the case in 2015. Made from his oldest vines, grown on thick clay over limestone soils, it’s a triumph: refreshing, nuanced and bright, with fine, chalky tannins and succulent black fruits. Not cheap, but worth it. Apr 2016, www.timatkin.com, Drink: 2022-2035
Score: 95-/100Tim AtkinDrinking Window: 2022-2035
Blended of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc and displaying a deep garnet-purple color, the 2015 Les Asteries is scented of cast-iron pan, beef drippings and garrigue over a core of warm plums and black cherry compote with a waft of underbrush and truffles. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and with a firm frame of velvety tannins, it has a refreshing backbone lifting the densely packed fruit to a long, earthy and mineral-laced finish. Apr 2018, www.robertparker.com
Score: 94-/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown
From a parcel near Fonroque. Well defined with firm but ripe tannins wrapped in supple fruit. Lovely length with the limestone terroir showing. Ageing potential. Apr 2016, James Lawther MW, www.Decanter.com, Drink: 2023-2035
Score: 93-/100DecanterDrinking Window: 2023-2035
The 2015 Les Asteries is a blend of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc picked on October 2 and 13, then matured in 80% new oak. This has an opulent bouquet with cocoa-tinged black fruit, blueberry and a dab of cassis. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannin, perhaps not quite as precise as the 2015 Le Pontet, though there is satisfying substance and backbone on the finish, with the Cabernet Franc expressive and imparting a subtle peppery vein. Give this 3-4 years in bottle and then drink over 12-15 years. Apr 2016, www.eRobertParker.com, Drink: 2019-2032
Score: 92-94/100Neal MartinDrinking Window: 2019-2032
Juicy and fruity with blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Full body, silky tannins and a bright finish. Sleek texture to this. Mar 2016, www.JamesSuckling.com
Score: 92-93/100James Suckling
Very solid core of almost unctuous raspberry and plum fruit bursts forth, giving this an exuberant feel, while solidly grippy licorice and singed vanilla notes fill in on the dense finish. Maybe a touch pumped up in the end, but there’s good freshness here to wait this out. Mar 2016, James Molesworth, www.WineSpectator.com
Score: 91-94/100Wine Spectator
The 2015 Les Astéries is the most complete of Jonathan Maltus's small production Saint-Émilions. Black cherry, plum, mocha, espresso and new leather open up first, followed by more red fruit and floral overtones that add brightness and aromatic lift. Beams of underlying tannin give the wine its backbone and extend finish. Apr 2016, www.Vinous.com
Score: 89-92/100Antonio Galloni
