Bernadotte 2015

The 2015 Bernadotte shoots above my expectation. It has a clean and fresh bouquet with plenty of appealing graphite notes. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky black fruit sprinkled with black pepper, good length and nicely focused. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

This has a very plush and slightly spicy palate with earthy notes as well as a gravelly, slightly leafy edge. The palate has a very composed core of fine, long tannins that finishes with gently grippy freshness. Try from 2021.

One of the stand out Cru Bourgeois I was able to taste is the 2015 Château Bernadotte which checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot, aged 12 months in one-third new barrels. It’s a terrific, floral, seamless, medium-bodied beauty that offers fine tannin, a silky texture, and integrated acidity. It shows the purity of the vintage and should drink nicely for a decade or more. 2018 - 2028