Gazin 2015

Tasted blind. Bright, dark crimson. Rich and spicy. Very complete and flattering with ripeness and a grace note of freshness. Rather drying finish but very satisfying. Dense but not heavy.Drink 2024-2040

Mid crimson. Dark fruit and graphite on the nose. Dark and nicely savoury. Elegantly dry in texture. Perhaps less generous than some in terms of fruit weight but beautifully balanced. Impressive length and lots of pleasure to come. (JH) 14.5%Drink 2025-2038

Depth of fruit on the nose the palate is fleshy and sweet with ripe black plums. Brighter in the middle a nice balance with the ripe fruit the sweet black plum giving velvety richness and depth at the back. 2025-36

I can’t remember tasting a better vintage of Gazin at this age. Exceeding my expectations,this is a lovely, harmonious, well balanced blend. This carries its 14.5% alcohol with ease,thanks to the succulent black fruits balanced by acidity and minerality. Drink: 2022-30

Neither too oaky, nor too green, this is a confusing wine because the astringency is pervasive and this must be accountableto over-extraction and raw tannins. The fruit, or rather what I can sense of the fruit, is aromatic and enjoyable. Thequestion is, will it shed its tannic, oaky cloak before the fruit gives up the game? I doubt it.

The 2015 Gazin has a very expressive bouquet with red and black fruit laced with black truffle and smoke, beautifully defined and gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a supple opening, hints of dark chocolate filtering through the black fruit laced with white pepper and a touch of tobacco. The finish is refined and focused with a sense of tension lingering on the aftertaste. Gazin has enjoyed a superb run of form in recent years and the 2015 belongs to the canon of great modern-day Gazins. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2045.

The 2015 Gazin has a perfumed bouquet with layers of black cherry, raspberry coulis and truffle scents, more welcoming and sensual than the wines a decade ago from barrel when they intermittently felt under-ripe. There is none of that here for sure. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit on the entry. There is excellent structure here, a masculine Gazin with plenty of grip, counterbalanced by abundant tertiary, tobacco-tinged black fruit. There is real salinity towards the finish, completing a superb wine by Nicolas de Bailliencourt and his team. Do not overlook this Pomerol. It is one of the subtler expressions of the 2015 vintage and one that I am sure will develop beautifully in cask. Drink 2020-2050.

Warm, round and complete. Much sweeter and fleshier than the 2016. Lots of acid and tannin but a massive weight of ripe fruit too. Bravo!Drink 2025-2043

Bright crimson. Appetising and savoury on the nose. Much drier than most Pomerols. Racy and mineral.Drink 2024-2040