Chateau Barde Haut 2015
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
An awesome Saint Emilion, the 2015 Château Barde-Haut showed even better on this occasion than on release. A huge nose of sweet crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, leather, and dried herbs gives way to a full-bodied wine that has a great mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, not a hard edge to be found, and a great, great finish. I love it even today, yet it has a full two decades of prime drinking ahead of it.
-
James Suckling
Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, wet earth and black tea. Full-bodied, dense and layered with medium, chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Shows focus and power. Needs three or four years to start coming together.
-
Wine Spectator
A restrained style, with a core of damson plum, raspberry and cassis flavors held in check for now by fine-grained cedar, sanguine and iron hints. Best from 2022 through 2032.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Barde-Haut gives up notions of plum preserves, potpourri and baked cherries with underlying Chinese five spice and cigar box hints. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm backbone of grainy tannins and background freshness supporting the spicy black fruits, finishing on a lingering earthy note.
-
Decanter
The best yet from this estate. More harmony and precision than in the past. Lovely pitch of ripe fruit, freshness and finely woven tannins. Limestone terroir really comes through.
Other Vintages
2022-
Dunnuck
Jeb - Vinous
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James - Decanter
-
Parker
Robert
-
Panel
Tasting -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Enthusiast
Wine
- Vinous
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert
-
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Suckling
James
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
There has been significant investment in renovating the cellar so that all work is completely done by gravity to ensure that the precious grapes of the Chateau are well respected. The cellar is equiped with wooden vats, stainless steel tanks and concrete vats of 50 to 70 hl. A strict policy of selection to ensure the quality is undertaken and individual steps including pigeage are all carried out by hand. It is the combination of exceptional soil and the introduction of natural wine producing and winegrowing technologies combining tradition and modernity that have made CHATEAU BARDE-HAUT one of the rising stars of Saint Emilion.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.