2015 Château Moulin-à-Vent Les Verillats
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Tasting notes
Powerful rather than rich vintage. Higher acid than in 2016. They are usually near the last to pick but in 2015 they picked earlier. High temperatures and high winds at the end of August so they harvested earlier to keep the freshness. Started picking 27 August. 50% whole bunch, also to increase freshness. Two-thirds aged in tank. Very dark, almost black at the core. Refined texture with power and intensity. Reminds me of tiny little wild berries like elderberry. Dark and scented but shy. Power and tannins on the palate. Long, powerful and still surprisingly fresh. Chewy finish. Still needs more time. (JH)
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Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Deep ruby-red. Expansive blackberry, cherry and incense qualities on the nose; smoky mineral and potpourri nuances gain strength with aeration. Juicy and impressively concentrated, offering sappy dark berry liqueur, spicecake and violet pastille flavors that show excellent delineation and minerally lift. Shows the heft of the vintage but comes off surprisingly graceful and finishes sweet and long, featuring building spiciness and fine-grained tannins that come in late.
The 2015 Moulin A Vent Croix des Verillats comes from granitic soils known as "gorrhe" that are rich in manganese. The fruit is 75% de-stemmed and 65% is aged in oak for 12 months, 20% new wood. It has an elegant bouquet with red cherries, wild strawberry and crushed violet aromas. The palate is well balanced with supple tannin, crisp acidity and a lithe, almost citrus fresh finish. The new oak is deftly used here, lending a sheen to the wine without encroaching upon its mineralité or terroir expression. Superb.
Almost black! Not much nose – arguably almost overripe. Lots of sweetness. Fades rather fast on the end. This was really exposed to winds and concentrated by heat. (JR)