It’s Bordeaux en primeur season, when email inboxes can become stuffed with offers of the latest vintage. I went to 50 chateaux over a period of ten days earlier in the month, as you do, to taste the 2015s from barrel, and my report for Harpers (a trade mag) is published today. I’ve listed my scores on the best 250+ reds and 50 whites below.
Scores on the top names from 9 leading critics, and mine for some reason, can be compared on this handy ‘critical opinion’ page on Liv-ex, the fine wine exchange.
Many of these are likely to be of interest to UK en primeur buyers; they are listed by appellation. This was my sixteenth consecutive year of tasting barrel samples from the top estates.
NB With prices starting to come out, I’ve noted the release price for the 2014 en primeur as a guide, as quoted by Liv-ex, for many but not all of the wines. The price is per case of 12, in bond (excluding duty and VAT). UK prices for the 2015s will undoubtedly be higher, if only because of the exchange rate.
| Saint Julien | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Ducru Beaucaillou | 95-96 | 2024-2045 | 750 |
| Léoville Las Cases | 94-96 | 2026-2050 | 920 |
| Léoville Poyferré | 93-94 | 2023-2040 | 430 |
| Léoville Barton | 92-94 | 2025-2045 | 430 |
| Talbot | 91-93 | 2022-2038 | 290 |
| Clos du Marquis | 91-93 | 2025-2040 | 295 |
| Lagrange | 91-92 | 2022-2035 | 240 |
| Saint Pierre | 90-93 | 2023-2036 | 305 |
| Langoa Barton | 90-92 | 2023-2036 | 285 |
| Gruaud Larose | 90-92 | 2022-2036 | 390 |
| Croix de Beaucaillou | 90-92 | 2021-2033 | 230 |
| Beychevelle | 90-92 | 2022-2036 | 415 |
| Branaire Ducru | 90-91 | 2025-2040 | 290 |
| Gloria | 90-91 | 2022-2035 | 205 |
| Moulin Riche | 89-91 | 2022-2033 | 155 |
| Saint Estèphe | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Montrose | 94-96 | 2023-2045 | 850 |
| Cos d’Estournel | 93-95 | 2022-2040 | 825 |
| Calon Segur | 93-94 | 2022-2040 | 420 |
| Lafon Rochet | 91-93 | 2022-2038 | 220 |
| La Dame de Montrose | 91-92 | 2020-2035 | 210 |
| Pagodes de Cos | 90-92 | 2019-2032 | 260 |
| Marquis de Calon | 90-92 | 2021-2033 | 145 |
| Phelan Segur | 90-91 | 2022-2035 | 225 |
| Capbern (Gasqueton) | 90-91 | 2022-2036 | 110 |
| Cos Labory | 89-91 | 2023-2034 | 195 |
| Pez | 89-91 | 2022-2036 | |
| Le Crock | 89-91 | 2021-2033 | |
| Tronquoy Lalande | 89-91 | 2020-2032 | |
| Meyney | 89-90 | 2023-2035 | |
| Ormes Pez | 88-90 | 2021-2034 | |
| Tour des Termes | 88-90 | 2021-2031 | |
| Pauillac | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Latour | 96-98 | 2027-2050 | NA |
| Mouton Rothschild | 94-96 | 2023-2045 | 2340 |
| Pontet Canet | 94-96 | 2022-2040 | 648 |
| Pichon Baron | 94-96 | 2025-2045 | 640 |
| Pichon Lalande | 94-95 | 2025-2045 | 625 |
| Grand Puy Lacoste | 92-94 | 2025-2045 | 375 |
| Lafite Rothschild | 92-94 | 2023-2040 | 2900 |
| Forts Latour | 92-94 | 2023-2038 | NA |
| Lynch Bages | 91-93 | 2022-2040 | 575 |
| Petit Mouton | 91-93 | 2024-2040 | 756 |
| Les Griffons Pichon Baron | 91-93 | 2021-2032 | NA |
| Reserve Comtesse | 91-93 | 2022-2034 | 210 |
| Clerc Milon | 90-92 | 2021-2038 | 324 |
| Batailley | 90-92 | 2022-2040 | 250 |
| Haut Batailley | 90-92 | 2021-2038 | 225 |
| Duhart Milon | 90-91 | 2022-2036 | 425 |
| Armailhac | 90-91 | 2021-2037 | 234 |
| Tourelles De Longueville | 90-91 | 2020-2030 | NA |
| Haut Bages Liberal | 89-91 | 2022-2035 | 220 |
| Pauillac De Latour | 89-91 | 2020-2032 | NA |
| Lacoste Borie | 89-90 | 2020-2032 | |
| Croizet Bages | 89-90 | 2022-2032 | |
| Grand Puy Ducasse | 88-91 | 2023-2038 | |
| Echo Lynch Bages | 88-90 | 2019-2030 | |
| Lynch Moussas | 88-90 | 2021-2033 | |
| Carruades Lafite | 88-89 | 2020-2032 | 920 |
| Margaux | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Margaux | 96-98 | 2025-2050 | 2320 |
| Palmer | 95-97 | 2023-2045 | 1500 |
| Pavillon Rouge | 93-95 | 2024-2040 | 756 |
| d’Issan | 92-94 | 2023-2045 | 295 |
| Boyd Cantenac | 92-94 | 2024-2045 | 300 |
| Brane Cantenac | 92-94 | 2022-2040 | 310 |
| Giscours | 92-93 | 2023-2040 | 270 |
| Rauzan Segla | 92-93 | 2022-2038 | 375 |
| Malescot St Exupery | 91-93 | 2023-2040 | 290 |
| Alter Ego Palmer | 91-93 | 2020-2033 | 370 |
| Cantenac Brown | 91-93 | 2022-2038 | 250 |
| Lascombes | 90-93 | 2023-2036 | 410 |
| Kirwan | 90-93 | 2023-2036 | 240 |
| Marquis de Terme | 90-92 | 2022-2035 | 225 |
| Prieure Lichine | 90-92 | 2022-2035 | 220 |
| Labégorce | 90-92 | 2022-2035 | 160 |
| Pouget | 90-92 | 2021-2032 | NA |
| Ferriere | 90-91 | 2024-2037 | 200 |
| du Tertre | 90-91 | 2022-2036 | 200 |
| Desmirail | 89-91 | 2022-2035 | |
| Rauzan Gassies | 89-91 | 2022-2035 | |
| Blason d’Issan | 89-91 | 2019-2030 | |
| Angludet | 89-91 | 2022-2035 | |
| Siran | 89-90 | 2020-2033 | |
| Monbrison | 89-90 | 2022-2035 | |
| Dauzac | 89-90 | 2023-2035 | 220 |
| Mongravey | 89-90 | 2020-2030 | |
| Haut Médoc | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| La Lagune | 91-93 | 2022-2037 | 280 |
| Sociando Mallet | 90-91 | 2024-2036 | 180 |
| Cantemerle | 90-91 | 2022-2036 | 170 |
| Larose Perganson | 87-90 | 2021-2033 | |
| La Tour Carnet | 87-89 | 2023-2035 | 170 |
| Belle-Vue | 87-89 | 2020-2032 | |
| Cissac | 87-89 | 2021-2032 | |
| Lanessan | 87-88 | 2022-2033 | |
| Charmail | 87-88 | 2022-2034 | |
| Senéjac | 86-88 | 2020-2030 | |
| Cambon La Pelouse | 86-88 | 2020-2032 | |
| d’Agassac | 86-88 | 2020-2030 | |
| Pessac & Graves | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| La Mission Haut Brion | 96-98 | 2021-2045 | 1420 |
| Haut Brion | 96-100 | 2025-2050 | 2320 |
| Haut Bailly | 94-96 | 2023-2040 | 420 |
| Smith Haut Lafitte | 94-95 | 2023-2040 | 440 |
| Pape Clement | 93-95 | 2022-2040 | 480 |
| Domaine de Chevalier | 92-94 | 2021-2035 | 330 |
| Malartic Lagraviere | 92-94 | 2021-2035 | 255 |
| Latour Martillac | 91-93 | 2021-2035 | 180 |
| Clarence Haut Brion | 91-93 | 2020-2035 | 530 |
| Fieuzal | 90-92 | 2021-2032 | 195 |
| Carmes Haut Brion | 90-92 | 2022-2035 | 315 |
| Olivier | 90-92 | 2021-2033 | 165 |
| Haut Bergey | 90-92 | 2021-2032 | 135 |
| Chapelle de la Mission | 90-92 | 2021-2033 | 335 |
| Larrivet Haut Brion | 90-92 | 2020-2030 | 180 |
| Parde de Haut Bailly | 90-92 | 2020-2032 | 155 |
| Picque Caillou | 90-91 | 2021-2033 | 120 |
| Carbonnieux | 89-90 | 2021-2032 | |
| La Louviere | 88-91 | 2022-2035 | |
| Clos Marsalette | 88-90 | 2020-2032 | |
| Bouscaut | 88-89 | 2020-2030 | |
| Clos Floridene | 90-91 | 2019-2030 | 100 |
| Haura | 89-90+ | 2019-2028 | |
| Saint Robert, Poncet Deville | 88-90 | 2020-2030 | |
| Roquetaillade La Grange | 88-90 | 2020-2028 | |
| Pomerol | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Lafleur | 96-98 | 2025-2040 | 3480 |
| Petrus | 95-97 | 2027-2045 | 13620 |
| L’Evangile | 95-96 | 2023-2040 | 880 |
| La Conseillante | 94-96 | 2023-2040 | 640 |
| Vieux Chateau Certan | 94-96 | 2024-2045 | 990 |
| La Fleur Petrus | 94-96 | 2025-2038 | 1000 |
| L’Eglise Clinet | 94-95 | 2025-2040 | 1300 |
| Trotanoy | 94-95 | 2023-2040 | 1440 |
| Clinet | 93-95 | 2023-2035 | 430 |
| Petit Village | 93-94 | 2022-2033 | 415 |
| Le Gay | 92-95 | 2025-2040 | 570 |
| Hosanna | 92-94 | 2023-2038 | 720 |
| La Violette | 92-94 | 2022-2040 | 1600 |
| Vray Croix De Gay | 92-94 | 2022-2035 | 340 |
| Pensees de Lafleur | 92-94 | 2021-2033 | 720 |
| Nenin | 92-94 | 2022-2038 | 260 |
| Gazin | 92-93 | 2022-2036 | 385 |
| Rouget | 91-93 | 2021-2035 | 235 |
| Feytit Clinet | 91-93 | 2022-2038 | 325 |
| Certan de May | 90-92 | 2023-2034 | 590 |
| Bon Pasteur | 90-92 | 2023-2035 | 450 |
| La Petite Eglise | 90-91 | 2021-2032 | 220 |
| Beauregard | 90-91 | 2021-2033 | 250 |
| La Pointe | 90-91 | 2021-2034 | 195 |
| Montviel | 90-91 | 2022-2032 | NA |
| Manoir de Gay | 90-91 | 2020-2030 | 150 |
| Latour à Pomerol | 89-91 | 2022-2033 | 590 |
| La Grave à Pomerol | 89-91 | 2022-2030 | |
| Croix de Gay | 89-91 | 2020-2033 | |
| Lagrange – Pomerol | 89-91 | 2022-2030 | |
| Duo de Conseillante | 89-91 | 2019-2028 | |
| Clos du Clocher | 89-91 | 2020-2030 | |
| Plince | 89-90 | 2021-2030 | |
| Saint Emilion | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Ausone | 97-100 | 2026-2045 | 3430 |
| Pavie | 95-97 | 2027-2045 | 1700 |
| Troplong Mondot | 95-96 | 2025-2045 | 590 |
| Mondotte | 95-96 | 2025-2045 | 1050 |
| Tertre Roteboeuf | 95-96 | 2023-2045 | 1150 |
| Angelus | 95-96 | 2025-2045 | 1700 |
| Cheval Blanc | 94-96 | 2023-2045 | 3400 |
| Figeac | 94-96 | 2023-2045 | 575 |
| Canon La Gaffeliere | 94-96 | 2022-2040 | 400 |
| Chapelle d’Ausone | 94-95 | 2022-2034 | 900 |
| Beausejour Duffau | 93-95 | 2027-2045 | 525 |
| Larcis Ducasse | 93-95 | 2025-2040 | 350 |
| Belair Monange | 93-95 | 2024-2038 | 790 |
| Canon | 93-95 | 2022-2036 | 375 |
| La Gaffeliere | 93-95 | 2023-2040 | 325 |
| Quintus | 93-95 | 2022-2038 | 650 |
| Le Dome | 93-95 | 2022-2036 | 690 |
| Clos Fourtet | 93-94 | 2023-2040 | 490 |
| Pavie Macquin | 93-94 | 2023-2040 | 400 |
| Les Asteries | 92-94 | 2022-2033 | 600 |
| La Dominique | 92-94 | 2021-2035 | 233 |
| Corbin | 92-94 | 2020-2035 | 180 |
| Le Carré | 92-94 | 2021-2033 | 400 |
| Beau Sejour Becot | 92-94 | 2021-2038 | 325 |
| Soutard | 92-94 | 2022-2036 | 250 |
| Vieux Chateau Mazerat | 91-93 | 2023-2035 | 500 |
| La Fleur Cardinale | 91-93 | 2023-2038 | 230 |
| Fleur Morange | 91-93 | 2022-2035 | 305 |
| Bellevue Mondotte | 91-93 | 2027-2040 | 950 |
| La Tour Figeac | 91-93 | 2021-2035 | 220 |
| Pavie Decesse | 91-93 | 2025-2040 | 760 |
| Le Prieuré | 91-93 | 2023-2038 | 240 |
| Laroze | 91-93 | 2021-2036 | 170 |
| Clos Sarpe | 91-93 | 2024-2038 | 335 |
| Fonplegade | 91-93 | 2023-2036 | 220 |
| Grand Mayne | 91-93 | 2025-2040 | 210 |
| Grandes Murailles | 91-93 | 2023-2035 | 285 |
| La Clotte | 91-93 | 2023-2034 | 320 |
| Berliquet | 91-93 | 2021-2035 | 205 |
| Clos des Jacobins | 91-93 | 2020-2035 | 205 |
| Dassault | 91-92 | 2022-2036 | 190 |
| Larmande | 91-92 | 2022-2035 | 160 |
| Clos Saint Martin | 90-93 | 2023-2035 | 380 |
| Trottevieille | 90-92+ | 2023-2038 | 425 |
| Moulin Saint Georges | 90-92 | 2023-2035 | 185 |
| Laforge | 90-92 | 2020-2033 | 200 |
| Monbousquet | 90-92 | 2023-2038 | 270 |
| Pressac | 90-92 | 2021-2032 | 170 |
| Clos de l’Oratoire | 90-92 | 2020-2032 | 200 |
| Fombrauge | 90-92 | 2020-2033 | 135 |
| Bellefont Belcier | 90-92 | 2022-2035 | 240 |
| Grand Pontet | 90-92 | 2020-2035 | 160 |
| Ferrand | 90-92 | 2022-2033 | 155 |
| Chauvin | 90-92 | 2022-2035 | 204 |
| Barde Haut | 90-92 | 2022-2035 | 175 |
| Quinault l’Enclos | 90-92 | 2021-2035 | 185 |
| Yon Figeac | 90-92 | 2021-2030 | 170 |
| Villemaurine | 90-91 | 2023-2035 | 220 |
| Balestard Tonnelle | 90-91 | 2023-2037 | 195 |
| Cote de Baleau | 90-91 | 2021-2032 | 145 |
| Bellevue (Saint Emilion) | 90-91 | 2021-2032 | 255 |
| Fonroque | 90-91 | 2021-2032 | |
| Marzelle | 90-91 | 2020-2030 | 225 |
| Godeau | 90-91 | 2020-2030 | NA |
| Clos Dubreuil | 90-91 | 2021-2030 | 550 |
| Haut Sarpe | 89-91 | 2021-2033 | |
| Faurie Souchard | 89-91 | 2022-2032 | |
| Destieux | 89-91 | 2023-2033 | |
| Couvent des Jacobins | 89-91 | 2021-2032 | |
| La Couspaude | 89-91 | 2022-2035 | |
| Cadet Bon | 89-91 | 2020-2030 | |
| Petit Faurie Soutard | 89-91 | 2020-2032 | |
| Daugay | 89-91 | 2020-2030 | |
| Clos Madeleine | 89-91 | 2020-2030 | |
| Trimoulet | 89-91 | 2020-2030 | |
| Grand Corbin Despagne | 89-90+ | 2021-2030 | |
| Laniote | 89-90+ | 2020-2028 | |
| Rol Valentin | 89-90 | 2020-2030 | |
| Tour Baladoz | 89-90 | 2020-2030 | |
| Grand Corbin | 88-90 | 2020-2032 | |
| Le Serre | 88-90 | 2022-2033 | |
| Commanderie (Saint Emilion) | 88-90 | 2020-2030 | |
| Cap de Mourlin | 88-90 | 2023-2033 | |
| Teyssier | 88-90 | 2019-2030 | |
| Carillon d’Angelus | 88-90 | 2020-2030 | |
| Roylland | 88-90 | 2020-2029 | |
| Ripeau | 88-90 | 2021-2029 | |
| Fleur Arthus | 88-90 | 2019-2027 | |
| Petit Figeac | 88-90 | 2019-2028 | |
| Haut Simard | 88-89 | 2020-2030 | |
| Franc Mayne | 88-89 | 2025-2038 | |
| Fonbel | 88-89 | 2019-2028 | |
| Santayme | 87-89 | 2021-2030 | |
| Simard | 87-88 | 2020-2028 | |
| Misc. Right Bank | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Plus de la Fleur Bouard | 92-93 | 2024-2038 | 532 |
| Fleur de Bouard | 90-92 | 2020-2032 | 154 |
| Chambrun | 90-91 | 2021-2030 | NA |
| Bel Air (Lalande De Pomerol) | 88-90 | 2021-2028 | |
| Cruzelles | 88-90 | 2020-2030 | |
| Tournefeuille | 88-90 | 2020-2028 | |
| La Vieille Cure | 89-91 | 2021-2030 | |
| Fontenil | 88-91 | 2022-2030 | |
| Les Trois Croix | 88-90 | 2020-2027 | |
| Haut Carles | 88-90 | 2022-2029 | |
| Dalem | 88-89+ | 2021-2030 | |
| Roc Des Cambes | 92-94 | 2021-2035 | 395 |
| Fougas Maldoror | 87-88 | 2020-2028 | |
| Charmes Godard Blanc | 89-91 | 2016-2019 | |
| Francs Les Cerisiers | 86-88+ | 2020-2026 | |
| La Prade | 86-88 | 2019-2027 | |
| Puygueraud | 86-88 | 2019-2027 | |
| Aiguilhe | 90-92 | 2022-2038 | 120 |
| Clos Puy Arnaud | 90-92 | 2021-2030 | 160 |
| Aurage | 90-91 | 2019-2030 | 220 |
| Clos des Lunelles | 89-90 | 2025-2036 | |
| Veyry | 88-89 | 2021-2028 | |
| Cote Montpezat (Cuvee Compostelle) | 88-89 | 2019-2026 | |
| Montlandrie | 87-89+ | 2022-2032 | |
| Ampelia | 87-89 | 2019-2026 | |
| Alcée | 87-88 | 2020-2027 | |
| Laussac | 87-88 | 2019-2028 | |
| Cap de Faugeres | 85-87 | 2020-2028 | |
| Bel Air La Royère | 89-91 | 2020-2030 | |
| Bertinerie | 86-87 | 2019-2026 | |
| du Gaby | 88-90 | 2021-2029 | |
| Barrabaque cuvee Prestige | 87-89 | 2020-2030 | |
| Moulin Pey Labrie | 86-88 | 2021-2028 | |
| Dry Whites | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Haut Brion Blanc | 94-96 | 2019-2032 | 5900 |
| Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc | 93-96 | 2020-2028 | 570 |
| Domaine Chevalier Blanc | 93-95 | 2018-2030 | 575 |
| Pape Clement Blanc | 93-95 | 2020-2030 | 850 |
| Malartic Lagraviere Blanc | 92-95 | 2019-2026 | 355 |
| Mission Haut Brion Blanc | 93-95 | 2020-2035 | 4700 |
| Monbousquet Blanc | 92-94 | 2017-2022 | |
| Magrez Fombrauge Blanc | 91-93 | 2019-2025 | |
| Olivier Blanc | 91-92 | 2018-2025 | 175 |
| Bouscaut Blanc | 91-92 | 2018-2025 | 220 |
| Aile d’Argent | 90-92 | 2017-2022 | |
| Clos Floridene Blanc | 90-92 | 2016-2023 | |
| Clarte de Haut Brion | 90-92 | 2017-2024 | |
| Lynch Bages Blanc | 90-92 | 2016-2021 | 245 |
| Cos D’Estournel Blanc | 92-93 | 2017-2024 | 500 |
| Latour Martillac Blanc | 90-92 | 2017-2025 | 185 |
| Fieuzal Blanc | 90-92 | 2018-2025 | |
| Louviere Blanc | 90-92 | 2017-2023 | |
| Carbonnieux Blanc | 90-92 | 2017-2023 | |
| De France Blanc | 90-92 | 2017-2023 | |
| Rahoul | 90-91 | 2017-2022 | NA |
| Picque Caillou Blanc | 90-91 | 2017-2023 | |
| Larrivet Haut Brion Blanc | 90-91 | 2017-2023 | |
| Haut Bergey Blanc | 90-91 | 2017-2024 | |
| Chantegrive Blanc | 89-91 | 2017-2021 | |
| Sauternes | Score | Best to drink | £ 2014 e.p. |
| Yquem | 95-97 | 2020-2045 | NA |
| Climens | 94-96 | 2019-2040 | 425 |
| Suduiraut | 92-94 | 2020-2035 | 410 |
| Sigalas Rabaud | 92-93 | 2019-2033 | 275 |
| Rieussec | 92-93 | 2020-2034 | 400 |
| Doisy Daene | 90-92 | 2020-2033 | 260 |
| Guiraud | 90-92 | 2019-2032 | 295 |
| Lafaurie Peyraguey | 91-92 | 2020-2035 | 340 |
| Coutet | 91-92 | 2019-2033 | 230 |
| La Tour Blanche | 91-92 | 2020-2034 | 260 |
| Rayne Vigneau | 91-92 | 2019-2030 | 255 |
| Rabaud Promis | 90-91 | 2019-2028 | NA |
| Clos Haut Peyraguey | 90-91 | 2019-2032 | 220 |
| Malle | 90-91 | 2019-2032 | 225 |
| Raymond Lafon | 89-91 | 2019-2030 | |
| Fargues | 91-93 | 2020-2038 | NA |
| Doisy Vedrines | 91-92 | 2020-2032 | 220 |
| Myrat | 89-90 | 2019-2030 | |
| Suau | 88-89 | 2018-2026 | |
| Arche | 87-89 | 2019-2030 | |
| Filhot | 87-89 | 2018-2027 | |
| Lamothe Despujols | 87-89 | 2017-2026 | |
| Lamothe Guignard | 87-88 | 2018-2028 | |
| Bastor Lamontagne | 86-88 | 2018-2028 | |
| Caillou (Sauternes) | 86-88 | 2018-2028 | |
Thanks for your scores Gavin. Some food for thought there. Some of the reactions have bordered on hysterical.
Will you be at the Lords tasting next Wednesday?