Talking to Emmanuel de Saint Salvy from Chateau Bellefont-Belcier, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé
What can we expect from the 2015 vintage in St Emilion?
2015 is a very interesting vintage because at the same time we have a very full bodied vintage but with a lot of fruit… we can drink it today. It is a really fruity and good balanced vintage. 2015 was a very dry vintage but the water [rain] arrived at the good moments. We had a cool August with cold nights that maintained the freshness and gave us fruit, balance, minerality and acidity in the wine. This is very important to balance between the sun at the beginning of the year and the cold at the end.
2015 will be a very special vintage, we are sure of this!
How does 2015 compare to the recent top vintages of 2005 or 2009?
Often it is very difficult to say it exactly like this one or compared to that one but I think the 2015, for the Grand Cru Classé of St Emilion, for me it is 2010 plus because… it is a full bodied vintage and we have really really great fruit and really very great balance… so for me it is 2010 plus!
Can you tell us the best time for drinking these fine wines?
Each wine you can drink in so many different times and you can like a different type of wine… you can drink the same wine very young, [when] medium [aged] or very late. Some vintages you can drink more quickly than the others.
What is your personal favourite vintage for enjoying right now?
My personal is the last one, 2015… sure, I think for me it is the greatest vintage we’ve had for 20 years. But that is very personal to my chateau because… we progress, we plant and replant, so at one moment the vintage arrives with a lot of work and all this together can make the best wine as possible.
Tasting notes For Chateau Bellefont-Belcier Saint Elion Grand Cru Classé 2009 and 2015:
Chateau Bellefont-Belcier, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 2009
Lovely almost translucent ruby colour. Ripe plum and cherry, coffee and old leather aromas. Quite delicate and elegant with lovely length.
Chateau Bellefont-Belcier, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé, 2015
Darker than the ’09 with attractive perfume of herbs, thyme, lavender. Oily mouthfeel, gorgeous balance of fruit, acidity and smooth tannic grip contributing to an overall seductive power.
More great wines from the 'Association De Grands Crus Classes' tasting:
There is no doubt that 2015 was a great vintage that will be exuding quality and class for years to come. The wines exhibited in the City of London were too many to list all but here are a few of particular interest:
Chateau Laroze 2009 and 2015 - both superb vintages with layers of complexity from fruit to leather in the 09 and seeductive power in the 15.
Chateau La Tour Figeac 2005 and 2015 - both great wibnes - the 05 still had glowing youth, bright red fruit, gripping tannin and enduring length. Lovely.
Chateau Fonplégade 2010 and 2015 - The 10 is youthful, balanced with fruit, tannin and delicate oak. Enjoy now and, if you buy enough, for the foreseeable future. The 15 has delicious intense fruit, power and length. So good!
Chateau Clos De Sarpe 2007 and 2015 - The 07 is dark brown / brick red, a great mouthful of strawberry and hints of chocolate ready to drink now and very tasty to boot! The 15 is a light ruby colour, bright blackcurrant on the nose and to taste. Great mouthfeel of tannin, fruit and power.
Chateau La Marzelle 2012 and 2015 - The 15 is really where its at here. Vibrant fresh berry fruit and a layer of dark chocolate give this wine mysterious charm. Many years of pleasure ahead for drinkers of Chateau La Marzelle 2015.
