Bunch-of-youg-grapes-green-on-vine.jpg

Neal Martin published his Bordeaux 2015 vintage scores

Blog
Bunch-of-youg-grapes-green-on-vine.jpg

Hot off the press, Neal Martin has published his critical view on Bordeaux 2015 today. This was the key critic’s opinion the market has been waiting for and released on The Wine Advocate (although it appears in a slightly grudging way by the platform).

Parker’s chosen successor has rated the 2015 vintage overall as excellent but remarks that it does not have quite the consistency of the great 2009 and 2010 years.

Zoning in on quality ‘hot spots’ Martin states that “The best wines tend to be in the southern Médoc, specifically Margaux and Pessac-Léognan, across the Right Bank in Saint Emilion and Pomerol, then into several satellite appellations”.

He has accorded a small number of wines the very exceptional perfect 100 point scores and compares the quality distribution as a “narrow pyramid, whereas 2009 and 2010 would be flatter so that its average height higher”.

He comments on the workings of the Bordeaux market in his report stating that “primeur works when the price is right” but he does express concerns about the pricing strategies adopted by the chateaux and expresses a view on the focus on competitor pricing rather than the consumer and calls this “a dangerous game to play”.

Neal Martin rarely issues a perfect score so the six recipients of his (98 – 100)s are ones to acquire if the price is right! Top barrel scores are shown in the table below.

 

Bordeaux 2015: Neal Martin’s top scores

WineScore
Haut Brion(98-100)
Canon(98-100)
Chateau Margaux(98-100)
Petrus(98-100)
Chateau d’Yquem(98-100)
Vieux Chateau Certan(98-100)
La Mission Haut Brion(97-99)
Figeac(97-99)
Mouton-Rothschild(97-99)
Cheval Blanc(97-99)
Le Tertre Roteboeuf(97-99)
Lafleur(97-99)

It comes as no surprise that Margaux 2015 has been well rated by Martin as it has consistently been scored top marks by a number of critics. Haut Brion has already seen a price rise on Liv-ex today and we expect increased demand to see the value in these wines grow in the coming days. For more on our wine investments contact us on 0203 384 2262.