Chateau Potensac 2015

Particularly refreshing, it will be enjoyable both young and with some age.

Pepper, savory and bay leaf notes lead the way, with a core of medium-weight cassis and cherry flavors. A tobacco hint and chalky minerality extend the finish, which has a pleasant austerity. A touch reticent in style, but will age well. Best from 2020 through 2028. 23,750 cases made.

One might have expected Potensac to have produced an intimidating wine in this fine vintage, but it’s actually quite accessible and fluid. The nose is sweet and ripe, with elegant cherry and blackcurrant aromas. The tannins are firm but ripe, giving grip, but there’s complexity and spice too. Assertive and long.

A clarity and transparency to this pretty red with currant, lemon-peel and lemongrass character. Full body, very fine tannins and a pretty texture. Precise wine. Drink or hold.

Tasted blind. Solid, slightly sweet. Well balanced with some structure. (JR)

The 2015 Potensac is just as beautiful from bottle as it was from barrel. Dark, succulent and super-expressive, the 2015 is a terrific choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. It does not have the aromatic expansiveness or body of the very best years, but in exchange, it will drink well pretty much upon release.

Minty fresh, cedar, fennel and spicy red fruits lead you to a fresh palate framed by a solid block of ripe tannins and juicy berries. Classic, but in a good way, this will need time to develop and soften.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, gentle brightening at the rim, fine blackberry fruit, sweet ripe cherries, a touch of nougat, then soft notes of candied orange zest. Complex, juicy, blackberry nuances, vivid, supporting tannins, fresh structure, cherry fruit on the finish, a versatile food wine.

The 2015 Potensac comes from vines near the northern edge of Saint-Estèphe and is 45% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Cabernet Franc. It’s a rock-solid, medium-bodied, classic Potensac offering notes of black cherries, underbrush, violets, and even a hint of peppery herbs. With medium-bodied richness, juicy acidity, and fine, nicely integrated tannins, it’s a classic 2015 to drink over the coming 10–15 years.

Dark garnet, fairly dense at the core, ruby rim. Fine roasted notes, cherries, floral hints. On the palate it comes across as rather light and elegant, yet also shows some tannic muscle that will require bottle ageing. Has room to improve.

(45% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet Franc, 50 hl/ha) Floral, medium-intensity bouquet with cherries, currants, cedar. Fruity, light palate with sweet fruit, fine sandy tannins, a firm core, spicy finish. Still has room to improve. 16/20 2019 - 2032

A blend of 45% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 17% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Potensac has a medium garnet color. It offers up subtle scents of raspberry preserves and kirsch, plus underlying pencil lead, bay leaves, damp soil, and tree bark hints. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is a tad thin and hollow with chewy tannins and a lively lift on the finish.

Very elegant and complex nose, delicately fruity and floral, with peppery hints; broad palate with pure fruit, very fresh tannins and persistence. Harmonious, energetic, long, tasty and balanced.

Solid and very well-structured, with plenty of roundness. It will go far, while already being very approachable from today.

Dark garnet color. Discreet nose, then red and black fruits. The wine is full, silky, charming, fruit-forward. 60% grand vin. 45% Merlot, 38% Cabernet-Sauvignon, 17% Cabernet-Franc. pH 3.55 33% new oak.

Garnet red with purple highlights. An intense bouquet marked by blackcurrant and red berries. On the palate, the wine is powerful, compact, and well supported by its tannic structure. The latter is fairly angular and in keeping with the liveliness of the structure. A powerful wine to follow over time, but for now it lacks fruity expression on the finish.

Deeply colored wine with an intense, delicate, fruity, fragrant nose. The palate starts supple, becomes smooth at mid-palate, very fruity, then firms up slightly, yet finishes without any hard edges. Medium length.

While this wine has plenty of ripe tannins, the delicious blackberry fruit speaks loudest. Ripe, full and with a fine line of acidity, it is gently structured and likely to age well. Drink this fruity wine from 2023.