Chateau Le Boscq Saint Estephe 2015

Château Le Boscq’s reputation dates back to the conquest for the Medoc vineyard, when in 1749, Thomas Barton took over the tenancy at Château Le Boscq.

For more than 30 years he dedicated his life to making wine of a quality repeatedly recognised, sometimes even at Cru Classé level, within the different classifications established in the 18th century by the courtiers and négociants in Bordeaux.

At the end of the 19th century, Jean Grazilhon, whose grandfather was the estate’s steward working under Thomas Barton, become owner of the estate. He had the chateau built in 1891, a majestic residence enjoying views overlooking the Gironde estuary. For more than 30 years, he strived to produce high quality wines, paving the way for Château Le Boscq to be awarded Cru Bourgeois status in 1932.

During this period, the estate’s wines were transported in barrels by barge as far as the port of Bordeaux. It is with reference to this historical fact, and to the location of the chateau by the estuary, that a barge now features on the labels as the emblem of the estate.

The vineyard extends over a magnificent outcrop that towers 18m above the Gironde estuary. The soils are made up of Garonne gravel intermingled with clay, which is characteristic of one of the finest terroirs found in this appellation. At the foot of the outcrop, the gravel begins to thin out, revealing intermittent clay into which the roots of the vine can plunge.

All these factors combine to create the perfectly balanced environment for cultivating vines: the clay soils offer excellent drainage, taking care of any excess precipitation and radiating heat stored in the soil back into the vine at night. In addition, the clay ensures the vine receives adequate quantities of water and minerals, and continued ripening, even when the vine is under stress in times of water shortage. A mapping of the vineyard provides a thorough understanding of each vineyard plot or micro-plot.

Grape varieties and rootstocks are perfectly suited to the soils, where gravel outcrops promote optimal maturity of the later ripening varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, whilst the cooler terroirs on the slopes are best suited to Merlot, historically the predominant variety at Château Le Boscq.

Le Boscq 2015 is dense and concentrated in appearance. The intense, elegant and complex bouquet combines a wealth of fruit aromas with notes of cedar and precious woods. Immediately generous on the palate, with dark fruit aromas of wild blackberries, together with a hint of spice and cigar box. The wine gains in volume, while the silky tannins bring rich structure and lovely balance. Chateau Le Boscq’s rich terroir is once again revealed through the wine’s impressive harmony. Intense, lengthy finish. 

Medium to deep garnet-purple color and nose of spice box, cedar chest and oolong tea with a core of red and black currants plus a waft of chargrill. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh, soft and juicy with a lovely burst of black fruit in the mouth leading to a savory finish

Award:

93 Wine Enthusiast

92 James Suckling

91 Wine Advocate Robert Parker

90 Falstaff

89 Tim Atkin

VIVINO 4.0