2015 Bordeaux Value Wines, Petit Chateau, Satellite Appellations

2015 Bordeaux Value wines. I know far too many people that think value and Bordeaux are two words that do not belong in the same sentence. But that is neither fair, or accurate. The truth is, while the big names, high scoring wines and the First Growths garner most of the press, one of the things that Bordeaux does better than most wine regions is produce great value wines that are often produced in large quantities, making them affordable and relatively easy to find. 2015 Bordeaux value wines are quite good. Many are already delicious, plus the majority will drink well early and even better, they sell for a song! They are usually easy to find and in my view, offer some of the world’s best wine values for consumers.

If you want to read about 2015 Bordeaux tasting notes for all the other appellations in Bordeaux, please see: 2015 Bordeaux Barrel Tasting Notes, Ratings Reports

Look, 2015 is a very good vintage. Do not doubt that for a moment. But 2015 Bordeaux is not a vintage of the century. Several components go into creating a great vintage. You need wines from the Left Bank and the Right Bank to be equally successful. That did not happen in 2015. If you have read any of the numerous articles on 2015 Bordeaux we’ve published over the last week or so, you’d know we think that 2015 is better in the Right Bank. In fact, the vintage is rich with Merlot dominated wines. But there are other characteristics that all great vintages share. Perhaps of even greater importance is that there is a number of sublime wines produced at all price points.

As I mentioned previously, 2015 is a Right Bank vintage. The Cabernet Franc and Merlot are beautiful, especially the Merlot in the clay soils. This matters because there are several, well-priced Bordeaux value wines with those soils and grapes that made terrific wines this year from: Bordeaux Superieur, Cotes de Bordeaux, Cotes de Castillon, Cote de Blaye, Cotes de Bourg, Fronsac and the St. Emilion Satellite regions to name a few appellations that produced an array of 2015 Bordeaux value wines that are worth buying.

If you are interested in reading about what took place during the growing season and harvest that helped shape these wines, please read: 2015 Bordeaux Vintage Report

Hopefully, the list below is going to help you find the best 2015 Bordeaux value wines. Keep in mind that the majority of these wines should sell for roughly, $20 or less! Plus, most of these wines are going to be delicious on release, or will not require much aging before serving up their luscious charms. Remember, we are talking Merlot from the Right Bank here!

2015 d’Aiguilhe – Purity, silky tannins, sweet, incredibly ripe, dark red fruits, licorice and just a hint of dark chocolate make up the character of this wine. There is concentration, energy and loads of sweet, lush fruits in the finish. 92 – 94 Pts

2015 Alcee – Forward, soft and plummy, with an open, sweet fresh, bright red berry character, the wine has a nice spicy finish. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Balthus – Dark in color, with round, lush, sweet, ripe, chocolate covered cherries, espresso and cocoa from start to finish in this forward styled wine. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Belle Coline – Forward, sweet and fruity; with a soft, ripe red berry character, medium body and a bright cherry finish. 86 – 88 Pts

2015 Bolaire – Using a unique blend of 60% old vine Petit Verdot, 35% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, you find a wine that is fresh, floral and robust, with sweet, dark, spicy, lively, fruit filled finish. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Bonnet Divinus – With a ripe, dark cherry and chocolate profile, the wine is round, forward and fresh, with a fruity sweetness in the round textured finish. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Bouscat Caduce – Floral, fresh and loaded with sweet, ripe, juicy black cherries topped with licorice in a round, easy to like forward style. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Bouscat Cuvee la Gargone – The dark color is the first thing you notice. But it is the lush, juicy, sweet layers of cocoa, black cherry and thyme and its plush textures, coupled with the low price point that makes this a buy. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Bouscat Les Portes de L’Am – Deep in color, the full bodied, rich wine is loaded with fat, sweet, opulent, chocolate covered cherries, licorice and an array of spices. The user friendly styled wine should deliver pleasure early. There is no sensation of heat, even though the wine reached 15% alcohol. This is a contender for the best Bordeaux Superieur of the 2015 vintage. The wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 91 – 93 Pts

2015 Cap de Faugeres – Lush, plush, sweet and packed with licorice, chocolate covered cherries and plums, the wine is sweet, round and easy to drink. This should be quite tasty on release. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Cap de Faugeres Mouleyre – Luscious textures and an earthy, sweet, dark chocolate, boysenberry, plum and confiture core, the wine finishes with black cherries, cocoa and thyme that feel as rich as it tastes. 91 – 93 Pts

2015 Cap Saint George – Medium bodied with a sweet plum and cherry character, the wine is soft, forward, and easy to drink, leaving with a blast of fresh, spicy black raspberries. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Carignan Prima – Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is forward with round, open dark chocolate covered, black cherries and a kiss of herbs in the end note. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Clarisse – Forward, soft, lush and ripe, with a blast of sweet, juicy fruits and freshness. The wine was made from a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Clarisse Vieille Vignes – From 100% old vine Merlot, with vines that average 65 years of age, picture blackberry liqueur, minerality, molten chocolate, and pure black cherries from start to finish. Fat, lush and juicy, this should drink well young. 91 – 93 Pts

2015 Clarendelle – Light, easy drinking, fun, Merlot dominated, daily drinker that is uncomplicated, yet fruity and open. 85 – 87 Pts

2015 Clos Bertineau – From 100% Merlot, the floral and sweet raspberry notes are hard to miss. Forward, soft and easy drinking, this is a nice, fun, uncomplicated daily drinker. 86 – 88 Pts

2015 Clos Lunelles – Deep in color, with an earthy, dark red berry, licorice and stone personality. Rich and powerful, yet soft in texture, the wine is lush and rich on the palate. This is perhaps the best vintage yet for Clos Lunelles. 92 – 94 Pts

2015 Clos Puy Arnaud – Medium bodied, on the fresh, bright, black raspberry and dark cherry side of the style range, this should be ready to drink on release. 87-89 Pts

2015 Cote Montpezat – Thyme and assorted, fresh herbs, paired with plum and cocoa scents open to a soft, polished, medium bodied wine with an open personality that will deliver charm early. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Courteillac – Well priced charmer with loads of sweet, black raspberries, cocoa and thyme. Medium bodied, and forward, there is nice value to be found here. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Croix de Justice – Flowers, fresh fruit, minerality, ripe berries and opulent textures. The wine is lush on the palate with a lingering sweetness. This wine is a Jeffrey Davies Selection Exclusive. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 Croix Mouton – If there is a better value in Bordeaux wine today, but it. I’ve looked and it is going to be hard to find. In 2015, you find better levels of fruit, sweetness and softer textures than before. The fruits are clean, ripe and fresh with a forward character. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Croix Mouton 20 Mille – Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine reached 14.4% alcohol with a spicy edge to its round textured, espresso, cocoa plum and licorice personality. Fresh; sweet and with a touch of oak in the round finish, this is the best vintage yet for 20 Mille. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 d’Aiguilhe Querre – Medium bodied, forward, correctly made wine with a sweet cherry and cocoa center, soft textures and a note of thyme in the finish. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Dalem – Pure bottled pleasure, with its silky, opulent textures, rich, ripe fruits and licorice coated black cherry finish, this is probably the best wine I’ve tasted yet from Dalem. 91 – 93 Pts

2015 Dame de Coeur Peyfaures – Smoky, dark, red and black plums, earth and spice, the wine is silky, soft textured, medium/full bodied and loaded with ripe, spicy, fresh, sweet cherries. Produced from 100% Merlot, this is top wine from Chateau Peyfaures, which is made in a limited quantity of slightly more than 800 cases per vintage. 89-91 Pts

2015 d’arce – Medium bodied, with a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the wine is forward, fresh and fruity, ending with a spicy, silky, soft finish. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 de Francs Infinity – Dark in color, with smoke, stone, dark red fruits and thyme on the nose, the wine has a fresh, character driven personality. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 de Francs Les Cerisiers – Dark in color, with a medium body, soft, tannins and ripe, elegant, fresh, dark red berries and a hint of cocoa at the end. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Domaine de Cambes – Dominated by Merlot the wine shows vanilla, smoke, dark red fruits, herbs, spice and earth in character, the wine an olive tapenade and herb infused, dark red fruit experience. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Domaine-de-lA – Distinctly floral with sweet fresh dark red fruits and licorice the wine has freshness length supple textures concentration of flavor and a fresh supple finish. The wine is made from 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc. The wine reached 13.8% alcohol. 91 – 93 Pts

2015 Domaine Simon Blanchard au Champ de la Fenetre – Distinctive black raspberry notes with round fat textures ripe sweet fruits and richness in the plush finish. The wine is made from 100% old Merlot vines that are close to 35 years of age. This is a great first effort from Simon Blanchard, a member of the Stephane Derenoncourt team. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 Domaine Simon Blanchard Guitard – From 52% old vine Merlot paired with 48% Cabernet Franc, the wine has richness, minerality, density of fruit and flavor with a long fresh, pure finish. The vines user here are close to 50 years of age. Great first effort from Simon Blanchard, a member of the Stephane Derenoncourt team. 91 – 93 Pts

2015 Esprit-de-Pavie – Smoky cherries and licorice on the nose, medium bodied, with sweet, red fruits and dusty tannins in the finish. 86 – 88 Pts

2015 Faizeau Selection Vieilles Vignes – Using 100% old vine Merlot, the wine is fresh, spicy, forward and offers a mineral, spicy, oak, thyme and plum finish. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 Fontenil – Supple textures, soft and silky, with fresh, sweet plums, black cherries, and juicy, chocolate covered fruits in the finish. This should be quite tasty on release. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Gaby – A forward drinking charmer, with soft, silky tannins, ripe, plums cherry and licorice and a polished mouth feel that is already fun to drink. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Girolate – Produced from 100% Merlot, the wine is dark in color, with an oaky, blackberry, cocoa, licorice and chocolate character. Concentrated, round, velvety and lush, there is a definitive oak profile to this modern styled wine that is not going to please everyone. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Grand Village – Blending 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the wine delivers a sweet, black raspberry character coupled with thyme and fresh cherries, a soft, medium bodied palate feel and a sweet, cherry and plum finish that will drink well early. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Gree-Laroque – Smoky, and packed with licorice and sweet black cherries with fresh sensations in the finish; this shows great character at an affordable price. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Guinaudeau “G” Acte 7 – Acte 7, the seventh vintage of this wine, which takes its name from the first letter of the famous owner’s last names, Jacques and Sylvie Guinaudeau, who also own Chateau Lafleur in Pomerol is ready to go. The blend of 61% Merlot and 39% Cabernet Franc is forward, softly textured, with silky tannins and a sweet, juicy mouthful of supple, fresh, cherries and minerality in the finish. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Haut Carles – Rich, silky, plush, ripe fresh fruit galore, with silky tannins, concentration and a rich, polished texture in the sweet, fruit filled finish. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 Hostens Picant – Round, soft and open, the wine is medium bodied, with juicy plums, raspberries and an easy to like cherry finish. 86 – 88 Pts

2015 Hostens Picant Cuvee d’exception Lucullus – Supple, round, dark red fruits, with a character driven, polished, ripe, rich, lush fruity finish. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 Isle Fort – Ripe, round, forward, easy to taste and like, with lots of sweetness in the ripe, round, fruit filled finish. For value hunters, this is a steal! 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Jean Faux – Forward, easy drinking wine, with a spicy, soft textured, black raspberry personality with hints of licorice and cocoa in the finish. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Joanin Becot – Lush, forward, juicy, dark cherries, chocolate and licorice deliver a sweet, round, fleshy, flashy, sexy wine with freshness and loads of sweet, sensuous ripe fruits in the finish. This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc reached 14.9% alcohol with a pH of 3.50. This should be quite tasty on release. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 La Brande – Medium bodied, fresh, forward and with a focus on its ripe, spicy, dark red berries, a hint of thyme and olives in the finish. 86-88 Pts

2015 La Dauphine – Deeply colored, with a lush, round, supple character, the wine is packed to the gills with licorice, sweet, juicy, dark red and black fruits, chocolate and espresso beans. Sweet, fresh, ripe, earthy fruits with great textures and presence, plus it sells for a song and drinks well early! 90 – 92 Pts

2015 La Prade – Made from 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the soft, open wine has a stony, licorice, and blackberry personality that finishes with fresh dark red fruits. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 La Riviere – Forward, soft, polished, ripe and packed with, sweet, plush, dark red fruits, that will drink well on release. 87 – 89 Pts

2015 La Rousselle – Soft, silky, ripe, sweet dark red fruits in a forward supple style, with a nice fresh polished sweet fruity end note 89 – 91 Pts

2015 La Vieille Cure – It’s really hard to find a better wine for the money from Bordeaux year, after year. The wine has richness, silky, polished tannins, fresh, ripe, sweet, juicy dark red fruits, licorice, smoke and sweetness that when coupled with its consumer friendly pricing policy makes this a must buy, for value conscious consumers. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 lAurage – From a blend of 95% Merlot and 5%Cabernet Franc, the wine shows rich, lusty textures, fresh, sweet black fruits and a licorice coated, black cherry finish with supple tannins. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 Laurence – Medium bodied, forward, with a spicy, olive and red fruit component that is meant for early drinking. 83 – 85 Pts

2015 Le Defi Fontenil – Inky in color, with loads of dark, ripe, sweet fruits, freshness, black licorice, minerality and length, finishing with loads of ripe, lush, juicy fruit. Le Defi Fontenil is only produced in the best vintages. 90-92 Pts

2015 Le Pin Beausoleil – Really great value wine here; the shows density, lift, ripe fruits, round textures and length, and it should sell for just over $20! 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Marjosse – With more density than usual, due to a reduction in the yields, the wine shows ripe, black cherries with a chocolate and licorice profile. The wine has depth and flavor. Produced in a forward style, there is a sweetness in the mouth that make this one of the top Bordeaux value wines in this vintage. Clearly, this is the best vintage ever produced by Pierre Lurton at Marjosse. The wine was produced from 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Mauvais Garçon (Bad Boy) – Forward, fresh, sweet and lush, with fat, juicy, ripe fruits, chocolate and licorice all over the place. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Mauvais Garçon (Bad Boy) Syrah – Leave it to Jean Luc Thunevin to make a Syrah in Bordeaux! With peppery, red fruits smothered in bacon fat and vanilla, the wine is medium bodied, soft and forward. 86 – 88 Pts

2015 Montlandrie – Black cherry liqueur, licorice and spice sensations pair perfectly with the plush, round, lush textured and long, fruit filled finish. There is a nice character here. I would not be surprised to see this get better in bottle. The wine is a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine reached 14.7% alcohol with a pH of 3.62. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 Moulin-Haut-Laroque – Really silky on the palate, with loads of fresh, sweet, ripe, cherries, espresso and licorice that should offer delicious tasting early. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Moulin-Pey-Labrie – With a sensation of minerality, soft, polished, dark red fruits, spice and freshness in the finish, this is a well-priced wine for savvy, value Bordeaux wine buyers to seek out. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Peyfaures – Forward, with lots of fresh, sweet, dark chocolate, ripe, black cherries, chocolate and soft textures, this Merlot based wine should be perfect to drink on release. 86 – 88 Pts

2015 Puygueraud – With an earthy, clay and dark, red plum nose, the wine is forward, sweet and round in character. Produced from a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Malbec, the wine has length, character and charm. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Reignac – Forward, open, easy drinking charmer, with soft textures, ripe fruits and sweetness in the round, easy going finish. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Roc de Cambes – Spicy, mineral driven, earthy, dark berry focused nose with a structured, full bodied, powerful, concentrated, fresh, tannic wine. This definitely needs time in the cellar to be fun to drink. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Saincrit Utopia – Produced using a whopping 50% Malbec in the blend, which is rounded by 50% Merlot, the wine serves up a spicy, licorice and black cherry nose. The wine is dark in color, with lush, round, textures and loads of sweet, ripe fruits in the rich finish. This was my first time tasting this wine, it was a really nice discovery. 90-92 Pts

2015 Soleil – Medium bodied with a floral, plummy character, soft textures, sweet, black raspberries, licorice and a round finish that should be great on release. 88 – 90 Pts

2015 Soleil Le Rival – Dominated by 95% Merlot, with a strong licorice and black cherry nose. The wine is silky, lush and opulent, with a lively, spice filled, plum and fennel personality. 90 – 92 Pts

2015 Thieuley Reserve Francis Courselle – Easy going, Merlot dominated, crowd pleasing drinker. 86 – 88 Pts

2015 Vieux-Chateau-Palon – Licorice, black cherries and espresso, plush textures and a sweet, round, dark berry finish in a forward style are the perfect recipe for what you to create a great example of a value priced, Bordeaux wine. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Villars – Forward, with a plush, round, polished character, the wine delivers sweet, ripe, fresh, dark berries, licorice and chocolate in every tasty, sniff and sip. 89 – 91 Pts

2015 Virginie Thunevin – Licorice, dark, ripe plums and just enough wet earth under the hood to make things more interesting. The wine has a softness and polish in this vintage that will make it quite fun to drink on release. 87 – 89 Pts

I wonder if this is how runners feel during a marathon when they hit the 25 mile marker? Out next report will cover all of St. Emilion. It is a huge report with tasting notes and scores for close to 150 wines! We will follow that with an article on the dry, white Bordeaux wine and the delicious, sweet wines from Sauternes and Barsac that were sublime in 2015!