By Chateau Chauvin
2015 Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe

Wine Details
Appellation: Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Classification: Grand Cru Classe
Location: Northwest of Saint-Emilion, between Cheval Blanc and the Butte de Rol
Blend: 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
Average Vine Age: 30 years
Density: 6,500 vines/hectare
Area: 15 hectares
Soil: Sandy-clay soil with the presence of ferruginous sandstone, clay sub-soil
Harvest: By hand, in small-capacity open crates
Aging: French oak barrels for 16 months, 60% new barrels

The Vintage
Bordeaux winegrowers will remember 2015 thanks to its exceptional weather, bringing ideal conditions and certain challenges. After a cold and dry winter, the mild weather in spring allowed for early and regular bud break and rapid, even flowering. Water stress caused by dry weather slowed down growth at the end of July, then welcome rainfall allowed for rapid veraison at the beginning of August. September and October were warm and dry, with well below average but sufficient rainfall. Sunny days and cool nights allowed for optimum conditions up to the full ripening of the berries.

Harvest and Winemaking
Picking Merlot from 28 September to 2 October and the Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon from 5 to 8 October took place under very good conditions. The berries showed a high phenolic potential, with promising levels of anthocyanins and tannins. This year, the grapes have a good balance between sugar and acidity. The bunches were sorted in the vineyard, and double sorting took place at grape reception before and after selective destemming. Vinification was performed separately for each parcel, with cold soaking in temperature-controlled tanks before the alcoholic fermentation. The highest-quality lots were put in barrels early to carry out malolactic fermentation and provide balance, bringing suppleness and roundness to the wine. Aging proceeded on the lees to preserve all its fruit.

Vineyard Management
Mechanical working of the soil between the vines and central grass cover. Manual viticulture, including trunk cleaning, leaf removal, and thinning out. Conventional integrated viticulture.

Vinification
Hand sorting in the vineyard and double hand sorting in the cellar. Cold skin contact for 2-5 days at around 8 degrees C before fermentation. Alcoholic fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation in barrel. Skin contact for 20 to 30 days, slow and gentle extraction.

Tasting Notes
This 2015 vintage bears witness to the exceptional work by the team at Chateau Chauvin and the unique weather conditions, giving rise to a great vintage with good aging potential. 2015 gave birth to wine with excellent maturity and great concentration. The Merlot is fleshy, powerful, and indulgent. The Cabernet Franc expresses itself marvelously, a sign of the property's great terroir, with elegance, fruit, and depth. The production from a small parcel of Cabernet Sauvignon stands out, bringing spicy notes and a great subtlety to the wine.
[Information provided by Beyerman Wines]

CHATEAU CHAUVIN ST.-EMILION 2015
Friday, February 2, 2018
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Vintage: 2015
Score: 94
The level of richness and fruit power captured in this elegant, silky St.-Emilion is impressive. Dark plums, roasted coffee and baking spices are wrapped up in solid, silky tannins. Great depth. [...].

By Jeb Dunnuck
2015 Chateau Chauvin
Producer: Chateau Chauvin
Location: France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion
Color: Red
Rating: 92+
Tasting Date: 11/30/2017
Maturity: 2020 - 2035
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck        
Source: Let the Good Times Roll: 2015 Bordeaux from Bottle
From an estate recently purchased by Sylvie Cazes, who is renovating the estate, the 2015 Chateau Chauvin checks in as a blend of [...] Merlot, [...] Cabernet Franc and [...] Cabernet Sauvignon, from sandy/clay soils, that was brought up in 60% new barrels. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a pure, elegant bouquet of crème de cassis, damp earth, candle wax, and spring flowers. Rich, concentrated, and seamless on the palate, with terrific elegance, it has ripe, present tannin, good acidity, and is going to age beautifully. Tasted twice.

Chateau Chauvin, St-Emilion, Grand Cru Classe, 2015
Tasted by: Jane Anson
Part of Anson: Tasting St-Emilion's Chateau Chauvin back to 1998
Drinking Window: 2027 - 2040
Tasting Score: 92
Producer: Chateau Chauvin
Vintage: 2015
Wine Type: Still
Colour: Red
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Sweetness: Dry
Closure: Natural Cork
Alcohol: 14.50%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 20% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 75% Merlot
A great vintage, still young, so as you would expect this is remains tight and very much on primary fruit. Bright and bristling with touches of cedary oak overtones that need to settle but are met step for step by plump dark fruits. The fruits are more clearly majoring on cassis, raspberry and black cherry than in the older vintages, as the work in the vineyard improves quality, and the grip is really extremely impressive, holding through the palate. Clear support from the tannins, this is a well put together wine. 60% new oak, harvest September 28 to October 8.

2015 Chauvin
Rating: 91
Producer: Chauvin
Wine Region: France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion
Color / Type / Sweetness: Red / Table / Dry
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Drink Date: 2019 - 2031
The 2015 Chauvin is medium to deep garnet-purple in color and earthy on the nose with bay leaves, warm plums, underbrush, baked cherries and menthol aromas. The medium to full-bodied mouth is firm and chewy, a little taut but packed with flavor layers and finishing with an herbal lift.
Published: 21st Feb 2018

2015 Chauvin
Producer: Chauvin
Place of Origin: France, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classe, Bordeaux
Color: Red
Rating: 91
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2035
From: 2015 Bordeaux: Every Bottle Tells a Story... (Feb 2018)
Reviewed By: Antonio Galloni on December 2017
The 2015 Chauvin is showing very well today. Floral notes add brightness to the red berry fruit. The 2015 offers terrific depth to go along with its powerful personality. Searing are present, but also nearly buried by the fruit. Some slightly angular contours remain, but the Chauvin is nicely done. Tasted two times.

2015 Chateau Chauvin (St. Emilion Grand Cru)
Points: 90
Fresh, forward, medium bodied, easy drinking, red cherry dominated fruit with earth and thyme accents.
Tasted May 21, 2018

Chateau Chauvin St.-Emilion 2015
Score: 89
Wine Type and Color: Red Still
Magazine Issue: Web Only - 2018
Region: France / Bordeaux / St.-Emilion
Reviewed by: James Molesworth
This has good energy, with kirsch and raspberry fruit inlaid liberally with singed apple wood and cedar notes. Light spice, fruitcake and bramble hints help extend the finish. [...].

Ch Chauvin 2015 St-Emilion
Producer: Ch Chauvin
Region: Bordeaux
Country: France
Colour: Red
Score: 16-/20
When to drink: 2022 - 2032
Published on: 26 Jun 2019
Date tasted: 5 Jun 2019
Reviewer: Jancis Robinson
Blackish garnet with some evolution at the rim. Sweet, creamy nose. But the palate is a little austere. Did the grapes all reach full ripeness? Tannins pretty obvious. Work in progress, I’d say.