The 2015 Tour St. Christophe has been uncorked....

[JimHow]

As you may know, I was a big fan of the 2014.
Let's see if this vintage is any good.
It's snowing like a bastard out there.
15% alcohol. First sip, holy mackerel, this must be like 100% merlot.

[JimHow]

Very sweet and candied at the outset, let's see if this calms down a bit.

[AKR]

That almost sounds like a Canon la Gaffeliere

[JimHow]

Indeed!

[jckba]

That almost sounds like a Canon la Gaffeliere

But at 1/3rd the price

[JimHow]

This is really good.

[Nicklasss]

First, this is not a lot of snow.

Second, that Saint Émilion, crafted like the Sport Illustrated swim suit edition, is better than GPL and even Lynch Bages?

Last, if you like Sauvignon Blanc, you need to try a Sancerre from Domaine Fouassier. Better than any >50 $ Bordeaux blanc.

Nic (the prick?)

[marcs]

LOL Jim, you talk trad but when it comes right down to it you have a Parker palate. As soon as I saw 2015 Tour St Christophe and 15% alcohol I was like, Jim's gonna love it.

P.S. also, I've had some overextracted Canon La Gaffelieres but the 2000 CLG was a great wine, subtle and complex.

[dstgolf]

We were thinking of Jim last night drinking the 2005 very modernized Fleur Cardinal. Very nice but certainly not traditional old school the we prefer. Another new age right banker that Jim has talked highly of in the past. I guess we realize he just loves well made wines with a latitude between new and old world styles and we must sat that we wax back and forth as well by if I had my choice I'd prefer old school. Those Canon-la Gafaliere wines though are pretty hard to complain about.

Still looking forward to my Tour St Christophe arriving probably this spring when the futures ores start rolling in. I hope we won't be disappointed with 2 cases of the 15 & 16 pending along with a few magnums all based on the enablers!!

[JimHow]

The 2015 Tour St. Christophe is another excellent, serious wine that is another great bargain at its $20-something price range.
I still can't believe I got a case of the 2016 on sale at Zachy's for $23 per bottle.
I'm buying another half dozen bottles of the 2015 at $29 from MacArthur's, in stock.
It has a deep penetrating licorice nose, an elegant texture, this is clearly in the category of Clos de l'Oratoire, Canon la Gaffeliere, etc., at a fraction of the price.
Still, I think I slightly preferred the 2014 Tour St. Christophe, which seemed to have just slightly more restraint and balance.
The 2015 was a bit volatile, flamboyant, the 15% alcohol just slightly more present.
But this merlot beauty is a great wine, everybody should own some.
Rating: 94 points.

[Antoine]

Thanks Jim for the report. I bought 3. Any idea about a drinking window?

[JimHow]

I'd say 5-15 years Antoine. The wildcard is the high alcohol.
I have 2 more in my cellar and just ordered 3 more as part of another order.

[KWP]

Thanks Jim, going to try 15 and 16 versions of this soon. Along with Badette, the 2 producers that pique my curiousity as i havent had them.

[JimHow]

Indeed, KWP, from my very limited experience with the '14 and '15 it has lived up to the hype. And you can't go wrong with the price.

[KWP]

Price is nice. I expect high tag items to be great....finding values is much more interesting.

[Antoine]

Thanks Jim