2015 Ch. Lalande, St. Julien

[William P]

My grocery store has a better than average wine selection including California, Oregon, and France. My daily drinker there, when I drank daily, was a Kermit Lynch Cotes du Rhone. My interest was caught yesterday when I saw this 2015 Ch. Lalande from St. Julien. Never heard of it, so I bought it. Ch Lalande is an non-classified growth located between LaGrange, Gruaud LaRose and Talbot. Not bad neighbors. The price is $29.00. I don't buy enough Bordeaux to know if that's a decent price. Seems high for an unclassified but that depends on the vintage, etc.
55% Cab, 45% Merlot.
Muted nose of berries, and earth. No discernable oak.
Medium Garnet color. Thin legs.
It a true mid-weight. Nice acid backbone. Not overly extracted.
It has tannins but the tannins are nicely balanced by the fruit. The tannins aren't round like 82 or 00, but they aren't as hard as the 96s. Drinking is easy at such young age without being voluptuous. Slight drop in the middle. Nice tension. Tannins slightly drying.
berries, coffee, earth, maybe just the faintest hint of oak on the palate.
Excellent finish, about 30 seconds.

This is an old style wine and I like it so far.
It will be interesting to see how this develops over the night. If I were doing points - maybe an 88.
Disclaimer, I like St Julien.

Bill

[AlohaArtakaHoundsong]

Was this formerly Lalande-Borie? And I believe it was Xavier Borie and wasn't his family connected to Ducru or one of the bigs?

[William P]

Art, it is not. It's own by the Meffre brothers. Alex will know more.

[William P]

two hours in and the nose is opening up. More floral and herbs.

The wine also is opening and softening. Very pleasant.

[Racer Chris]

I have a nearly a case of the '09 in my cellar still. It's a wine I really enjoy. Occasionally I get faint cedar notes but not every bottle.
I've also had a few bottles of the '10.
Your description fits my general impression of the chateau's style, allowing for vintage variation.
I haven't seen any later vintages past 2010 around here, but I'll be on the lookout for the '15.