28/02/2025 – HeavyPourWine Likes this wine:94 Points
Icons of Bordeaux: The 2015 Vintage (New York, NY): Tasted at the Icons of Bordeaux: The 2015 Vintage at Pier Sixty in New York. Presented by David Suire. Suire described Larcis Ducasse’s terroir on the famous south-facing slope of Saint-Émilion (the Côte Pavie), which features a complex patchwork of clay and limestone soils. Unlike the plateau, these slopes contain what locals call “molasse” – a white clay with more than 70% chalk content. Despite abundant sunshine from the southern exposure, this soil is among the coolest in Saint-Émilion due to its chalk content and natural springs, creating a fascinating contrast in the wines between generosity (from sun exposure) and freshness (from the cool soils). Suire emphasized that they maintain old pre-clonal vines for their superior adaptation to changing climate conditions, and highlighted 2015 as a vintage where both the generosity and freshness qualities of their terroir are perfectly expressed.
This wine had been decanted for two hours, and it impressed with its fine and elegant character. The red cherry fruit was beautifully expressed, complemented by a wonderful acid structure that provided lift and energy. With medium-low tannins, this wine was already quite approachable and lovely. The unique terroir of the south-facing slope was clearly evident in the wine’s combination of ripeness and freshness.
