2015 Chateau le Gay

Merlot

France / Bordeaux / Libournais / Pomerol

$135
JD 95
RP 95
V 95
Size:
Quantity:

2015 Chateau le Gay, Pomerol, France

TERROIR The property spreads over 10.5 hectares in one unique holding. The clay and gravel soils of the Pomerol plateau.

GRAPE VARIETY PROPORTION 10 % of Cabernet franc, that brings roundness, suppleness and fruit, 90 % of Merlot that gives finesse, body and fruit. Age of vines: 40 years on average, the young vines planted in 2006 produce Le Manoir de Gay.

VINEYARD WORK Pruning adapted to each vinestock, de-budding and green harvesting on the young vines. Leaf thinning in two phases.

VINIFICATION Château LE GAY: Hand-picked harvest in small cartons, double sorting table before de-stemming then sorted berry-by-berry, cellar; Micro-vinification in new oak barrels with a long period of cold maceration.

BARREL AGEING The same French oak barrels used for Micro-vinification will house the wine during 18 months for the malo-lactic fermentation and ageing.

PRODUCTION Château LE GAY : 20.000 bottles (based on a yield of 25 HL/Ha).

« Pomerol has become a myth. This small Bordeaux appellation, unbothered by the classifications, unknown only a half century ago, has revealed itself to have a formidable potential. Its reigning grape variety, the Merlot, produces its full expression and in Pomerol, for the savvy, one speaks of the plateau, saint of saints where we find Le Gay amongst the most prestigious of crus ». MICHEL ROLLAND

JD 95

Jeb Dunnuck

A more elegant, lightly textured effort than some top past vintages, the 2015 Le Gay comes from a tiny estate in Pomerol and is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up all in new oak. It has terrific complexity in its darker fruits, tobacco leaf, violets, new leather and even meaty aromas and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied, perfectly balanced 2015 that has fine, fine tannin and a great finish. It will fill in with 3-4 years of cellaring and keep for two decades. Tasted once. I’ve always loved the wines from this tiny estate in Pomerol, and both the 2014 and 2015 are wines worth seeking out. While not reviewed here, readers should try to find bottles of the 2009. This is an incredible bottle of wine that’s up with some of the finest wines out there. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: November 30, 2017. Drinking window: 2021-2045.
RP 95

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

(Rating 94-96) The 2015 Le Gay comes from the 6.5-hectare Pomerol estate, of which 2.09 hectares are currently being restructured. It is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked from 27 September until 8 October at one degree lower alcohol than Montviel; it has a fragrant bouquet with delineated red cherries, crushed strawberry and hints of vanilla from the 100% new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, ripe and rounded in the mouth, very well balanced and very smooth. This just glides across the mouth and once that new oak has been absorbed, this will be a gorgeous Le Gay to behold. Do not overlook this Cru because it has been on a roll in recent years. Reviewed by Neal Martin. Issue date: April 27, 2016. Drinking window: 2020-2050.
V 95

Vinous

(Rating 93-96) A wine of power, density and exceptional finesse, the 2015 Le Gay has it all. Even with all of its obvious richness, the 2015 is slow to reveal itself. Hints of violets, lavender, cloves and new leather wrap around a core of inky, dark-fleshed stone fruits in a resonant, impeccably crafted Pomerol loaded with personality and pure class. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, April 2016.

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AL, AK, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY.

FREE SHIPPING INSURANCE: We provide FREE carrier insurance for lost or damaged shipments (per carrier terms and conditions.)

FREE WINE STORAGE: We provide FREE 6 Months wine cellar storage from date of purchase. Please choose this option at checkout and we will coordinate shipping for a later date.

SHIPPING: During warm summer weather, we recommend to only ship within the United States with Same Day or Next Day Air service to protect the wines from environmental damage. If you would like to waive this protection by shipping Ground, we will request a waiver be signed.

PACKAGING: Our premium wines need optimal temperature consistency, therefore are packaged in EPS foam shippers with gel pack (when needed) and shipped only during ideal weather temperatures.

For OWC (Original Wooden Case) orders, wine bottles will be removed from case and shipped inside a foam shipper box for safety (unless otherwise requested). The wooden case will be shipped separately at Ground service. If faster service is necessary please contact us.

WEATHER HOLD: In adverse temperature conditions, we reserve the right to withhold shipment until ideal temperatures return unless we receive explicit instructions via email to release the wines, voiding any guarantee. We will contact you if a hold is necessary.

FULFILLMENT: Shipments are via UPS.

  • Orders received Monday - Thursday before 2:00 p.m. will typically ship the same day.
  • Orders received Thursday 2:00 p.m. ~ Sunday will ship on Monday.

DELIVERY:

  • Same Day service within Los Angeles Metro area may be available if order is placed before noon, but not guaranteed. Please contact us directly at (626)714-7006 to facilitate expedited service.
  • During extreme temperatures, all shipments are recommended for Next Day Air.

Adult Signature: By law, all shipments of alcohol must be received and authorized by an adult. Our delivery carriers will not release packages without an adult signature and additional charges may be incurred if the package requires withholding or redirection.

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We ship within the United States to: Alabama (AL), Alaska (AK), Arizona (AZ), Arkansas (AR), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Delaware (DE), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Hawaii (HI), Idaho (ID), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Iowa (IA), Kansas (KS), Kentucky (KY), Louisiana (LA), Maine (ME), Maryland (MD), Massachusetts (MA), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Mississippi (MS), Missouri (MO), Montana (MT), Nebraska (NE), Nevada (NV), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New Mexico (NM), New York (NY), North Carolina (NC), Ohio (OH), Oklahoma (OK), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), South Dakota (SD), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Vermont (VT), Virginia (VA), Washington (WA), West Virginia (WV), Wisconsin (WI), and Wyoming (WY).

  • CRITICAL REVIEWS
  • WINEMAKER NOTES
JD 95

Jeb Dunnuck

A more elegant, lightly textured effort than some top past vintages, the 2015 Le Gay comes from a tiny estate in Pomerol and is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up all in new oak. It has terrific complexity in its darker fruits, tobacco leaf, violets, new leather and even meaty aromas and flavors. These carry to a full-bodied, perfectly balanced 2015 that has fine, fine tannin and a great finish. It will fill in with 3-4 years of cellaring and keep for two decades. Tasted once. I’ve always loved the wines from this tiny estate in Pomerol, and both the 2014 and 2015 are wines worth seeking out. While not reviewed here, readers should try to find bottles of the 2009. This is an incredible bottle of wine that’s up with some of the finest wines out there. Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck. Tasting date: November 30, 2017. Drinking window: 2021-2045.
RP 95

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

(Rating 94-96) The 2015 Le Gay comes from the 6.5-hectare Pomerol estate, of which 2.09 hectares are currently being restructured. It is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked from 27 September until 8 October at one degree lower alcohol than Montviel; it has a fragrant bouquet with delineated red cherries, crushed strawberry and hints of vanilla from the 100% new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, ripe and rounded in the mouth, very well balanced and very smooth. This just glides across the mouth and once that new oak has been absorbed, this will be a gorgeous Le Gay to behold. Do not overlook this Cru because it has been on a roll in recent years. Reviewed by Neal Martin. Issue date: April 27, 2016. Drinking window: 2020-2050.
V 95

Vinous

(Rating 93-96) A wine of power, density and exceptional finesse, the 2015 Le Gay has it all. Even with all of its obvious richness, the 2015 is slow to reveal itself. Hints of violets, lavender, cloves and new leather wrap around a core of inky, dark-fleshed stone fruits in a resonant, impeccably crafted Pomerol loaded with personality and pure class. Reviewed by Antonio Galloni, April 2016.

2015 Chateau le Gay, Pomerol, France

TERROIR The property spreads over 10.5 hectares in one unique holding. The clay and gravel soils of the Pomerol plateau.

GRAPE VARIETY PROPORTION 10 % of Cabernet franc, that brings roundness, suppleness and fruit, 90 % of Merlot that gives finesse, body and fruit. Age of vines: 40 years on average, the young vines planted in 2006 produce Le Manoir de Gay.

VINEYARD WORK Pruning adapted to each vinestock, de-budding and green harvesting on the young vines. Leaf thinning in two phases.

VINIFICATION Château LE GAY: Hand-picked harvest in small cartons, double sorting table before de-stemming then sorted berry-by-berry, cellar; Micro-vinification in new oak barrels with a long period of cold maceration.

BARREL AGEING The same French oak barrels used for Micro-vinification will house the wine during 18 months for the malo-lactic fermentation and ageing.

PRODUCTION Château LE GAY : 20.000 bottles (based on a yield of 25 HL/Ha).

« Pomerol has become a myth. This small Bordeaux appellation, unbothered by the classifications, unknown only a half century ago, has revealed itself to have a formidable potential. Its reigning grape variety, the Merlot, produces its full expression and in Pomerol, for the savvy, one speaks of the plateau, saint of saints where we find Le Gay amongst the most prestigious of crus ». MICHEL ROLLAND

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