2015 Claire Ouzoulias, Chateau Franc-Pourret, Saint Emilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux, France.
The top wine from Claire Ouzoulias is her Chateau Franc-Pourret Grand Cru Saint-Emilion, and her 2015 vintage is still very young and un-evolved showing lush fruit and sweet tannins with a kiss of creamy/smoky oak, best to let this impressive wine have many years to unwind as patience will be rewarding here. Going her own route and using all (certified) organic grapes and leaning toward a more natural style, Claire Ouzoulias has caused a stir in this very homogeneous region, she, like Chateau Le Puy, is giving Bordeaux some wonderful made natural options, though there is a very luxurious feel and highly polished clear focus on her wines. Just married to Domaine de l’Ecu winemaker Fred Niger, Muscadet’s leading light in natural wines, Claire’s Chateau Franc-Pourret is a showcase of purity and highlight’s it’s hardened clay and limestone soils, it’s a full bodied and serious wine, though still a baby as of yet, it does get going after half an hour, enjoying lots of air, revealing a dark sense and a depth of flavors. The rich mouth feel and showy oak presence hide the complexity somewhat, but there is layers of blackberry, plum and dark currant fruits that unfold along with a touch of spice, cedar, vanilla as well as kirsch, chalk and sweet tobacco/cigar box. The Chateau Franc-Ouzoulias is made up of, hand picked and vineyard sorted grapes, 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, they have been certified organic since 1989, it’s fermented using native/natural yeasts and raised in barrel for about 18 months. This opulent and ultra smooth Bordeaux is one to watch and follow, it should be given a mid-term rest for the best results, try from 2022 to 2035.
($41 Est.) 93-95 Points, grapelive

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