Even more impressive, the 100% Merlot 2015 La Fleur De Bouard Le Plus is a vineyard/parcel selection from clay and limestone soils that was brought up all in new oak. This sensational, full-bodied, viscous 2015 boasts a deep purple color, awesome notes of cassis and black currant fruits, lots of truffle, smoke herbs and meatiness, sweet tannin, and most of its oak covered by a wealth of fruit. It’s a gorgeous wine and I suspect one of the best efforts out there from this appellation. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.

(JL94-96 points) An Intense, cherry liqueur penetrates the senses before submitting to the essense of lilies, irises and Gourdon flowers. A profusion of tobacco, cocoa and hints of blueberries waft through the olfactory receptors as you sip this fine 100% Merlot. This wine is like rare Turkish velvet woven around a lingering note of licorice, dark chocolate and espresso. The supple textures really carry through from the delectable start to the scrumptious finish.

This is a big and dense red with plenty of fruit and powerful tannins. Full body, a solid core of fruit and ripe tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Like a traditionally styled red from a great vintage decades ago, but it's today's rendition. Try in 2022.

A wine that I often find a little overly dramatic, but in vintages like 2015 it really comes into its own as the weight and depth of the fruit accommodates a fuller expression. Expect the markings of a special selection - rich damson and patisserie flavours enrobed in silky tannins, a whoosh of liquorice, and buttery dark chocolate. It would be churlish not to see that this is an excellent wine, and a real success in the appellation, but just know to expect a fully-charged experience.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Le Plus de la Fleur de Bouard opens with gorgeous crushed black plums, cassis and blackberry pie with touches of baking spices and lavender plus menthol hints. The full-bodied mouth is rich and concentrated with some cedar notes, very spicy, plush and voluptuous with a long finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown