2015 Barrail du Blanc

Fermentation takes place at controlled temperatures for about three weeks. 60% of the wine is matured in oak barrels, of which 50% are new, 50% one year old. The other 40% is matured in stainless-steel vats. The 7-ha property is in St-Sulpice-de-Faleyrons on rather light, well-drained soils, 80% pure gravel with the rest a mix of gravel and sand. The vines are largely 30–45 years old. This tasted quite sappy and refreshing when tasted immediately after the ambitious Moulin-à-Vent 2015. There's a certain inkiness to this as well as the ripe fruit one would expect of a proper 2015 red bordeaux. This is accessible and useful, and so much less exaggerated than many St-Émilions at many times the price. Good stuff for the short term. Pretty big wine though. Just no obvious evidence of oak or needless extraction. GV (JR)