Chateau Noaillac Medoc 2015

I am as pleased as can be to have a 2015 Direct Import Left Bank stunner from Damien Pages, a young rising star within Bordeaux. He operates a vineyard that was once famous for its quality but had fallen into disrepair and was eventually abandoned. Revitalization started 40 years ago by Damien’s grandfather, and nowadays the vineyard is absolutely roaring.

The vines are now quite mature and Château Noaillac is among a handful of very well-known and exciting Cru Bourgeois properties that are producing wines that punch far above their weight class. If you recognize the Pages name, then kudos—and yes, this is the same family that also owns Château La Tour de By.

Damien has crafted a delicious Médoc, full of character with dense black currant and cherry fruit, cedar, tobacco and wonderful complexity. It’s silky complexion is what pushes it over the edge (and, of course, the price!) It doesn’t hurt that it comes from a 95-point Left Bank vintage that the Wine Advocate declared, “outstanding.”