Wine Review of 2015 Château Haut-Sarpe Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, red wine from Bordeaux, France
Score: 92/100
Located at 500m on the highest point of the hillside on the edge of the chalky plateau just east of the medieval city of Saint-Emilion, Château Haut Sarpe is a Classified Growth winery in the Bordeaux region of France.
The Joseph Janoueix family is one on the oldest wine houses in the Libourne area of Bordeaux’ right bank.
Château Haut-Sarpe vineyards spread over 21 hectares (52 acres). The grape varieties on the estate count with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.
Grapes are hand-picked and after fermentation, the wine is aged for 18 months in new oak barrels.
Overall Tasting Impressions
An extremely well-executed Bordeaux wine lives in this Chateau Haut-Sarpe Saint Emilion Grand Cru.
All the elements we love in a very good Bordeaux claret are here. Fruit with precise fruity character is delivered with a constant tension between the complex savory spicy notes and the well-integrated oak.
This ripe 2015 vintage, helped by the dominance of Merlot in the blend and the wine’s character brought an opulent and smooth tannic texture, an upfront ripe red berry fruitiness, and an irresistible salty caramel feel.
Full Tasting Notes
This Saint-Emilion comes in a very dark and intense ruby red color, nearly back to the core and filled with dark purple hues to the rim.
The nose bursts in intense cherry liqueur aromas and ripe blackberry, with some fresh jammy strawberry jam. It’s deep and generously fruity, on the very ripe side of the red berry spectrum. This fruity generosity is complemented by a heap of caramel and chocolate notes making it smell tempting and sweet. Yet, subtle wood ashes, a hint of earthiness, and meaty pepperiness give a sense savoriness to the aromatic profile.
Deep, layered and profound it certainly smells, yet powerfully and proudly fruity!
The palate follows suit, featuring an utterly smooth texture on dense but silky/velvety tannins. The wine bursts in an explosion of warming and comforting dark cherry flavors, coffee liqueur, French vanilla bean and blackberry jam.
This is a dry red, somewhat with a savory edge from so many pungent layers of grounded sweet spice flavors. A solid acidity driving the fresh fruit towards a salivating slightly salty finish.
But on the palate as well, the generosity of the rich fruity flavors gives and impression of fruity sweetness, that is frankly irresistible given you like your red berry fruit liqueur with a touch of vinosity.
Enjoy 🙂
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