Will Gardener

2015 Bordeaux Vintage Assessment and Tasting Notes   “The great and the merely good....”

The day we flew back from Bordeaux a colleague said to me that he had felt a greater sense of satisfaction and optimism last year than this year. I had some empathy with his comments having been battling with my own thoughts on whether we were tasting a great Bordeaux vintage or just a very good one.

 It is, I guess, about expectation. With the ...

Managing Director of the Nickolls and Perks, Will Gardener has over 30 years’ experience in the wine trade, taking the reins from father David in 2000. A broad knowledge is heightened in the traditional wine regions of Bordeaux, Champagne and Burgundy and a soft spot for Vintage Port has never diminished since those teenage days around the family Christmas table.

A particular fascination with hunting out great values from these and many oth...

TOP 10 WINES FROM BORDEAUX 2015

Top 10 For Quality

1. Vieux Chateau Certan – Pomerol

 80% Merlot 19% Cabernet Franc 1% Cabernet Sauvignon- 42 hl/ha

Intense inky nose, meaty, this rolls on the tongue, very good mid-palate, round, soft, gentle, spicy, this has the acidity of the 2010. Really fine here, this has the extra dimension of the finest wines in this vintage, as per the estates own media this has ‘gentle strength’. A gre...

Top 10 2015 Bordeaux Value For Money

1. Chateaux Canon – Saint Emillion

72% Merlot 28% Cabernet Franc

Lovely deep colour, perfumed nose, smoky, inky, layered, great mouthfeel, overtly unctuous, very nice balance, very nice all round feeling, lots of dusty tannins, on the finish, very fine with great length. This is lush, but it will live long too, fine balance. This Chateau is back on form, last year was a great success too. Drin...