A dense wine with great fruit, this has a velvet texture and great elegance. There is structure of course from the firm tannins that stay in the background, while the main thrust of this wine is its great blackberry fruit. It will age and should be drunk from 2025.

The 2015 Lalande-Borie is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 55% Merlot. Picked from 26 September until 2-3 October, it has a surprising bouquet: high-toned and exotic for the vintage, very intense cassis and iodine aromas, perhaps needing just a little more complexity to come through, though I am sure it will by the time of bottling. The palate is more controlled at the moment, restores order as it were. The tannins are quite dense, lending weight to this Lalande-Borie, the acidity is nicely judged and the finesse finally comes through towards the finish.

On the softer side, with alluring mulled spice, black tea and warm fruitcake aromas and flavors emerging from the core of gently steeped plum and blackberry fruit. Perfumy mesquite and incense notes gild the finish. Best from 2019 through 2028.