Chateau Joanin Becot 2015

JAMES SUCKLING: "A juicy wine with chocolate, almond and plum character. Medium to full body, chewy and velvety tannins and flavorful finish. Serious for the appellation. A little austere now but will be better in 2020."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A year in, year out value that should be bought by readers is the 2015 Château Joanin Becot and it’s 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc from the Côtes de Castillon region of Bordeaux. It boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as medium to full-bodied notes of ripe dark fruits, licorice, toasted bread, and spice. With a rounded, sexy, mouth-filling style and no hard edges, it’s a terrific value to enjoy over the coming decade."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Lush, forward, juicy, dark cherries, chocolate and licorice deliver a sweet, round, fleshy, flashy, sexy wine with freshness and loads of sweet, sensuous ripe fruits in the finish. This blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc reached 14.9% alcohol with a pH of 3.50"

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Sehr ansprechendes, kompaktes Bouquet, viel Cassis und dunkle Holznoten. Im Gaumen samtig, elegant mit einem ungeheuren Aromendruck. Ein ganz toll vinifizierter Castillon und sicher sehr guter Genussvalue! Bravo!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A mineral texture gives this ripe wine an edge while its full, red berry fruit offers some solid tannins and concentration. It's smoky and full-bodied and will be ready to drink from 2019."

WINESPECTATOR: "On the toasty side, with flashes of vanilla and mocha, but there's ample fleshy plum sauce and currant preserve flavors at the core, along with lingering notes of anise and violet on the finish. Best from 2019 through 2025. 4,750 cases made."