2015 Le Carre Saint Emilion Grand Cru

Le Carre, a gem of a wine from the heart of Saint Emilion, is a rarity from a tiny 3.7 acre vineyard parcel. Nestled close to the iconic estates of Chateau Clos Fourtet, Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot, and Chateau Canon, it shares one of the most desirable terroirs in the region—the famed St. Emilion plateau.

This exclusive vineyard, now owned by Jonathan Maltus, was once part of the legendary Chateau Canon. The vines themselves have history, previously part of the now-defunct Chateau Cure Bon estate. Le Carre’s first vintage under Maltus was the 2005 release, a year many wine enthusiasts still rave about for the almost perfect conditions in Saint Emilion.

The Le Carre vineyard sits on a bed of clay and limestone, a perfect combination for crafting a blend that’s 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The magic begins in the modern, gravity-flow cellars of Chateau Teyssier, where every drop of wine is meticulously handled.

If you’re lucky enough to snag a bottle of Le Carre, don’t be in a rush. This is a wine that rewards patience. Translation? Today is the PERFECT day to pop open this beauty!

Jonathan Maltus has taken a small, historic piece of St. Emilion and turned it into something extraordinary.

The 2015 vintage in Saint-Emilion is one to stock up on. This year received multiple 95+ scores from major wine critics. Vinous Media awarded this year a 97 score and said,"Bordeaux enjoyed its strongest vintage in a number of years in 2015. The 2015s are spectacularly rich, racy wines loaded with personality. On the Right Bank, the wines are intense and, at times, freakishly concentrated. The best 2015s on the Right Bank are superb."

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Le Carre opens with crème de cassis and blackberry preserves notes with touches of licorice, chocolate box and black soil plus a touch of cloves. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and firm, it offers grainy tannins with lovely eclectic spice layers coming through on the long finish.

Vibrant, summer-berry compote wrapped in a sheen of baking spices and fresh cedary oak. The palate’s supple, even and plush with densely layered mocha, dark-plum and dark-cherry flavors. Immaculate tannins and mouthfeel. Best from 2022. ~95 James Sucking 

The rich, full-bodied 2015 Le Carré is locked and loaded, offering powerful notes of black raspberries, tobacco leaf, and chocolate. A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc that was brought in early to mid-October, this seriously endowed Saint Emilion still maintains a terrific sense of elegance and purity, and has building, ripe tannins hiding under its fruit. Drink this brilliant effort any time over the coming 10-15 years. ~95 Jeb Dunnuck

Dark ruby ​​garnet, violet reflections, delicate edge lightening, ripe cherry fruit underlined with fine hints of spice, fine plum fruit. Powerful, extract-sweet core, firm, well-integrated tannins, chocolaty touch on the finish, mineral aftertaste, delicate bitter chocolate finish, good future potential. ~93-95 Falstaff

This wine is dense with super ripe tannins. It has rich black-plumand berry fruits along with an opulent texture typical of this wine in good vintages. Along with its power, the wine has great acidity to keep the aftertaste crisp and fruity.Drink from 2024. ~94 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

As is the case with all of Jonathan Maltus's 2015s, the Le Carre is quite a bit better-balanced and convincing from bottle than it was from barrel. Torrefaction, chocolate, new leather, plum and spice all fuse together in a bold, sumptuous Saint-Emilion that beautifully expresses Maltus's style. I would give the 2015 a few years to fully absorb all of its oak. This is a terrific showing. Le Carre is 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. ~93 Vinous Media 

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Le Carre opens with crème de cassis and blackberry preserves notes with touches of licorice, chocolate box and black soil plus a touch of cloves. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and firm, it offers grainy tannins with lovely eclectic spice layers coming through on the long finish.~92 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Jonathan Maltus has made a lovely wine here in 2015,the low yields emphasising the power of clay over limestone terroir. It displays a liquorice and black cherry character, with gingerbread and star anise notes which lift towards the finish. ~92 Decanter