A closed nose on this wine allows glimpses of red cherry slightly colored with a woodland note. A picture of vivid, understated juiciness, the palate is harmonious and elegant, its firm web of tannin holding everything like silky gauze. Earthier aspects on the finish suggest slight evolution but also whet the appetite for further age. It's lovely and so balanced. ANNE KREBIEHL MW

91+ The 2015 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos du Château de Montaigu offers up enticing aromas of ripe cherries, raspberries and dried flowers, followed by an expansive attack but a firm, rather chewy palate. There's a lot of substance and great depth of fruit here, but I suspect it will always be a somewhat rustic example of the Clos du Château de Montaigu, and consumers looking for a more elegant rendition—especially for near-term consumption—should gravitate toward the 2016. - WK