A kick and a squeeze of brambled fruit sets the opening notes, and this captures the exuberance of the vintage, slowed down by a slate scrape expression of the tannins, together with cumin, cigar box, crayon and black pepper spice. Well judged, more luscious than many in this corner of the Médoc in 2015 and it works, delivering concentration and ageability. Scores higher than its 2014, unusually for St Estèphe.