2015 Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel, Château Arnauld

• Style: Gravel-bed Bordeaux blend, Cabernet-led
• Taste: Blackcurrant and cedar with dusty smoke, architecturally structured
• Food: Roasted beef, venison, game birds
• Occasion: Sunday lunch; date night
• Serve: 16–18°C, now or cellared 5–10 years
• Abv: 13.5%

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

Blackcurrant and blackberry greet the nose, edged with dusty cedar and the faintest smoke—the signature profile of the Left Bank in a year of concentration. The palate is built on Cabernet Sauvignon (52%) that gives structure, Merlot (43%) that rounds it, and Petit Verdot (5%) that adds grip. Bone dry, balanced, and architecturally sound.

The Winery — Château Arnauld

Sited on deep gravel between Margaux and Moulis in the Haut-Médoc, Château Arnauld has roots as the Priory of Arcins before Pierre-Jacques Arnauld gave it his name in the 17th century. The estate was carefully tended by the Theil family from 1956 until 2007 and now belongs to the Allianz Group. Vines average 40 years old, planted densely at 10,000 per hectare to favour intensity. The 2015 vintage—a dry growing season that concentrated the berries—underwent long skin contact, temperature-controlled fermentation in steel, then 16 months in new oak to soften the tannins and add vanilla depth without masking the fruit. Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel status reflects consistent excellence outside the formal 1855 classification.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Serve at 16–18°C with roasted beef, venison, or game birds—wines of this structure refuse to flinch. The 2015 is balanced enough to drink now, yet has the cellar pedigree for another five to ten years if you prefer to wait. Whether you're building a France collection around Cabernet Sauvignon or exploring the broader depths of Haut-Médoc, this is serious Bordeaux winemaking without the price tag of a classified growth. Perfect for a Sunday lunch or an unhurried date night.