Château Marsau 2015 Review: Structured, Tannic, and Quietly Confident
It starts slow, then settles in.
Château Marsau 2015 doesn’t open with fireworks—it’s more like a firm handshake and a moment of silence. But give it time, and it starts to reveal a personality: structured, dry, and just a touch off-beat. This isn’t showy Bordeaux. It’s a wine that invites you to sit down and pay attention.
|
Vintage: |
2015 |
|
Region: |
Francs – Côtes de Bordeaux, France |
|
Varietal: |
100% Merlot |
|
ABV: |
14.5% |
|
RRP: |
~$45 AUD |
|
Format: |
750mL |
Appearance
Dark plum at the core, fading slightly at the rim with a hint of brick. The wine is hazy, and sediment is visible even after a careful pour. Legs form quickly and run fast—there’s clearly some body behind this bottle.
Aroma / Nose
No swirling? You’ll get herby notes and subtle jamminess. Swirl it, and there’s a faint funk—maybe a trace of French oak—but the fruit still doesn’t dominate. A whisper of tawny warmth appears with time, leaning more oxidative than sweet. Alcohol is present but doesn’t overpower.
Palate / Taste
Fruit arrives first: peach, maybe underripe nectarine. Then come the tannins—gripping across the tongue and gums, but not aggressive. The structure is steady and a bit stern. Alcohol is warming but fades fast after swallowing. It’s dry without being sharp, and while it carries strength, it doesn’t offer a lot of depth or layering. A wine that knows its role and sticks to it.
Finish
Tannins linger. So does the warmth. Oak shows up late and stays. The fruit, however, doesn’t return. What remains is firmness, dryness, and a consistent spine—more presence than nuance.
Food Pairing
We tested this one extensively:
Cheddar: Brings tannins to the tongue and briefly flirts with tawny-like roundness.
Truffle Cheddar: Kicks up the alcohol and brings out some backbone.
Mozzarella: Smooths the edges but leaves the wine largely unchanged.
Italian Ham (Prosciutto Cotto): Reveals oak and draws out the tannins again.
Pepperoni: Spikes the heat—less pleasant.
Roast Duck: Doesn’t lift the wine; the structure stays but little else.
Roast Sweet Potato: Shifts tannins forward, but fruit remains elusive.
Overall? The charcuterie board was the best match. Other dishes didn’t coax out much more.
ATC Verdict: Is It Worth the Splurge?
Château Marsau 2015 is quietly self-assured. It leans into oak, tannin, and warmth with composure, never rushing to impress. The fruit is secondary, the structure primary—and while it never unfolds in layers, it stays consistent. With food, it held its stance but rarely evolved. This is a wine for those who prefer their Bordeaux restrained rather than expressive.
Would we drink it again? Perhaps—with the right spread.
Would we cellar it? No—we’d drink it while the structure still holds.
Was it worth opening? Yes, for the experience.
Quietly structured, but not chasing complexity.
Editor’s Note
Often grouped with Bordeaux’s modern “vin de garage” movement, Château Marsau represents a quieter kind of precision—small-scale, Merlot-led wines from the right bank that favour detail over grandeur.
The 2015 vintage gave us a chance to revisit this under-the-radar producer with nearly a decade of bottle age. Purchased independently through Dan Murphy’s cellar release program, we tasted this bottle over two sittings to explore how it evolved with time and air.
–Adrian – Editor at All That Is Cool
Please drink responsibly.
All alcohol reviews on All That Is Cool are intended for audiences aged 18+. We support mindful, moderate consumption and only feature bottles we’ve personally tasted and evaluated.
