Recommendations for 2015 Birth Year Magnum? Bordeaux or Barolo < $400?

WINE TALK
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A friend asked me for suggestions for a lone $200-350 birth year magnum. I’m thinking Bordeaux or Barolo. However, 2015 is not a year I know well. Any suggestions for a 13-14% Alc wine that can go 30 years in a magnum format? For context, he also asked for a 2013 suggestion and I suggested 2013 Cavallatto San Giuseppe or 2013 Vajra BdV.

Thank you for suggestions.

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Pichon Lalande

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The 2015 vintage is not a favorite of mine, but when I think of classic Bordeaux that can go the distance you are seeking, I immediately think Montrose and Leoville Barton. These wines also seemed to garner solid praise by the critics in this vintage. Pessac-Leognan did nicely in this vintage, maybe Haut Bailly, or if you like a more modern but restrained wine, Les Carmes Haut Brion.

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There’s a lot of delicious Barolo from 15, but if you are insisting on a lower abv, Mother Nature didn’t provide that.

That said, any Francesco Rinaldi will make people happy when it hits 21+. Or go with Marcarini. Either way, happiness will abound

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2015 Produttori del Barbaresco Riservas

Not Barolo, but you might be able to pickup both the Rabaja and Asili magnums within that budget)

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I’d second the Montrose recommendation as well as the Haut-Bailly. Montrose ages forever and the Haut-Bailly in 750 won’t even start hitting its stride until 2030-ish, in my opinion. (I tried a bottle last year and it was exciting but embryonic.) In a riper vintage overall, the Haut-Bailly hits my sweet spot of not too classic and not too modern.
Another sleeper pick in that sweet spot (for me) is the 2015 Brane-Cantenac. It strikes a nice balance between ripeness and restraint/elegance for my middle-of-the-road palate and I don’t believe it’s over 14% abv.

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I’ll go broader than Bordeaux and Barolo and propose some lesser considered choices since i have some 2015 as birth year wines as well:
Antoniolo Gattinara Riserva Osso San Grato
Cosse-Maisonneuve Cahors Les Laquets
Château Coutet
Château Gruaud-Larose
Jamet Côte-Rôtie
Niepoort Poeirinho
PdB Riserva
Vietti Lazzaritto
Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets

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PdB is a good call and the whole lineup is solid in 2015, which may make it easier to source something that will drink well down the line.

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I think I would ride the strength of the 2015 vintage in Margaux and go with the Rauzan Segla.

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I think you can’t go wrong with a Barolo from a better producers in 2015 - I have mentioned it a few times here and there, it’s a better vintage than it mostly gets recognized for.