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Tasted on four separate occasions, the 2016 Château Clinet is another brilliant wine from this estate. Showing slightly more freshness and purity than the 2015, its saturated purple color is followed by a thrilling array of crème de cassis, graphite, ground herbs, and a terrific sense of minerality. Deep, full-bodied, with building tannins, and a magical sense of purity and elegance paired with real density and depth, it needs short term cellaring and will keep for three decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThe 2016 Clinet is composed of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged using the Oxoline system, in 70% new and 30% one-year-old barrels for 16 months. It has a deep garnet-purple color with cedar and smoked meats on the nose giving way to black and red plums and earthy notions with wafts of cassis and pencil shavings. The palate is medium to full-bodied, elegant, polished and vivacious with loads of red and black fruit layers and an earthy finish. Around 4,416 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 97 RPThis is a wine that makes you want to slow down, take your time and let those flavours envelop you. It’s a little subdued right now, but the texture pulls you in and holds on tight. There is Cabernet in the DNA here and you feel it: a touch of austerity in the first breath, then an intense punch of dark, tight cassis fruits with a liquorice and dark chocolate finish. It’s taken on more flesh on the bones during ageing, with the aromatics blossoming through the glass and revealing floral, violet-stained edging and a silky smooth tannic frame. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 97 DECBeautiful blue fruit and earth with hints of black truffle, this has a violet and fragrant edge, too. Really complex, youthful impression here. The palate has mouthwatering fruit flavor and terrific sense of fresh energy and cut on the finish. A blend of 90 per cent merlot and ten per cent cabernet sauvignon. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 95 JSThe 2016 Clinet has a gorgeous bouquet of copious red berry fruit mixed with truffle and undergrowth scents, all fresh and vibrant. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and, like the L’Evangile that preceded it at this blind tasting, displays noticeable acidity. However, it is more knitted together than that wine, and it fans out wonderfully on a long, spicy, quite firm finish that prompted me to score lower than I might have done, because it remains a very fine Pomerol in the making. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 94+ VMWarm and fleshy in feel, showing dark plum, boysenberry and blackberry sauce flavors infused with mulling spice and black tea notes. Singed alder and tobacco hints flicker on the finish, adding texture. This delivers an encore of fruit detail on the finish too, with some sneaky length. Seductive. Best from 2021 through 2034. 4,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 2016 Cos d’Estournel is blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 65% new and 35% two-year-old French oak for 15 months. Bottled in July 2018, it is deep garnet-purple colored and starts off a little closed and reticent, opening out slowly and seductively to reveal beautiful lilacs, rose hip tea, crushed stones and camphor nuances over a core of crème de cassis, kirsch, wild blueberries and mocha plus wafts of incense and wood smoke. The palate is simply electric, charged with an energy and depth of flavors that seem to defy the elegance and ethereal nature of its medium-bodied weight, featuring super ripe, densely pixelated tannins that firmly frame the myriad of fruit and floral sparks, finishing with epic length. Just. Magic.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 100 RPIn my last sighted review of the 2016 Cos d’Estournel, I wrote: "I suspect it will close down for a period in its youth." Perhaps it is already beginning to shut down, because though this wine was deeply impressive, it fell just a notch short of ethereal previous bottles, despite its "pixelated black fruit" on the nose and "sublime balance" on the palate. I tasted the wine twice thereafter, though this time with a 4-6 hour decant, and this revealed the Cos d’Estournel that has amazed since I first tasted it out of barrel.Vinous Media | 100 VMThis is muscular yet so well defined and toned. Full-bodied with deep and dense fruit on the palate, yet powerful and rich at the same time. So much sandalwood and blackberry character. Chewy and rich at the finish. This is a warm and generous wine, but the alcohol is just over 13 degrees. Not that high. Love the finish. Extravagant. Magical. Try from 2025.James Suckling | 100 JSThe grand vin 2016 Cos d’Estournel checks in as 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that saw 70% new French oak. One of the more seamless, pure, elegant versions of this cuvée out there, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a monster nose of pure crème de cassis, gravelly, rocky minerality, tobacco leaf, crushed violets, and lead pencil shavings. One of those “iron fists in a velvet glove” wines, with full-bodied richness and beautiful structure that’s covered by thrilling levels of fruit and texture, it stays tight, compact, and incredibly focused on the palate. It’s already brilliant given its purity of fruit and balance, but it deserves a decade of bottle age and will keep for 4-5 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 99 JDThis is a little tight right now, as are so many of the 2016s. The fruit is deep, dark and concentrated, with fierce tannins that will take a long time to come around but will age well. There’s no question that this is a monumental Cos, with the walls of slate ready to be scaled, joined by a rosemary and black olive tang, juicy liquorice root and lashings of cassis. I tasted this wine both en primeur and again during a vertical at the property in July, and have felt thrilled to recommend it each time. Aymeric de Gironde was still the director at the time, before leaving in 2017. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040.Decanter | 97 DECThis has a core of slightly exotic loganberry, plum and boysenberry fruit laced with singed spice, savory, lilac and incense notes, while a buried chalk-edged minerality sits in reserve. Very sleek, with a wonderfully long finish that lets the fruit and other elements shimmer. Best from 2025 through 2040. 15,833 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSPowerful tannins show strongly in this elegant, structured wine. Rich black-currant and black-plum flavors are lifted by acidity. The wine has weight and concentration, but also is poised and fresh. This combination will allow the wine to age for many years. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WE

Big cassis fruit with nice, toasty and vanilla oak, draw you into the full and almost silky palate, where the tannins only slightly show their hand right at the end. Second wine of Château Talbot. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 92 JS

Sweet vanilla and fragrant, perfumed red berries and flowers lead to a palate that has a rich and sturdy feel. This has the structure to really deliver in time. Beautifully structured, fresh and long palate here. Try from 2022.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2016 Clos des Jacobins is a big, rich wine with tons of dark fruit and equally imposing structure. Dark cherry, mocha, plum, espresso, wild flowers and menthol all add character. This is a decidedly powerful, extracted style. The oak tannins have started to integrate, but ideally readers will be able to give the 2016 at least a few years in bottle to allow the wine to be at its best. Antonio Galloni | 92 AGA lovely take on the vintage, highly successful from this estate, with a sparky, lively feel to it. It has beautiful sweet damson, black cherry, fig, tobacco and liquorice notes, with good balance and freshness offsetting the firm tannins. An enjoyable hint of bitterness on the finish cuts through the fruit without strangling it. Consultant is Hubert de Boüard. 75% new oak. Drinking Window 2024 - 2038.Decanter | 92 DECThe 2016 Clos des Jacobins has a well defined bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, pressed flowers and a touch of bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly chewy entry. This feels bold and assertive, quite dense but it needs more delineation and precision towards the finish. Not bad, but it could be better.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 88-90 RP-NM

The 2016 Clos Fourtet is vivid, explosive and simply captivating. Inky blue/purplish berry fruit, lavender, spice and white flowers are all vivid in the glass, but it is the wine’s silky, seamless personality that elevates it into a place among the wines of the vintage. In 2016, Clos Fourtet is stunningly beautiful and utterly compelling. This is a tremendous showing from proprietor Matthieu Cuvelier and consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt. Tasted two times.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGOne of the gems in the vintage that should be snatched up by readers is the 2016 Château Clos Fourtet. Coming from a magical 20-hectare vineyard located on the upper, limestone-driven plateau just outside Saint-Emilion and a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Cabernet Franc from small yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare, it spent 16 months in 60% new French oak (and a small portion of the blend saw malo in barrel as well). Its saturated purple color is followed by a monster bouquet of ripe blackberries, cassis, graphite, and crushed rocks, and it picks up more blue fruits, truffle, and limestone minerality with time in the glass. This deep, full-bodied, powerful Saint-Emilion has some similarities to Canon yet is deeper and richer, with a more powerful yet still elegant style. It’s a brilliant bottle of wine to hide for 4-5 years and drink over the following 2-3 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDLove the dark-berry and intense black-olive and chocolate aromas that follow through to a full body and firm and chewy tannins that deliver a rich and delicious finish. Such polish and, at the same time, finesse. But one of the cellar. A blend of 90 per cent merlot, seven per cent cabernet sauvignon and three per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2022.James Suckling | 97 JSThis showcases why Clos Fourtet is such a confident, powerful wine. It gets the balance right between the sappy, saline quality of its limestone terroir and yet reflects the ripeness and flashiness of Merlot that makes St-Émilion such a well loved appellation. Excellent, serious quality, cerebral but sexy. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050.Decanter | 96 DECThis structured wine shows a classical Bordeaux balance between fruit and acidity on the one hand and tannins and firm structure on the other. It also offers generous black-currant fruit and a fresh aftertaste. Drink this wine from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Clos Fourtet is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal notions of warm black cherries, crème de cassis, blackberry compote and dark chocolate with hints of garrigue, bay leaves and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a firm yet beautifully ripe frame of fine-grained tannins with a lively line lifting the concentrated, multilayered fruit to a long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RPLively, with a juicy, mouthfilling mix of loganberry, black currant and bramble flavors pumping through, laced liberally with licorice snap and roasted apple wood notes. Tobacco and savory accents provide detail, while a beautifully fine chalky thread adds length. Best from 2022 through 2038. 4,583 cases made.Wine Spectator | 95 WS

Blackberry, blueberry and sweet-tobacco aromas. Full-bodied, dense and layered with ripe tannins and a chewy yet polished, tannic finish. A young Bordeaux with plenty of structure and focus. A blend of 71 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 29 per cent merlot. Try after 2022.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2016 Dauzac presents an impressive bouquet of intense black cherry and bilberry fruit, crushed stone and wilted violets; the oak here is very well integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and pliant in the mouth. The saline finish fans out with style. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Vinous Media | 93 VMOpens to a wall of tannins alongside black spicy fruits, black pepper and fresh acidity. Architectural overall. A trace of heat on the finish detracts from the successful balance but there is plenty to enjoy here. (Drink between 2025-2042)Decanter | 93 DECThe 2016 Dauzac is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon and 29% Merlot picked at 45 hectoliters per hectare, picked 13 September and over the next 21 days, which is the longest ever at the property according to estate manager Laurent Fortin. The bouquet is tightly wound at first, then gently unfolds to reveal blackberry, briary, pressed flowers and light minty aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin on the entry, quite firm in the mouth at first, but there is plenty of fresh, predominantly black fruit locked into this Margaux. It is taut and linear with a grippy finish. This is a strong follow-up to the 2015, perhaps without the same flair as the previous vintage, but I am certain that it will "loosen its tie" during élevage.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90-92 RP-NMThis is a frankly ripe and somewhat showy style, with waves of fleshy plum, blackberry and fig preserve flavors rolling along, laced with licorice and singed tobacco notes. Stays refined throughout, despite the showy fruit, with a light mineral edge peeking in on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2032. 10,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThis rich wine comes from one of the most southerly estates in Margaux. Although structure is certainly there, it is cushioned by rich black fruits. Juicy acidity at the end offers a fresher view of this ageworthy wine. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEA fleshy, front-end loaded, flamboyant Margaux, the 2016 Château Dauzac gives up ample blue and black fruits as well as tons floral nuances. It’s not the most structured wine out there, but it just glides over the palate with a seamless texture, a soft, fleshy mid-palate, and outstanding length. Drink it any time over the coming 10-15 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JD

The brightness and precision already comes through on the nose with floral, blackcurrant character. Full-bodied and very tight and creamy with polished tannins that last for minutes. Warm and intense. Needs four to five years to show all it has, yet already a beauty.James Suckling | 96 JS(Château d’Issan, Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaux, Bordeaux, France, Red) Tasted over two days, and although the attack is supple, with fruit and light notes of espresso, the palate is somewhat low key in its expression of red and black fruit with overtones of spice. One notices high toned acidity, and I suspect that the wine has entered a youthful, ’closed-in’ phase. What cannot be denied: fine grained tannin and impressive length on a finish marked by freshness and tonicity. Don’t touch before 2025 at least, however. (Drink between 2025-2045)Decanter | 95 DECThis wine has an austere structure, with firm tannins. The fruit comes through slowly, revealing an attractive black-currant flavor and ample acidity. This will be a very fine wine with time; try after 2029.Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEThe 2016 D’Issan is blended of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot, aged in 50% new and 50% one-year-old French oak for 18 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it has vibrant black cherries and blackcurrants notes with chocolate mint, beef drippings, black olives and cigar box. Medium-bodied with a well-sustained, intensely flavored mid-palate, it has a rock-solid, grainy frame and long savory finish. 10,500 cases produced.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RPThe 2016 d’Issan has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, violets, rose petal and light undergrowth aromas, displaying fine lift and great intensity. The medium-bodied palate offers fine-grained tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Fresh and vibrant, with a very harmonious, elegant and persistent finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 94 VMI loved the 2016 Château d’Issan and this is a certainly a wine to seek out. Made from a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot from yields of 55 hectoliters per hectare, aged 18 months in 50% new oak, it has a beautiful perfume of blue fruits (cassis, blueberries, etc.) as well as hints of graphite, subtle oak, and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, with integrated acidity, a terrific mid-palate, and perfect balance, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and is going to cruise in good cellars for 20-25 years or more. It’s a beautiful, elegant, seamless wine that’s very much in the style of the vintage.Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JDLight pepper and savory hints lead off in this bouncy, juicy version, with bright cassis and bitter cherry fruit forming the core. Shows a light mineral edge on the finish.Wine Spectator | 88-91 WS

The 2016 Chateau d’Aiguilhe is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc picked from 30 September until 18 October, matured in 30% new oak. It has a warm and sensual bouquet: small macerated black cherries, blueberry and sloes, a light floral tincture emerging with time. This has a little more strictness compared to the 2015 last year. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and good body. Sappy black fruit, a touch of spice towards the finish, and you have yourself a very fine Côtes de Castillon.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90-92 RP-NMThe 2016 d’Aiguilhe is absolutely delicious. Succulent, nuanced and inviting, the 2016 has so much to offer. Ripe cherry, plum, French oak, mocha, new leather and spice all flesh out effortlessly. Deep, generous and resonant, the 2016 captures all the best the vintage has to offer. Sweet, silky tannins add to the wine’s considerable appeal. It would be nice to see a bit less overtness to the oak. The wine really does not need it. In 2016, d’Aiguilhe is very pretty. Tasted two times. Antonio Galloni | 92 AGJuicy loganberry and black currant fruit forms an inviting core, while light bay, tobacco and violet notes fill in around the fruit. Offers a fleshy edge but keeps an emphasis on cut and drive through the finish. Drink now through 2028. 18,375 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThe 2016 Château d’Aiguilhe checks in as 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc brought up in 30% new barrels before being bottled with no fining. As with the white, it has brilliant limestone character as well as vibrant strawberry and black raspberry fruits, hints of violets and flowers, background oak, and medium to full-bodied richness. It’s a balanced, high-quality 2016 well worth seeking out. Drink it over the coming 15 years or so. (Drink between 2019-2034)Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThis is very precise with dark-berry, sandalwood and light chocolate character. Just a hint of sweet fruit and wet earth. Medium body, firm tannins and a pretty finish. Drinkable, but better in 2021.James Suckling | 92 JSStill at a youthful stage, the wine has a meaty, ferrous nuance but is packed with dark fruit behind. The palate is dense and structured with fine but firm tannins and there’s a fresh, saline finish. The power is there but in a subdued manner. Experience tells me it will age. (Drink between 2022-2025)Decanter | 91 DEC

The 2016 Domaine de Chevalier is a thrilling wine. Dense and beautifully layered, the 2016 is also quite a bit richer than it usually is. Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics and structure pulse through the wine. The red-toned fruit is incredibly primary at this stage. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2016 for at least a handful of years. It has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far.Antonio Galloni | 97 AGAs to the reds, the 2016 Domaine de Chevalier is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that saw an extended maceration, malo in barrel, and 18 months in just 35% new French oak. This deep purple-hued beauty boasts a powerful bouquet of tobacco smoke, damp earth, gravelly, rocky minerality, wood smoke, and loads of dark fruits. Full-bodied, deep, concentrated yet incredibly elegant and seamless on the palate, it’s a legendary Chevalier in the making. While I rated this as high as 99 points on one of the four separate occasions I was able to taste it, I’m being conservative with the score. it has some upfront charm but needs 4-5 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades.Jeb Dunnuck | 97 JDAromas of blackberries, red and dark plums, cedar and gravel, as well as red flowers and brown-leaf tea. It offers a very sleek and powerful array of ripe dark fruit and a very plush, focused and elegant bed of fresh, fine and powerful tannins. Plenty of aging potential, this is still quite tight. A blend of 55 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 35 per cent merlot, five per cent cabernet franc and five per cent petit verdot. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 97 JSThe core of fruit flavor here is sappy and dense, with lots of kirsch, raspberry pâte de fruit and plum reduction notes, yet this stays fresh and racy overall, with a bright iron spine, flashes of tea and tobacco and a long finish that shows a wonderful infusion of alder and tobacco flavors. Offers a lovely combination of prodigious fruit details, with a tug of earth. Best from 2024 through 2038. 12,000 cases made.Wine Spectator | 96 WSThis elegant wine wears its firm tannic structure lightly. It is densely textured, just starting on its road to maturity. Black-plum and berry fruits give the wine its weight as much as the tannins. It will age well over many years. Drink from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThis is so young right now, which seems crazy to say for a white wine, I know. But at two years old it has hardly begun to gather us to its side, let alone reveal its secrets. This will clearly have plenty to show in a few years’ time - white peach and pear flavours, and a gorgeous texture of slate caught against saline minerality. This is going to age, and then some. It has closed down since 2016 En primeur. Drinking Window 2020 - 2032.Decanter | 95 DECThe 2016 Domaine de Chevalier is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rocks up with expressive warm plums, blueberry compote and cassis scents with suggestions of sandalwood, baking spices and potpourri. Medium-bodied and delicately styled yet with a rock-solid frame of grainy tannins, it sports restrained earth-laced fruit and a long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94+ RP

Aromas of sandalwood, cedar and dark berries follow through to a full body, with chewy and rich tannins that remain fine-grained and polished. Flavorful, too. Second wine of Lynch. Try after 2023.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2016 Echo de Lynch Bages is an irresistibly beautiful, racy Pauillac. Sweet floral and spice overtones add brilliant top notes to a core of bright red cherry and plum fruit. Generous, supple and inviting, with silky tannins, the 2016 is going to be ready to deliver considerable pleasure upon release. Today, it is beautiful and alluring.Antonio Galloni | 92 AGThis is on the muscular side, with a taut frame of chalky minerality around a slightly chunky core of red and black currant paste flavors. Lots of charcoal and warm cast iron notes score the finish, lending additional texture and length to the overall impression. A violet hint flows through to give this a hint of charm. Best from 2022 through 2035.Wine Spectator | 92 WSThe second wine of the estate is the 2016 Echo de Lynch Bages, mostly Cabernet Sauvignon blended with 27% Merlot, all aged in once-used barrels. Classic dark fruits, graphite, licorice, cedarwood, and subtle oak all emerge from this medium-bodied, balanced, layered Pauillac. With terrific purity, drink this while you do your best to stay away from the grand vin.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDEcho de Lynch-Bages this year accounts for 25% of overall production, and even here we are at a tannin index of 85IPT. But the freshness is undeniable, with a pH of 3.55 giving beautiful violet reflections on the colour. On the palate, there are softer brambly fruits than in the grand vin. 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot. Drinking Window 2025 - 2038.Decanter | 91 DECThe 2016 Echo de Lynch Bages is deep garnet-purple colored and opens with kirsch, redcurrant jelly and baked blackcurrants with nuances of tilled soil and dried herbs. The palate is medium-bodied, packed, elegant, refreshing and tightly wound with firm tannins, finishing long.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RP

A blend of 74% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2016 Château Fleur Cardinale spent 14 months in new French oak. Deep ruby/purple-colored, with a stunning nose of smoked black fruits, classy oak, violets, and camphor, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, beautiful purity, ripe, present, polished tannins, and a great finish. It’s a beautiful wine from this tip-top estate that has the class to keep for two decades or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JDPlump, well-ripened but mellow fruit from the first nose. Touches of violet florality also as the Cabernet Franc takes the lead, and again the minerality is emphasised with a slate texture on the finish which does a brilliant job of counterbalancing the generous ripeness of the fruit. Crushed mint, liquorice, bitter chocolate on the finish also, this is gourmet and easy to love. Still has an austerity at this point – it needs another few years to really soften. These are lovely wines full of confidence and pleasure with their own distinct personality. 100% new oak. (Drink between 2023-2044)Decanter | 95 DECQuite earthy and savory on the nose, the fruit only emerging slowly. However, on the palate, this has a very attractive fleshy quality and a moderately dry, long finish of some real sophistication. Easy to drink now, but will hold. A blend of 74 per cent merlot, 18 per cent cabernet franc and eight per cent cabernet sauvignon.James Suckling | 94 JSThe 2016 Fleur Cardinale is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and bursts from the glass with crushed blackberries, mulberries and chocolate-covered cherries with hints of spice cake, dried herbs and fragrant soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied and wonderfully elegant with soft, rounded tannins and a great backbone of freshness, finishing perfumed.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2016 Fleur Cardinale is a sumptuous wine. There is no shortage of richness or volume here, that much is obvious. Sweet tobacco, leather, espresso and cherry abound. The 2016 is exotic and flamboyant in style, and yet the new oak is overdone to the point that the early signs of oxidation are already present. I very much like the intensity here, but the reality is that the 2016 could have and should have been an even better wine.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGGood brambly energy leads off here, with a mix of cassis, bitter cherry and plum puree flavors entwined with red licorice and floral notes. The juicy finish pulls everything together. Best from 2021 through 2034. 8,333 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WSDense and full of dark fruits, this wine has a solid structure and big tannins. Smoky and ripe with juicy, opulent berry flavors, it offers power and concentration. The wine needs to soften over many years before it reaches its full potential. Drink from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WE

Extremely deep and ripe on the nose with dried-berry, chocolate and plum aromas that follow through to a full body, round and soft tannins and a flavorful finish. A rich and soft-tannin structure to the wine. Try after 2024.James Suckling | 94 JSPartnered with Château Giscours as far as the winemaking team is concerned, this estate has created its own style. This wine shows a hint of initial austerity before opening out with rich fruits and structure. It needs time and the wine will not be ready to drink before 2025. Wine Enthusiast | 94 WEThe 2016 Du Tertre is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot picked from 27 September until 19 October. Estate manager Alexandre van Peek told me that this represents one of the highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon in recent years. Matured in 35% new oak, it has a harmonious bouquet with pure blackberry, raspberry and mineral scents that are neat and well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, quite saline on the entry, understated at first, but gaining weight in the mouth and delivering a precise and minerally, classic Margaux finish. All it’s missing is the persistence on the finish. It just seems to rush out the exit door before you’ve really gotten to know it. Hopefully it will develop that side during barrel maturation.Robert Parker Neal Martin | 90-92 RP-NMPowerful, intense and concentrated, those tannins are big in quantity and quality. This is a sombre, intellectual wine in the way that many 2016s are. It has a good texture of silky black fruits through the palate, suggesting this will age well, while a white pepper crescendo gives a spicy kick on the finish. 5% Petit Verdot completes the blend, with the wine aged in 50% new oak.Decanter | 92 DECThe 2016 du Tertre has a refined bouquet of black fruit infused with loamy, sous-bois scents, gradually evolving more intensity with aeration. The medium-bodied palate is well-defined, with lithe tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a detailed, quite precise finish. This just requires a couple more years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 91 VMFresh damson plum, bitter cherry and savory notes are seamlessly layered together, with fresh tobacco and a flash of iron checking in on the pure, silky, persistent finish, where the slightly high-pitched fruit plays out nicely. Best from 2021 through 2032. 13,333 cases made. — JMWine Spectator | 91 WSAn outstanding Margaux with its classic perfume of sweet red fruits, dried flowers, balsam wood, and spice, the 2016 Château du Tertre is medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless on the palate. This is one of those wines that grows on you with time in the glass, and while it plays in the elegant, pretty end of the spectrum, it has wonderful fruit. It should keep nicely for 15 years or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

This has attractive, glossy, ripe red-plum and licorice aromas with cedar, flowers and red berries, as well as a stony edge. A very fragrant, cabernet-driven nose. The palate has elegance and grace with sleek and charming, balanced style and a discreet tannin structure that holds the finish long and fresh. A blend of 81 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 19 per cent merlot. Try from 2023.James Suckling | 96 JSThis nearly 200-acre estate lies in the south of the Margaux appellation. The wine is another great success in a series of superb years. It is rich but the structure and finely textured fruit give it style and longevity. Drink the wine from 2026.Wine Enthusiast | 96 WEThe 2016 Giscours is complex, aromatically intense and beguiling, with myriad layers of flavors that unfold with time in the glass. Black cherry, sage, leather, smoke and menthol add plenty of intrigue, but above all else, it is the wine’s balance and sense of harmony that make the deepest impression. Under the leadership of Alexander Van Beek and his team, Giscours has been on a roll over the last few years. The 2016 is another fine vintage.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGConcentrated autumnal fruit offers a hawthorny bramble of blackberry and bilberry. Big-framed, muscular tannins are joined by plenty of acidity - it’s very clearly built to last and confident in its ability to reward those with patience. Matured in 50% new oak. Axel Marchal and Valerie Lavigne consult. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045.Decanter | 94 DECDeep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Giscours gives up aromas of cassis, chocolate, earth, tar, pepper and hoisin with touches of flowers and a meaty nuance. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a great core and a long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2016 Château Giscours is fabulous stuff, offering a beautiful, complex (and classic Margaux) perfume of smoke tobacco, black currants, truffly earth, and spring flowers. Finesse-driven, medium-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it has ultra-fine tannins and no hard edges, and is already drinking beautifully. Nevertheless, it’s going to benefit from 3-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 20-25 years or more. The blend of the 2016 is 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot and it’s well worth a case purchase.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThis is on the darker side of the ledger, with well-melded black currant, blackberry and black cherry fruit, infused with brambly energy and allied to a graphite spine on the anise-tinged finish. Features a light woodsy echo at the very end, but there’s plenty of flesh here. Best from 2022 through 2032. 34,667 cases made.Wine Spectator | 92 WS

The 2016 Dame de Montrose is also gorgeous, and the second wines of Bordeaux continue to gain in quality. A blend of 52% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 30% new oak, this beauty has impressive amounts of creme de cassis, graphite, violets, and damp earth that give way to a medium to full-bodied, layered, pure, and seamless beauty that has real class. It’s well worth seeking out and will hopefully help you to keep your hands off the grand vin for at least a few years. (Drink between 2019-2039)Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDExtremely perfumed and beautiful with bright, violet and plum aromas. Full to medium body, very fine and firm tannins and transparent fruit. Linear and refined with a very long finish. Second wine of Château Montrose. Try in 2022.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2020 Sauvignon Blanc is bright, crisp and full of varietal character. Lemon peel, sage, mint, white flowers and crushed rocks all grace this exquisite, crystalline Sauvignon Blanc from Spottswoode. The 2020 should age gracefully for a number of years.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGTannins are very present in this dense wine. But so are vibrant, crisp black-currant flavors and acidity. The combination of tannins and fresh acidity will drive this second wine of Château Montrose forward. Drink from 2023.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEA gorgeous second wine in this vintage. It’s almost seductive, with deep, rich spice and fruit flavours on the palate, along with plenty of vibrancy and aromas of violets, plums and smoke. La Dame represents 42% of the estate’s production – and is a real bargain for the quality. (Drink between 2022-2035)Decanter | 91 DECThe 2020 Sauvignon Blanc opens with vivacious lime juice, yuzu peel and grapefruit scents, followed by notions of lemongrass and wet pebbles. Medium-bodied and intense, it has racy citrus flavors and a steely finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91 RP

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Grand Mayne features fragrant kirsch, redcurrant jelly and black plums scents with touches of garrigue, mossy bark and Sichuan pepper. Full-bodied, rich and densely laden with vibrant red and black fruits, it has a plush frame and very long, earth-laced finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThe 2016 Grand-Mayne has a refined, complex bouquet of intense red berry fruit, briar and undergrowth aromas plus wonderfully integrated oak. The palate is ripe on the entry with plush tannins, and perhaps a little more forward than its peers, yet there is plenty of charm on the lightly spiced, tertiary finish. This is Saint-Émilion with pedigree. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 93+ VMThe 2016 Château Grand Mayne is a beauty and could turn into a real superstar with 3-4 years of bottle age. This deep ruby-colored effort gives up lots of currant and cassis fruits as well as subtle new oak in its violet and mineral-driven aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, with fine tannins and impeccable balance, it’s seriously impressive. Give it a few years and it should keep for two decades or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 93+ JDSolid density of fruit and velvety tannins to this one. Medium to full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish.James Suckling | 91-92 JS91–93. Barrel Sample. This is a rich and balanced wine. It has generous tannins and ripe black fruits, nothing in excess. Spice and fine acidity in the aftertaste show the wine has a good medium-term future.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEA restrained style, with gently mulled plum, raspberry and black cherry fruit flavors that pick up well-detailed black tea and incense accents on the finish. A light mineral edge pierces and lifts the finish a bit, adding length. Best from 2021 through 2030. 3,137 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

This big, rich wine offers dense tannins as well as sumptuous black fruits. Fruit and acidity come together to create a wine with both richness and juicy black-plum flavors. Drink this powerful wine from 2025. Wine Enthusiast | 95 WEAlmost more like a Pauillac in its expression of graphite and cassis, along with blackberry. The powerful, yet refined and racy tannins are a good sign for longer term ageing and although one can enjoy this today, it would be better to keep in your cellar for another three to five years for it to become more supple. Long finish. (Drink between 2026-2045)Decanter | 94 DECThere’s fragrant charm here with purple flowers and a swathe of ripe, juicy dark berries. This has a firmish overall feel with sturdy tannins, driving ripe and fresh, red and dark berries long. The oak is very nicely played.James Suckling | 92 JSThe 2016 Kirwan has an attractive, well-defined bouquet of blackberry, crushed violet and light crushed stone aromas that gently unfurls in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a lightly spiced, peppery finish. I absolutely love this Margaux, and it should age with style. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 91 VMMedium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Kirwan is scented of red plums, cassis, redcurrants, earth and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied, lean, chewy and lively with an earthy finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RPBright damson plum, bitter cherry and rose petal notes lead the way in this fresh and focused version, with light rooibos tea and mineral accents underlining the silky, elegant finish. Sneaky long too. Best from 2021 through 2031. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 9,167 cases made. Wine Spectator | 90 WSOne of the more finesse-driven examples of this cuvée that I can remember, the 2016 Château Kirwan offers up a medium ruby color to go with notes of smoke tobacco, gravelly minerality, graphite, and sweet cassis fruit. Medium-bodied, elegant and supple, if not a touch lean, it’s not a blockbuster but has outstanding purity and notable elegance. Drink it over the coming 15 years or so.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

A warm wine rich in tannins and with succulent berry fruits, this is both powerful and elegant. Its density doesn’t detract from the fruitiness that shines out of the wine and balances with the structured aging potential. Drink the wine from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 97 WEThis is really decadent and rich with great aromas of earth, spice, frost flowers and fresh mushrooms that follow through to a full body, firm and chewy tannins and a flavorful finish. Very, very serious from here. A blend of 70 per cent merlot and 30 per cent cabernet franc. Try after 2025.James Suckling | 96 JSThis was delicious En Primeur and is even better now with three years under its belt. It’s had time to bed down and is fully set for the long term. Wonderfully rich, intense dark fruits are joined by grip and supple tannins through the palate. It has hints of dark chocolate, and a floral edge from the Cabernet Franc. Be in no rush to open this, because it’s clearly going to deliver over the next few decades. As of this vintage, we are seeing the blend that the estate hopes to maintain (60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc). Drinking Window 2025 - 2044.Decanter | 96 DECThe 2016 La Gaffelière is superb. Vivid and precise, with layers of nuance, the 2016 is a wine of real clarity. Blood orange, lavender, rose petal and mint add brightness to this stunningly beautiful Saint-Émilion. La Gaffelière is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, and it is the Franc that gives the wine so much character and complexity. This is just an irresistibly captivating Saint-Émilion. Stéphane Derenoncourt and Simon Blanchard consult.Antonio Galloni | 96 AGMedium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 La Gaffeliere opens with compelling wild blueberries, freshly crushed plums and kirsch scents plus hints of garrigue, underbrush, rose hip tea and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully elegant with a soft, velvety texture and seamless freshness carrying the multilayered fruit to a long finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThis has a suave, cashmere feel, with waves of blackberry and plum reduction rolling through, infused liberally with dark tobacco and black licorice notes. A black tea accent smolders on the finish, complemented by a faint floral echo. This should age into a charmer. Best from 2022 through 2037. 7,917 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WS

At five years old, the tannins are still young and holding on tight, but the blackberry and cassis fruits have both juice and depth. This is a vintage where the phenolics are high, and there is an inky depth overall. Mint and cedar smoke on the finish, with clear energy underpinning the palate. This was the first certified organic vintage. Last tasted in 2018, just after bottling, and it is still a few years away from being ready to drink, but showing excellent development. Took the audience award in the masterclass, along with the 2000.Decanter | 95 DECThis is wonderful and perhaps the best La Lagune since 1982. Full body, yet the texture is amazing giving it a plush, silky texture that makes it formed and beautiful. Thick and melting in the mouth. Lots of forest floor, tar and black currant character. Very persistent finish. Energy. From organically grown grapes.James Suckling | 94-95 JSOne of the big estates in the southern Médoc, this property has produced a rich, balanced wine packed with black-currant fruits and fine, elegant tannins. Drink from 2025.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEThe 2016 la Lagune has a medium garnet-purple color and nose of intense cassis, warm cherries, redcurrants and spice box with earth and bay leaves in the undercurrent. The medium-bodied, earth-laced palate is plush and lively, finishing long.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 92 RPThis is a great vintage for this terrific Haut-Médoc estate, and the 2016 Château La Lagune is well worth a case purchase. Complex notes of dark fruits, cedar, cigar tobacco, and hints of saddle leather all flow to a medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced 2016 that has sweet tannins and a great finish. It will keep for 25-30 years.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThe 2016 La Lagune has a very well-defined bouquet featuring perfumed rose petal scents flanking the cranberry and raspberry fruit; the oak here is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and slightly tarry in style, displaying fine precision toward a finish that feels just a little dry. This is another 2016 of which I have encountered better examples in the past. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.Vinous Media | 91 VM

The 2016 La Fleur de Gay is a wine of real personality and class. Dark cherry jam, mocha, espresso, blood orange and rose petal give the 2016 an exotic quality that is hugely appealing, while beams of supporting tannin provide the framework. In the glass, the 2016 is rich, dense and remarkably vivid, all of which make it absolutely compelling. This is a fabulous showing.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGThe colour is still almost a primeur purple, rich, vibrant and violet-edged. The nose is youthful but majestic and full of promise, with smoky caramel, liquorice and dark chocolate. Gorgeous floral notes spiral out of the glass after five minutes. That the wine is full of inky depths, generous but withholding at the same time, showcases the ability of Pomerol to taste good young without sacrificing an ability to age. This is one of the great wines of Pomerol. 100% new oak. (Drink between 2022-2040)Decanter | 94 DECRipe and showy, showing a core of steeped plum and blackberry fruit flavors infused with black tea and anise notes, all backed by a well-integrated roasted apple wood spine. Offers solid drive through the finish, with a flash of smoldering charcoal detail adding intrigue. Wine Spectator | 93 WSWhere is that Peking duck? Ripe and rich with a solid structure, this is a serious and substantial Pomerol with a very satisfying balance of ripe and savory character, the tannins building nicely at the finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2016 Château La Fleur de Gay reveals a saturated purple color as well as a complex style in its notes of new saddle leather, lead pencil, graphite, tobacco leaf, and sweet red and black fruits. It’s a medium to full-bodied, sexy Pomerol that has moderate tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a plush, polished, elegant texture that keeps you coming back to the glass. It’s a beautiful wine. Drink it any time over the coming 15-20 years. (Drink between 2019-2039)Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JDThe medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 La Fleur de Gay has cedar, toast, cloves and cinnamon scents with a core of redcurrants, black cherries and stewed plums plus a waft of cigars. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, finishing very oaky.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 91+ RP

This is a very solid Pomerol with a nice balance of fine, dry tannins with well-judged ripeness. But the red-fruit character is a bit shy and a couple of years are probably needed for it to open up fully. Long and complex, dry finish. Drink or hold.James Suckling | 93 JSThe 2016 La Pointe has a lovely raspberry and crushed strawberry bouquet that gently unfolds in the glass, revealing hints of lavender in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a fine bead of acidity, and quite elegant and savory toward the finish. Not the longest-term Pomerol on the block, but a finely made wine by Eric Monnoret and his team, and I appreciate the pepperiness on the aftertaste. Vinous Media | 92 VMContinuing a run of seriously improved vintages here, every time I taste La Pointe I’m thrilled they haven’t thrown the baby out with the bathwater in terms of drinkability - it’s not sacrificed at the alter of concentration, even though clearly there are some inky depths on offer. It’s big and tannic, and perhaps the oak is just on the edge, but there it has light and life. Very good quality. Hubert de Bôuard consults. (Drink between 2024-2036)Decanter | 92 DECThis has a sappy beam of kirsch and cherry paste notes pumping through the middle, flanked by a snap of anise and fresh apple wood detail. Just a bit square through the finish, but otherwise a solid, what-you-see-is-what-you-get style. Best from 2021 through 2029. 6,667 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WSThe 2016 Château La Pointe is an elegant, vibrant Pomerol that has good acidity, medium body, notable minerality, and a classy bouquet of black cherries, black raspberries, and spring flowers. I’d love to see a touch more oomph and flesh, but I love its balance and purity, and I suspect it will flesh out nicely with 2-4 years of bottle age.Jeb Dunnuck | 90 JD

This is so attractive. It has a very rich and ripe array of dark berries and dark chocolate with a long, succulent and smooth palate that delivers so much flavor and freshness. The palate has intensity and depth with very convincing fruit concentration, in the dark-plum and berry zone. This is superb. Try from 2023.James Suckling | 96 JSThe fruit here is more cassis and bilberry than cherry and raspberry. The sheer concentration is beautifully balanced by a seam of freshness that spirals right through you, teasing you with its precision. The tannins are just so well managed that they edge-edge-edge forward then pull back before enveloping, not smothering. Brilliantly precise winemaking, with an emphasis on slate minerality. (Drink between 2022-2035)Decanter | 95 DECThe 2016 Latour à Pomerol is a very beautiful wine. It is also quite a bit more reticent than most Pomerols in this vintage. Savory herb, leather, rose petal, blood orange, cedar, tobacco, menthol and dried cherry lift from the glass. En primeur, the 2016 was quite sensual, whereas today is decidedly powerful and structured. It will be interesting to see where things go in the coming years. One thing is for sure. I would not dream of opening a bottle anytime soon. Antonio Galloni | 94+ AGBlended of 96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2016 Latour à Pomerol is a little reticent to begin, unfolding slowly to give glimpses of warm redcurrants, fresh plums and kirsch scents plus wafts of tar, garrigue and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is tightly wound, offering great freshness and a firm frame of grainy tannins, finishing long and earthy.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 94 RPThis is driven by its fruit for sure, offering dark fig, black currant and black cherry paste notes all having their say, but there's a really strong tug of earth detail throughout, with warm gravel and tobacco hints providing a strong backup chorus. Muscular but defined on the finish, with a little throwback groove working. Best from 2033 through 2037. 2,050 cases made. Wine Spectator | 94 WSThe 2016 Château Latour a Pomerol (96% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc) is a beautiful, classic, downright sexy Pomerol. Plenty of black cherries, currants, chocolate, and earthy tobacco notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, plump, rounded beauty that has impeccable balance, ripe, present tannins, loads of sweet fruit, and a great finish. It's a beauty.Jeb Dunnuck | 93 JDThis rich wine, 96% Merlot, has dense tannins and equally dense black fruits that give it voluptuous power and richness. At the same time a great line of acidity freshens the palate. Wait to drink this concentrated wine from 2023.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WE

Beautiful aromas of flowers and berries, intermingled in fresh and brambly mode with a cedary edge. This is very fresh. The tannins carve an exceptionally deep, long line through the dark berries and cassis and deliver a very powerful, unwavering finish. This is in great form. Very powerful and focused. Try from 2024.James Suckling | 96 JSSappy and dense, with kirsch, plum reduction, mulled açai berry and warmed fig fruit showing impressive range, while licorice snap, ganache and roasted apple wood notes jostle behind them. Mouthwatering acidity should give this plenty of time to round into form. Best from 2025 through 2040. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 7,667 cases made. Wine Spectator | 95 WSThe 2016 Langoa Barton is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and opens with cedar, red and black currants, kirsch and menthol with smoked meats. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm, grainy and packed with youthful, energetic fruit, finishing long and perfumed.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 93 RPThe 2016 Langoa Barton is succulent, racy and inviting, with striking textural richness and depth. Ripe dark plum, tobacco, cedar, licorice and spice are all generous in this racy, pliant Saint-Julien. The 2016 is an especially fine edition of Langoa-Barton and one of the sleepers of the vintage.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGLangoa is vinified and aged in the same way as Léoville Barton, the difference being the terroir and varietal blend – even that is not strikingly different. Vibrant and stylish nose, with blackcurrant, black fruits and liquorice. Juicy and full-bodied, it displays swagger, robust tannins and concentration, but not to excess. Vigorous and long finish. (Drink between 2023-2042)Decanter | 93 DECBig and packed with spice and smokiness, this wine is full of rich black fruits and juicy acidity. Wood aging adds a light touch of toastiness at this stage but will integrate to give a ripe wine ready to drink from 2024.Wine Enthusiast | 93 WEAnother beautiful Saint-Julien, the 2016 Château Langoa Barton reveals a saturated purple color to go with ample black, plummy, cherry fruits that are balanced by notes of scorched earth, licorice, and earth. This sexy, plump, chewy effort doesn’t give up too much elegance, yet it packs tons of fruit, character, and delicious charm. Drink it over the coming two decades or more. The blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc, and it’s well worth having in your cellar.Jeb Dunnuck | 92 JD

The 2016 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is just as gorgeous from bottle as it was from barrel. The high percentage of Merlot comes through beautifully in the wine’s succulent, racy personality. Raspberry jam, mocha, white flowers, spice and blood orange all race through this succulent second wine from Calon Ségur. Best of all, the 2016 will be ready to drink upon release. Tasted three times.Antonio Galloni | 93 AGPlenty of beautiful aromas of blackcurrants, blackberries and hints of spice and cedar. This is very fine-grained with medium body and a delicious finish. Savory and fine and so delicious. Second wine of Château Calon Ségur. Try from 2022.James Suckling | 93 JSWith its rich tannins, this second wine of Calon-Ségur is powerful in its own right. Full of black, juicy fruits, the wine is generous and also has great freshness at the end. It likely will be ready to drink from 2023.Wine Enthusiast | 92 WEThe second wine of Château Calon-Ségur, the 2016 Marquis de Calon is a medium-bodied, soft, hard to resist effort that has plenty of sweet red and black fruits, some dried herb and spicy aromatics, moderate tannins, and a great finish. It shows the balance and purity of the vintage and is an outstanding Saint-Estephe to drink over the coming 10-15 years. This cuvée is a blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 30% new oak. (Drink between 2019-2034)Jeb Dunnuck | 91 JDA beautifully vibrant violet colour with tight, sappy, dark fruits that grip right through the palate. This is a beautifully mouthwatering second wine from 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 30% new oak for 17 months. The young vines suffered somewhat in 2016 with the drought, and many that were blended into the grand vin in 2015 (70% Merlot) did not make it in 2016. (Drink between 2027-2050)Decanter | 91 DECBlended of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon aged 17 months in 30% new French oak, the 2016 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur has a deep garnet-purple color and gives up gregarious scents of chocolate-covered cherries, black raspberries and cassis with hints of violets and cinnamon stick plus an underbrush hint. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a good core of layered black fruits and a perfumed finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 90 RPThis has a solid core of dark plum and blackberry fruit laced with subtle alder and tobacco notes. Delivers a smoldering charcoal hint on the finish, though this red is open, fleshy and accessible in feel. Drink now through 2030. 11,667 cases made.Wine Spectator | 90 WS

Exotic aromas of blackberries, truffle, earth and cedar follow through to a full body, rich and layered tannins and a long, long finish. Shows so much here. Exotic. Give it at least three or four years of bottle age. Exuberant. Try from 2023.James Suckling | 98 JSMedium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Le Gay has a rock star nose of flamboyant Black Forest cake, crushed redcurrants and lilacs scents with underlying nuances of yeast extract, wood smoke, iron ore and dark chocolate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate truly struts its stuff with generous black and red fruits and a fantastic line of super ripe tannins, building to a very long, seductively perfumed finish.Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95+ RPThe 2016 Le Gay is terrific. Rich, explosive and vertical in feel, the 2016 is a wine of pedigree and real class. Inky blue and purplish fruit, licorice, lavender all race across the palate. From bottle, Le Gay is more a wine of subtlety and vibrancy than pure power. As good as it is, my impression today is that the fruit is a bit dried out. I liked the 2016 more from barrel.Antonio Galloni | 94 AGThis has alluring waves of frankly ripe plum, blackberry and açaí fruit flavors that caress as they move along, pulling flickers of anise, smoldering incense and Christmas pudding along. Showy and hedonistic, but this has structure and definition as it drapes itself on the finish. A lovely wine. Best from 2022 through 2035. 1,417 cases made.Wine Spectator | 94 WSAs with the La Violette, the 2016 Château Le Gay shows a slightly more elegant, structured style yet still packs rocking levels of fruit and texture. Mulled dark fruits, new saddle leather, camphor, and tobacco all give way to a full-bodied Pomerol that has building tannins, solid mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It’s still holding things close to its vest, and while I miss some of the sheer opulence found in vintages such as 2005, 2009, and 2010, this is still going to be brilliant. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and it should shine for two decades or more.Jeb Dunnuck | 94+ JDTouches of heat are evident on the attack, but the palate is quickly deepened by lashings of black fruits. There’s plenty to like here and the texture is gorgeously silky, but just be aware it has broad and fairly inflexible shoulders. Drinking Window 2022 - 2036.Decanter | 90 DEC

A fresh and linear red with crushed stones, menthol and dark berries and plums. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a linear finish. Second wine of Giscours. Drink in 2023.James Suckling | 92 JSThe 2016 La Sirène de Giscours is a very pretty second wine from Giscours. Pliant, supple and inviting, the 2016 has so much to offer, including a level of pure immediacy that will make it nearly impossible to resist. Floral overtones and silky tannins add to the wine’s considerable allure. There is so much to like here.Antonio Galloni | 90 AG