“powerful, richly layered, vibrant and stunningly beautiful, not to mention incredibly delicious and alluring. For so many wines and estates, 2016 is an epic vintage.”
– Neal Martin
As is perfectly captured by the above quotes from the critics, 2016 was a tremendous vintage for Bordeaux. A potential best ever, at least in recent decades, the wines from it are sensational across the board and, at the top level, otherworldly legends in the making. It’s a vintage that you simply cannot own too much of, so I am delighted to have four perfect examples to offer.
Chateau Margaux is for Lisa Perrotti-Brown, a perfect wine. Indeed, it’s so compelling that she advises her readers, “Sell your car and get a few cases of this – you won’t regret it!” Also perfect is the 2016 Las Cases, “One of the high points of this great vintage” for William Kelley.
Cos d’Estournel is another flawless wine and, for Lisa Perrotti-Brown, “both opulent and energetic… finishing with epic length and depth”. Finally, we have cases of the resurgent St Emilion, Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse, a “legendary” wine of which Jeb Dunnuck says, “Don’t miss”.
Do take a look and let us know if you would like to secure any of these great 2016s.
2016 Chateau Margaux
2 mags (1*150cl OWC) @ £1,050 per magnum in bond
100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown
A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Chateau Margaux is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a real struggle to shake loose the aromas, this is so shut down at the moment. Eventually, notes of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and blueberry compote begin to emerge, followed by licorice, dark chocolate, cumin seed, truffles, and iron ore suggestions. Full-bodied and full-on rich and seductive, the palate is absolutely crammed with bright, crunchy black fruit layers, framed by astonishingly ripe, finely grained tannins and amazing tension, finishing with a firework display of minerals, flowers, and exotic spices. Sell your car and get a few cases of this – you won’t regret it! (2022)
www.thewineindependent.com Drink 2027-2067
2016 Chateau Leoville Las Cases
1 cs (6*75cl OWC) @ £1,300 per case in bond
100 points William Kelley
One of the high points of this great vintage, the 2016 Léoville Las Cases is a brilliant wine that unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings, cigar wrapper, loamy soil and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s concentrated and complete, with beautifully refined tannins, vibrant acids and a long, mineral finish. Even in this series of great wines, it stands out for its cool classicism and unerring precision. Still an infant, while the 2016 is sufficiently polished to be far from forbidding, the real fireworks won’t begin for another decade. (2022)
www.robertparker.com Drink 2030-2075
2016 Chateau Cos d’Estournel
2 cs (6*75cl OWC) @ £950 per case in bond
100 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Deep garnet in color, the 2016 Cos d’Estournel is quite closed to start, requiring a lot of coaxing to bring out profound notions of creme de cassis, wild blueberries, black cherry compote, and rose oil, leading to suggestions of Indian spices, crushed rocks, and dried lavender. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is both opulent and energetic, revealing loads of perfumed black fruit layers and a plush, polished texture, finishing with epic length and depth. (2022)
www.thewineindependent.com Drink 2025-2065
2016 Beausejour Duffau Lagarosse
3 cs (6*75cl OWC) @ £650 per case in bond
100 points Jeb Dunnuck
Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine! (2019)
www.jebdunnuck.com Drink 2026-2066
Offered subject to final confirmation. Lead times available on request.
