Land/Region: Frankreich/Saint-Julien

Bewertung: 95+ PP

Alkoholgehalt: 13% Vol.

Hersteller: Château Beychevelle

Allergenhinweis: enthält Sulfite

Produktbeschreibung

The 2016 Beychevelle is comprised of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It spent 18 months aging in 50% new and 50% second use barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little broody to begin, opening slowly to reveal subtle savory notes of dried herbs, charcuterie and black olives before breaking through to a profound core of warm cassis, baked black plums, red currant jelly and candied violets. The palate is medium-­bodied and delicately played with a quiet intensity of tightly wound nuances and fantastic freshness, finishing with a lingering savory lift. This latent beauty will require a bit more time than most 2016s, but it promises to overdeliver to those prepared to wait. Around 19,000 cases were made.

Described by Phillippe Blanc as all about finesse and elegance, the 2016 Château Beychevelle is nevertheless a full-bodied, concentrated barrel sample. Its deep purple color is followed by a stunning bouquet of blue fruits, violets, scorched earth, graphite, and a crushed rock/ozone-like character. Deep, rich, multi-dimensional, and nicely structured, I suspect it will surpass the 2015.

Land/Region: Frankreich/Saint-Julien

Bewertung: 97+ PP 

Alkoholgehalt: 13% Vol.

Hersteller: Château Léoville Poyferré

Allergenhinweis: enthält Sulfite

Produktbeschreibung

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Léoville Poyferré hits the ground running with intense cassis, violets, dark chocolate, menthol and ­fragrant earth notions complemented by nuances of cigar box and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is charged with energetic, super intense black fruit and floral layers, beautifully supported with super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness. This liquid is simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!

The 2016 Léoville-Poyferré is fabulous. Rich, ample and dramatic in bearing, the 2016 possesses striking intensity and vertical lift. The ­tannins certainly need at least a few years in bottle to soften, but there is so much to look forward to. Graphite, menthol lavender and licorice complement the inky blue/purplish fruit beautifully. The bottled wine has a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Merlot than the en primeur sample. I tasted the 2016 three times. It's least favorable showing was at the château. For readers and proprietors who think wines always taste better on site...they don't.