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Maturation took place in French oak puncheons (16% new, 22% second use, 5% third use and 57% older) for approximately 10 months and 40% of the wine completed malolactic fermentation.
Brilliant very pale straw colour with greenish tinged edges and a watery hue. Aromas of white peach, nectarine, dried honey and biscuity oak are delivered with an understated intensity followed by subtle hints of citrusy nougat characters, cashew and faint gun flint. Medium to full bodied with a creamed mouthfeel, flavours of rich white peach, ripe nectarine and dried honey are dispersed across the palate over a biscuity oak, nougat, light cashew and spice background. Finishes with good freshness and a long refined aftertaste.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%

The warm and dry 2018 vintage produced a high quality crop with the resultant wines having good ripeness, bright, intense fruit flavours and excellent acid balance. Maturation took place in French oak barriques and puncheons (25% new, 15% second use, 21% third use and 39% older) for a period of approximately 8 months. 9% of the blend underwent whole bunch fermentation.

A magnificent Mornington Peninsula Pinot Noir that exudes power and seduces the senses with its delicious, supplely textured fruit.

Semi translucent bright red colour with a light crimson hue. Unfurling from the glass is a captivating bouquet of spicy red to dark cherries, strawberries, hints of violet and anise followed by tail end notes of forest floor, game and spicy cedar. Intensely concentrated and incredibly powerful yet light on its feet the palate is both expansive and enveloping in its supple feel. Rich red to dark cherry and strawberry fruit floods the mouth over a back drop of spicy cedar, forest floor, subtle meaty elements and infusions of fresh herbs. Magnificent length with juicy acidity, velvet smooth tannins and a seriously long finish that’s seductively moreish. Outstanding.
Drink over the next 6-8 years.
Alc. 14%

Chateau Capbern (formerly Capbern Gasqueton) is on a roll since the new owners took over the estate, along with Calon Segur, in 2012. Already blessed with prime vineyards close to heavyweights Montrose and Phelan Segur, their winemaking facilities have recently been rejuvenated and the wines haven't looked better.

Vineyards at the estate are planted to 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, with an average vine age of 30 years. Vinification takes place in stainless steel vats, malolactic fermentation in tank, and the wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 18 months.

Very impressive depth displaying a midnight black core and a dark red black hue. On the nose elevated earthy graphite aromas interplay with blackcurrant, new leather, black olive and spicy cigar box notes. Full bodied, the palate possesses excellent volume and richness, awash with fleshy red and black currant fruit which sits over a back drop of subtle earthy graphite characters, vanillin cedar, traces of black olive, light leather and spice. Sturdy tannins provide ample structure but are largely concealed by the wealth of fruit. Finishes with a long, powerful and seductive aftertaste.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%

Other Reviews…
Made by the stellar team at Calon Ségur, the 2016 Château Capbern is fabulous stuff that readers should snatch up. Based on 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot raised in 60% new French oak, this deeply colored Saint-Estèphe offers textbook crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, crushed tobacco leaf, and damp earth. Deep, medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with fine tannins and everything in the right places, it’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for upwards of two decades. Drink 2022-2042.
94 points
JebDunnuck.com

Very pretty fruit with dark berries, plums and currants. Hints of sweet tobacco. Medium bodied, firm and silky. Lovely, juicy finish with delicious acidity at the end. The 18 per cent of fabulous cabernet franc in this makes it special. Hard not to drink now, but better in 2023.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com

The 2016 Capbern is a blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot aged for 18 months in 60% new and 40% one-year-old oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with cedar, blackberries and blueberries with wafts of tobacco, bay leaves and scorched earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and vibrant in the mouth, it possesses lovely poise and an earthy finish. Drink 2019-2036.
92 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

The 2016 Capbern from the Calon-Ségur team, matured in 50-60% new oak, has a wonderful bouquet of blackberry, pencil lead and light floral aromas that leap out of the glass. The beautifully balanced palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, leading to a supple, smooth but complex graphite finish. This is a superb Capbern, easily the best ever made. Drink 2021-2040.
92 points
Neal Martin – Vinous

Based in Pessac-Leognan on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, Chateau Haut-Bailly has 30 hectares under vine planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. As it is only recently that the wines have truly excelled, with knock out wines in 2005/2009/2010/2015/2016, they are one of the best values in Bordeaux, but also one of the hardest to find.

Superb depth of colour featuring a pitch black core and a deep dark red black tinged hue. Beautifully perfumed nose with aromatics of violets, red to black currants and ripe mulberry flowing through the olfactory senses. Subtle cigar box, dried herb, light earth and spicy tobacco notes then ensue. Perfectly proportioned, there’s exquisite balance between the rich red to blackcurrant and mulberry fruit and the elegant, seamlessly integrated tannin structure. Adding further interest are nuances of vanillin cedar, tobacco, minerally graphite like characters, dried herbs and spice. Magnificent length and definition with a long savoury conclusion. A beautifully crafted Bordeaux blessed with sophistication.
Cellar 8-10 years plus.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews…..
The 2016 Haut-Bailly is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. The nose opens with beautiful floral notes of violets and lavender accented with earthy notions and sparks of crushed rocks over a core of kirsch, cassis and wild blueberries. Full-bodied, rich and seductive, it has layer upon layer of red, black and blue fruits intermingled with earth and mineral hints leading to a very long, perfumed finish. Drink 2023-2046.
98 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

Matching the brilliant 2015, the 2016 Château Haut Bailly checks in as a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc brought up in 60% new French oak. This sensational effort boasts a deep purple color as well as a massive bouquet of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, crushed flowers, and graphite, with just hints of smoky earth emerging with time in the glass. Deep, medium to full-bodied, and concentrated, it’s nevertheless all about finesse and elegant, and this beauty just glides across the palate. Reminding me a little bit of the 2009 with its textural richness and length, it’s another awesome wine from Véronique Sanders that’s capable of keeping for 30+ years. Drink 2019-2049.
98 points
JebDunnuck.com

Wonderful aromas of tobacco, sweet fruit and licorice follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that caress every inch of your palate. Love the length and subtlety to this young wine. Gorgeous. Drink after 2024.
98 points
JamesSuckling.com

The 2016 Haut-Bailly was mightily impressive when tasted from barrel. Now, matured in 50% new oak and bottled at the end of April 2018 (they prefer to bottle before spring here), it has a very well defined bouquet of black fruit, graphite, crushed stone and light rose petal aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with quite grippy tannin. This Haut-Bailly feels pure and classic in style, offering well-judged acidity and a sophisticated, quite tensile finish that lingers long in the mouth. I suspect this might close down in a year or two and deserves perhaps 8 to 10 years in bottle to show what it can really do. The best Haut-Bailly in the modern era? For certain. Drink 2026-2050.
97 points
Neal Martin – Vinous

This is energetic and grippy, with tar and melted licorice notes wrapped around a core of bramble, red currant paste and black cherry preserve flavors. The tarry edge reemerges on the finish, working with a singed apple wood element to give this solid drive through the finish. Best from 2023 through 2038.
95 points
Wine Spectator

Excellent depth of colour displaying a midnight black core and a deep bright dark red black tinged hue. Elevated red to black currant aromas overlay hints of liquorice, lightly scorched earth, subtle vanillin cedar and spicy tobacco notes. Medium to full bodied with good intensity, rich blackcurrant and liquorice fruit overlays a back drop of scorched earth, vanillin cedar and spice. Slightly firmish but well integrated tannins finishing with good freshness and a medium to long aftertaste.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews…
The iodine and dark-berry aromas say hello right away. Full-to medium-bodied and nicely framed with chewy, polished tannins and a flavorful finish. A blend of 85 per cent merlot and 15 per cent cabernet sauvignon. Drink in 2022.
92 points
JamesSuckling.com

Situated at the highest elevation in Pomerol, the single plot of vines at Chateau Gazin are planted on gravel and clay soils, including some on the famous blue clay shared with their illustrious neighbour Petrus. Current plantings are 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Cabernet Franc, while future plans include more plantings of Cabernet Franc in place of Merlot.

Quality has been on a steady rise since the renovation of their winemaking facilities in the 1990's, and the last decade in particular has produced some of the greatest wines in the estate's history.

Beautifully coloured with a pitch black core and a deep dark red black tinged rim. Superb nose with perfumed violet like scents intermingling with ripe red to black currants and subtle liquorice trailed by well integrated vanillin cedar, infusions of fresh herbs, light earth and spice. Elegant and tightly wound yet full of verve and blessed with gorgeous fresh red to dark fruits, nuances of vanillin cedar, subtle earth, infusions of fresh herbs, light tobacco, traces of black olive and spice sit beneath. Combines power and finesse exceptionally well with finely meshed tannins seamlessly integrated. Finishes with some chalky grip and shows great tension between all of the components. Seriously long aftertaste.
Cellar 10-15 years.
Alc. 14%

Other Reviews…
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Gazin features a beautifully perfumed nose of violets, Ceylon tea, cigar box, sandalwood and fallen leaves over a core of plum preserves, kirsch and blackberry preserves plus a waft of aniseed. Medium-bodied and elegant, with compelling restraint, it has a seductively plush texture, finishing with bags of poise, perfume and persistence. Drink 2022-2045.
95 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate

This sophisticated Pomerol slowly creeps up on you, then suddenly you’re in the deep end. The complex and delicate, floral and mangosteen aromas are married to a great tannin structure and nothing about this wine is a jot exaggerated. Long, mineral and spice finish with a weightless quality. Drink or hold.
95 points
JamesSuckling.com

The 2016 Gazin has a pure bouquet of luscious blackberry, black truffle and light smoky aromas that gain vigor with aeration. There is an unerring sense of control here, as if keeping something back for later. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, a silky-smooth texture and beguiling, graphite-tinged black fruit toward the refined, persistent finish. Flecks of clove linger on the finish. Classic Gazin. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink 2020-2050.
94 points
Neal Martin – Vinous

Named after its most famous owner, Pope Clement V, Chateau Pape Clement in Pessac Leognan makes both red and white wine from their 32.5 hectare vineyard. Vineyards for the red are planted to 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, while the soils here are a complex mix of gravel and clay over a base of clay, limestone and sandstone. Maturation takes place in 100% new French oak, and while Bernard Magrez has refined the style since taking over winemaking duties the wines are still rich and lush in style with a concentration of ripe fruit.

Impressively coloured the 2016 Pape Clement has an impenetrable inky black core and a very deep dark red black hue. Soaring from the glass are heady aromatics of ripe blackcurrant and liquorice tempered by hints of violets with toasty vanillin cedar, subtle graphite notes, black olive, light dried tobacco and spicy herb notes ensuing. Rich, seductive blackcurrant and liquorice fruit has a pillowy feel, underpinned by elements of cigar box, dried herbs, tobacco, subtle black olive, scorched earth, graphite and spice. Framing the opulent fruit are seamlessly integrated yet superbly structured tannins that are velvet like in their appearance. Outstanding power finishing gloriously long and finessed. This is one of the richer and more open 2016’s and will have a wide drinking window.
Cellar 10-12 years.
Alc. 14%

Other Reviews....
Blended of 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Pape Clement has a deep garnet-purple color and quite a serious, earthy nose with truffles, tilled soil, underbrush and smoked meats over a cassis, baked plums and redcurrants core plus a touch of lavender. Medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy, the palate is built like a brick house, supporting muscular black fruit and earthy notions and finishing very long and mineral laced.
96 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

Stunning concentration of perfectly ripe blackcurrants here with a delicate whiff of vanilla oak and extremely fine tannins that are almost perfectly integrated on the seductive and delicate palate, right through the almost literally breathtaking, super-long and very polished finish. Try from 2022.
98 points
James Suckling

The 2016 Pape Clément bursts out of the glass, offering ripe blackberry, raspberry coulis, fresh mint and hints of licorice on the well-defined nose. It is perhaps a little more opulent than its peers, but unlike in the past, I don’t find it excessive. The palate is well balanced with supple tannin. There is a killer line of acidity and real panache toward a velvety, almost Pauillac-like finish armed with shimmering black fruit laced with graphite. Superb.
96 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2016 Pape Clément is fabulous. Racy and sumptuous in the glass, the 2016 captures the style that now characterizes Bernard Magrez's wines from his estate in Pessac. Specifically, the 2016 is wonderfully deep in the glass, and yet retains terrific freshness as well. A rush of dark cherry, plum, smoke, scorched earth, grilled herb, leather and menthol builds as the 2016 shows off its compelling, inviting personality. I would prefer to give the 2016 at least a few years in bottle to allow its full breadth of aromatics to develop. Even so, there is so much to like. Pliant, supple and super-expressive, Pape Clément is gorgeous in 2016. Tasted two times.
96 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

Tasted on two separate occasions, the 2016 Château Pape Clément never failed to impress, offering a huge, powerful, full-bodied personality as well as beautiful notes of cassis, graphite, high-class cigar tobacco, asphalt, and graphite. About as sexy as it gets in the vintage, with silky tannins and loads of fruit, it’s perfectly balanced and has a great finish. The 2016 is a blend of 60% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, all raised in 60% new barrels.
97 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Originally known as La Doys, Saint-Estephe property Chateau Lilian Ladouys has 47 hectares of vineyards planted to a mix of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. While the makeup of their vineyards is moving to more gravel and clay soils with recent purchases, there are still areas planted on limestone soils.

Totally opaque midnight black dark red colour with a vibrant deep dark red black tinged hue. Elevated ripe red currant and mulberry aromas are interwoven with dusty vanillin cedar, earth, subtle dried herbs and spice. Elegantly structured, rich red to black currant and ripe mulberry fruits fill the medium to full bodied palate. Subtle liquorice, vanillin cedar, earthy graphite and spice elements add complexity. Well balanced bright acidity with sturdy yet finely tuned tannins provide some grip to the finish. Excellent length with a long, slightly chewy aftertaste.
Cellar 6-8 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews....
The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is a blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Petit Verdot aged in 30% new French oak for 15 months. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it sings of baked plums, crème de cassis and Black Forest cake with bay leaves, pencil lead and menthol. Medium-bodied, elegant and packed with vibrant flavor layers, it finishes long.
91 points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Advocate

The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.
93 points
James Suckling

This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.
92 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2016 Lilian Ladouys is just as beautiful from bottle as it was from barrel. Lifted, silky and exceptionally perfumed, the 2016 has so much to offer. Bright red toned fruits laced with expressive floral top notes run through this sensual, totally gracious Saint-Estèphe. There is so much to like. Lilian Ladouys is a rare Saint-Estèphe where Merlot takes precedence over Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted two times.
91 points
Antonio Galloni - Vinous

A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.
92 points
Jeb Dunnuck

Totally opaque black dark red colour with a dark red hue. Lifted ripe blackcurrant scents intermix with hints of liquorice and black olive followed by earthy vanillin cedar, subtle tobacco and spicy dried herb notes. The elegant medium bodied palate has a refined flavour profile of spicy red to black currant, earthy cedar, light tobacco characters and spice supported by balanced fresh acidity and slightly dryish but fine grained tannins. Concludes with plenty of finesse on the medium to long finish.
Cellar 5-6 years.
Alc. 13.5%

Other Reviews…..
A focused and tight Haut-Médoc with blackberry, currant and stone aromas that follow through to a full body, chewy tannins and a fresh finish. One of the best in a long time. A blend of 50 per cent merlot, 49 per cent cabernet sauvignon and one per cent cabernet franc. Drink after 2021.
93 points
JamesSuckling.com

Very deep black dark red core with a dark red hue. Slightly reticent at first, aromas of blackcurrant, a hint of liquorice and ripe mulberry gradually evolve from the glass and build in intensity. Ensuing are subtle scorched earth, vanillin cedar and spice. Medium bodied the palate is quite forward approachable revealing rich ripe blackcurrant and subtle liquorice fruit over mulberry, vanillin cedar, light earth and spice. Good acid structure with cleverly concealed tannins. Excellent length with a savoury, medium to long, red to dark fruit laced finish.
Drink over the next 5-6 years.
Alc. 14%

Other Reviews…
The 2016 Sérilhan has a wonderful, quite high-toned and generous bouquet with ample blackberry and raspberry scents laced with violet and hints of iodine. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip in the mouth, quite symmetrical and focused with impressive precision on the finish. This feels dialed back in terms of power to the benefit of this elegant Saint-Estèphe. Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois tasting in London. Drink 2019-2034.
92 points
Neal Martin - Vinous

Layered and very intense with dark-fruit and spice character. Hints of chocolate. Full-bodied, juicy and fruity. Long finish. Best ever from here?
92-93 points
James Suckling