Is your cellar emptying as the months go by? Now’s the time to top up your cellar, with the superb 2016 offering from Bordeaux. This vintage offers wine that are at once delicious and delicate in youth and made for extended aging.
A paradoxal year in Bordeaux, 2016 was marked by heavy rains at the beginning of the year, bringing about problems of mildew, followed by a second half of the year that bordered on too sunny. Thankfully, the light rains in September reassured winemakers, making 2016 a warm and concentrated vintage with fruity wines, suave and well-rounded on the palate.
Bordeaux 2016 to be cellared for at least a decade:
Make some space in your cellar for these 2016 Bordeaux that will charm in years to come, once all the aromas have developed and harmonized. In Margaux, we recommend the wines of Châteaux Monbrison and Siran. The former will impress you with its balance, depth and freshness, making it one of the best unclassified wines of the appellation. The second wine stands out for its finesse and its elegance. Château Siran is undoubtedly a staple of the appellation, with its unusual blend of grape varieties that gives pride of place to Petit Verdot. Further in the east lies the unmissable appellation of Saint-Emilion; where Château de Valandraud is a must-try, marked by aromas of cassis, cherry and a touch of mocha. It should be glorious after 10 to 20 years of aging! Over in Sauternes, the 2016 release from Château Guiraud is simply sublime. Over time, this rich and balanced sweet will develop notes of saffron and of bitter marmalade. When talking about Bordeaux for cellaring, it would be a crime to omit an icon of the region: Château Mouton Rothschild.
Bordeaux 2016 to be aged 5 to 10 years
Bordeaux doesn’t always have to be aged for decades. After only 5 to 10 years of cellaring, a Château Tertre Roteboeuf 2016, for instance, will have had enough time to become refined. On the palate, the tannins are pleasant and lifted by a nice acidity. In Pomerol, Château Bourgneuf presents a round and sweet wine with a garnet color and notes of black fruits (cherry, blueberry); it will reach its peak after a few years of aging. Just a few years of aging will also allow the Château de Reignac to gain balance, while preserving its freshness. If you’re looking for wine that will pair perfectly with your seafood platters that you’ll be enjoying in five or six years, opt for a 2016 Chateau Haut Bergey. Its aromas of pineapple and white flowers complement the subtle toasty and smoked notes that will refine over time.
Bordeaux 2016 to drink today
The impatient among us will rejoice: not all Bordeaux requires long years of cellaring. Some bottles of 2016 vintage can therefore be enjoyed already. From Chateau Rollan de By, whose aromas of black cherries and blackcurrants, tobacco and spices are already incredibly delicious. This wine will of course be the perfect ally of all your red meats. If you are looking for something lighter, look to Roc de Cambes. Flexible and fruity, it will be enjoyed perfectly today; its intense ripeness creates a perfect balance on the palate. The Bordeaux region also offers delicious white wines, such as Hauts de Smith, the second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, vinified with as much care as the château’s first wine. The freshness and balance between the aromas of white fruits and flowers give it a nice minerality and a long finish on the palate.
Hesitate no more: discover iDealwine’s selection of Bordeaux 2016 to drink today, tomorrow and… in a few years!
You find more in-depth tasting notes from the iDealwine team by reading about our top picks from the Union of Bordeaux Grands Crus.
