Chateau Le Pape 2016

DECANTER: "So elegant, right from the first nose. The fourth vintage under Haut-Bailly ownership (because they declassified the 2013), this has appealing rich caramel and coffee bean edges and is beautifully elegant. It has soft, elongated tannins, and concentrated violet and fern notes, that seem to float through the palate. This property is really starting to show exactly what it can achieve. 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drinking Window 2025 - 2040"

JAMES SUCKLING: "Lots of walnut and berry character. Medium-to full-bodied, round and silky with a lovely chocolate undertone. Very polished and juicy. So fine and racy."

JEB DUNNUCK: "From the talented team at Haut Bailly, the 2016 Château Le Pape is Merlot-dominated (there’s 20% Cabernet Sauvignon) and spent 12 months in one-third new French oak. It’s a ripe, rounded, sexy yet also polished beauty that has lots of blackcurrants, black cherries, chocolate, and subtle spice aromas and flavors. It’s nicely balanced, already delicious, and the good news is that there are 2,000 cases made. It will put a smile on your face over the coming 10-12 years or more."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "From same ownership as Château Haut-Bailly, this wine has a firm structure to go with the dense black fruits and rich tannins. It offers concentration and layers of dark fruitiness freshened by the acidity. The wine needs to age, so drink from 2023."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2016 Le Pape is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon picked from 3-4 September and on 14 October respectively. It is matured in 30% new oak, although my sample contained 50% (which was accounted for in my assessment). It offers plenty of raspberry coulis and crushed strawberry aromas on the nose, the new oak nicely integrated, quite generous and almost opulent in the context of the vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a splash of soy on the entry, a keen line of acidity. There is a touch of austerity towards the saline finish, but that will abate by the time it is bottled. This is a fine Château Le Pape from "l'equipe" Haut-Bailly."

WEINWISSER: "80 % Merlot, 20 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 9 ha (6.000 Pflanzen pro ha). Granat mit rubinrotem Rand. Duftige Schattenmorellen und Veilchen, duftig und sanft zugleich, dahinter Brombeere. Am Gaumen mit cremiger Textur, weich und anschmiegsam, gut unterlegte Rasse, mit Pflaumenhaut und schwarzem Pfeffer im langen Finale."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Dark crimson. Easy and sweet and yet some freshness. Luscious and very gorgeous and sweet. Very complete and winning. Blackberry compote."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Licorice, black cherries, wet earth and caramel scents come easily to the front. On the palate, the wine balances between the fresh fruit and ripe tannins. The finish leaves you with spicy, plums. The wine was produced from a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 13.8% alcohol with pH of 3.7."