Chateau Margaux 2016

WEINWISSER: "94 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Merlot, 1 % Petit Verdot, nur 28 % Grand Vin. Purpurgranat mit violettem Rand. Dichtes Parfüm mit viel Veilchen und Cranberry, dahinter rote Kirsche. Am Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, wunderschön reifem Tannin und zarter Adstringenz. Im langen Finale mit viel Margaux- Eleganz, reinstem Himbeermark, Preiselbeeren und feiner Würze. Besticht durch seine royale Art. Ganz grosser Margaux, der im Bouquet an den grandiosen 1985er erinnert. 19.5/20"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Château Margaux (blended of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot) sashays out of the glass with glamorous red currants, candied violets, kirsch and crushed blackcurrants scents followed by notions of tilled black soil, forest floor, cast iron pan and cigar box with subtle wafts of lavender and oolong tea. Medium-bodied, mineral laced accents hover over the palate with an ethereal sensation of weightlessness, yet it is super intense with layers of red and black flavors supported by a firm texture of silt-fine tannins, finishing wonderfully fragrant and incredibly long."

JAMES SUCKLING: "It’s very friendly and warm on the nose showing flowers, such as roses, and red fruit. But then on the palate, it lets you know how serious it is. Full-bodied, yet reserved, extremely tight and well-formed with super polished tannins that go on for minutes. A solid and typical Margaux with all the personality and beauty in strength. Try after 2027."

DECANTER: "This is a serious Margaux, hugely Cabernet dominant on both nose and palate as you would expect with 94% of the blend. It has an extremely fine, elongated tannic structure, just barely there and so classy, focussing on the gentle elasticity. There are more blue than black fruits here, wonderfully spun out and softened with crushed tobacco. It has the expansive aromatic structure of Margaux, the floral and mineral aspects clear, as is the tension that lifts the palate up and out. It's reminiscent of the 2005, though with less evident tannins. It's not as hefty as the 2010 or as staggering as the 2015, but is still a joyful expression of the estate. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The grand vin 2016 Château Margaux is a beauty and tastes like the essence of Margaux. Thrilling notes of blueberries, cassis, crushed violets, flowery incense, and spice notes all give way to a full-bodied 2016 that strikes an incredible balance between richness and elegance. A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot brought up in new barrels, it’s more focused and elegant than the 2015, yet I suspect it’s just as concentrated, and readers are going have a blast comparing these two magical vintages over the coming 4-5 decades."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, deutliche Edelholzwürze, Nuancen von reifen Herzkirschen, floraler Touch, frische Orangenzesten, ein Hauch Zedern. Saftig, rotbeerig, feine Extraktsüße, gut integrierte Tannine, im Abgang, etwas Nougat, ein Hauch von Karamell, ein eher leichtfüßiger, eleganter Jahrgang, der etwas früher antrinkbar sein wird."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deep ruby with purple accents of color around the rim of the glass, violets, lilacs and roses are the first scents you notice before moving to the red and black plums, tobacco and a hint of licorice in the bouquet. Light on its feet but don´t let that fool you, it’s impossible not to feel the purity and elegance. The wine displays an incredible clarity of fruit with a finish that dawdles on your palate, moving from red fruit to black fruit and back to sweet, red berries again. The finish has an incredibly supple, refined quality that leaves you yearning for another sip. It was early in the morning and I can assure you, I finished my glass without spitting a drop! The wine was made from a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot reaching 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.6. Yields were high, but it´s important to note, the Grand Vin represents only 28% of the harvest, which took place September 23 to October 18 -- one of the longest harvests in the estate´s storied history."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Beautifully rendered, with a lush and seamless flow of cassis, steeped cherry, warmed raspberry and gently mulled blackberry fruit flavors gliding through. Light lilac, savory, mesquite and mineral accents underline the finish, adding additional texture and length. Deep and long, with sublime definition and gorgeous fruit. Best from 2024 through 2040. 10,833 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Big, bold and very ripe on the nose. With a hint of yeast extract. Then savour and sinew. Masses of compact tannin. This wine needs time to expand. At the moment it’s all confined in a tiny space. Chalky chew on the end. Racy."