This Week's Must-Try Wines from Vinous
Château Belair-Monange
St. Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Bélair-Monange is exotically ripe and flashy. Bright red and purplish fruit is pushed forward in a primary, intense wine with plenty of immediacy. As good as the 2016 is, what I don't see are the layers of depth and structure that have made the finest recent vintages so compelling. Even so, the 2016 is a very pretty and compelling wine, it just falls a bit short relative to some of the other wines that have been made here. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Barde-Haut
Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
Readers will find a rich, flamboyant wine in the 2016 Barde-Haut. There is not a ton of subtlety here, but I am not sure that matters all that much given how immensely pleasing the 2016 is. Crushed rocks, graphite, lavender, blackberry, plum, and violet infuse a Saint-Émilion that offers tremendous textural richness as well as vibrancy. Most importantly of all, the 2016 is flat-out delicious. This is a decidedly opulent, dark Saint-Émilion with all of the elements impeccably balanced. I loved it. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Cantenac Brown
Margaux Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016
The 2016 Cantenac Brown is a super-concentrated, potent Margaux. Raspberry jam, mocha, licorice, plum, new oak and spice are all lavishly rendered. Broad and sweeping on the palate, with tremendous richness and resonance, Cantenac Brown is one of the bigger, more overt Margauxs of the vintage. Readers should expect a big, ripe wine. In several tastings, the 2016 has come across as a bit over the top, at least for my personal taste. Technical Director Jose Sanfins gave the 2016 16 months in oak, 60% new. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Beauséjour
Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse Saint-Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Beauséjour Héritiers Duffau-Lagarrosse has come together beautifully since I last tasted it. Nearly seamless in the glass, the 2016 is rich, unctuous and potent, with all of its elements in the right place. Nothing really sticks out. Instead, I am simply blown away by the wine's intensity, explosive power and overall pedigree. Time in the glass brings out hints of graphite, smoke, cured meats, licorice and dark spices, but it is the wine's balance that is most impressive today. In 2016, Nicolas Thienpont and his team crafted a Beauséjour of mind-boggling intensity and purity. Tasted three times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Ausone
Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Ausone is magnificent. Seamless and supple, the 2016 hovers with striking aromatic nuance and layers of finely-knit fruit that gradually open in the glass. A whole range of floral and citrus notes perk up the sweet red/purplish berry fruit, with hints of lavender, blood orange and jasmine that develop as the wine is in the glass. The 2016 is a bit reserved today, but it is unquestionably very, very beautiful. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Cambon La Pelouse
Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Cambon La Pelouse is a wine of real depth, power and flavor. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, leather, tobacco, cedar and earthy notes are all laced together in this punchy, expressive Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois. Once again, Cambon Le Pelouse over delivers. It should drink well for the next decade-plus. Tasted two times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Calon-Ségur
Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Calon Ségur is dense and radiant on the palate, just as it was from barrel. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 is distinguished by its sense of freshness, lift and nuance, much of which comes from the 18% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Sweet floral, spice and minty notes add aromatic intensity to a core of sweet red cherry and plum fruit. There is plenty of underlying structure, but the tannins are sweet, silky and perfectly ripe. In short, the 2016 Calon Ségur is a wine of pure and total sensuality. Technical Director Vincent Millet and his team did a tremendous job with the 2016. Tasted three times. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Balestard La Tonnelle
Saint Émilion Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Balestard La Tonnelle has turned out beautifully. Expressive aromatics complement the sweet red berry, tobacco, smoke and plum jam flavors nicely. Medium in body and pliant, the 2016 is an attractive wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
Château Angélus
St. Émilion Grand Cru Red Bordeaux Blend 2016
The 2016 Angélus is a total stunner. Despite its late bottling in September 2018, the 2016 is simply magnificent. Soaring aromatics and layers of bright, vibrant fruit are two of the main signatures in the 2016. The tannins, so often hard in young Angélus, are almost impossibly refined. Pomegranate, blood orange, raspberry jam, wild flowers and mocha are some of the many notes that race through the 2016. All the elements fall into place in a memorable, exquisite Saint-Émilion that is clearly one of the wines of the year. Don't miss it! (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago
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The 2016 La Gaffelière is superb. Vivid and precise, with layers of nuance, the 2016 is a wine of real clarity. Blood orange, lavender, rose petal and mint add brightness to this stunningly beautiful Saint-Émilion. La Gaffelière is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, and it is the Franc that gives the wine so much character and complexity. This is just an irresistibly captivating Saint-Émilion. Stéphane Derenoncourt and Simon Blanchard consult. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, January 2019) — 5 years ago