Chateau Margaux 2016

Refined and typically elegant, 2016 Margaux adds great depth, structure and concentration to the mix. This is a wine to drink in 30–40 years! Only 28% of the production made it into the grand vin and in 2016 much of the Merlot was left out of the final blend. The result is an intense, mineral, black fruit–driven wine with pronounced floral and leafy hints, smooth, ripe tannins and layers of subtle oak.

A gorgeous, captivating bouquet gives the 2016 Margaux an irresistible allure. Weightless and yet wonderfully persistent, in the way only the château's wines can be, the 2016 Grand Vin is a wine of exceptional breeding and pedigree. So many wines in this vintage are obvious, but Margaux is a wine that takes time to discover, like a great book or piece of music. Shades of tobacco, cedar, mint, licorice and bright, red-toned fruit reveal themselves over time. And yet it is a sense of total harmony and seductiveness that elevates Margaux into the stratosphere in 2016.

A bright, red, fresh vintage, the wine provides lift, energy and a nice pop in the red berries. Silky, elegant, lifted and long, there is a gorgeous purity to the black raspberry, black currant and red berry palate. You are going to need to wait for this beauty to develop, as the wine has a lot of structure and freshness that needs to round out. The wine was made from a blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot.

Dark ruby garnet, opaque core, subtle brightening on the rim. Clear noble wood savouriness, ripe cherry notes, floral touch, fresh orange zest and a hint of cedar. Juicy, red berries on the palate, fine sweetness, well integrated tannins and on the finish, some nougat and a touch of caramel. This is a rather light-footed, elegant vintage which will be drinking well soon.

Rich dark fruit, aromatic herbs, crème de cassis, fine oak, tobacco. Dense but not heavy, with bright freshness, lovely aromatics, plenty of ripe tannins, very fine and integrated oak, and pure black fruit on the finish.

Showing consistently and from a bottle purchased locally and drunk over multiple days, the 2016 Château Margaux is a magical wine that tastes like the essence of Margaux. Red and black currants, blueberries, spring flowers, sandalwood, and crushed violet notes all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a pure, elegant, seamless profile, gorgeous concentration, and a great finish. The level of freshness, purity, and precision paired with concentration and intensity is truly something to behold. It has some accessibility even today, yet it's going to take another decade for this to come close to the early stages of its prime drinking window. It's going to be a 50-75+ year wine.

94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, only 28% Grand Vin. Purple garnet with a violet rim. Dense perfume with plenty of violets and cranberry, followed by red cherry. On the palate, silky texture, beautifully ripe tannins and a gentle astringency. Long finish with plenty of Margaux elegance, pure raspberry coulis, lingonberries and fine spice. Impresses with its regal character. A truly great Margaux, whose bouquet recalls the magnificent 1985. 19.5/20

Kunz barrel sample 17: (94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 28% Grand Vin) Velvety, dense, complex, sweet, creamy bouquet—blackcurrant, raspberry jelly, flint, tobacco, truffle, currants, eucalyptus. Concentrated, layered, powerful, elegant palate with intense, sweet, multifaceted aromatics, lots of fine tannin, a tightly woven, creamy, finely muscular structure, and a very long, powerful, sweet, aromatic finish.

(94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 28% Grand Vin) Silky, dense, complex, sweet, creamy bouquet of cassis, raspberry jelly, flint, tobacco, truffle, currants, eucalyptus. Concentrated, layered, powerful, elegant palate with intense, sweet, diverse aromatics, plenty of fine tannins, a tightly knit, creamy, finely muscular structure, and a very long, powerful, sweet, aromatic finish. 20/20 2024 - 2050

A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Chateau Margaux is deep garnet-purple in color. It is a real struggle to shake loose the aromas, this is so shut down at the moment. Eventually, notes of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and blueberry compote begin to emerge, followed by licorice, dark chocolate, cumin seed, truffles, and iron ore suggestions. Full-bodied and full-on rich and seductive, the palate is absolutely crammed with bright, crunchy black fruit layers, framed by astonishingly ripe, finely grained tannins and amazing tension, finishing with a firework display of minerals, flowers, and exotic spices. Sell your car and get a few cases of this - you won't regret it!

The wine has closed down a little and seemed tight during an intermediate phase after bottling, and it will take some time for it to regain its full flesh.

The 2016 has a monumental structure, with vibrant, opulent fruit and, above all, immense freshness. The palate is silky and the finish is minty.

Deep purple-violet. What an exceptional nose! Such intensity, authenticity and complexity. Notes of red berries such as raspberries, as well as cherries, licorice sticks and spices. Fruity, gourmand attack. On the palate, the wine is compact, with exceptional aromatic intensity, ideally supported by its structure. The tannins are of rare finesse. They are silky with a very fine grain. They are in perfect harmony with the acidic structure, which brings drive and energy to the whole palate and wonderfully supports the flavor expression all the way through to the finish. Intense, persistent finish. 2016 is great in Margaux, and I would very much like to know who, today, can still claim that 2016 is less good than 2015 in this appellation. 2015 was exceptional; 2016 is as well. Comparing the wines of the 2016 vintage, the wines of the Margaux appellation are clearly among the front-runners.

Intense, purple color. Superb, intense nose—refined, fruity, pure, and complex. Nuances of ripe fruit and flowers. A very meticulous entry on the palate, then the wine begins to melt with great grace—juicy and flavorful. It gains a complex, noble dimension after the mid-palate and finishes very long and delicious, with an extremely fine tannin grain.

A floral and fruity bouquet, with a silky tannic structure and a lingering finish.

97–99. Barrel Sample. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine is packed with firm tannins and a dark, dense structure. It is seriously concentrated and powerful in its impression. Magnificent fruit contrasts with the structure to suggest a wine ready for long-term aging.