2016 Petit Faurie de Soutard

The 2016 Petit Faurie de Soutard has a relatively simple bouquet of black currant pastille and wild strawberry aromas that need a little more terroir expression. The palate is very concentrated on the entry, and slightly medicinal, delivering succulent, black-pepper- and cedar-infused red fruit on the slightly alcoholic finish. This showed better 12 months ago. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Second wine of Faurie de Soutard. Tasted blind. Low-key, rather distinctive nose. Good balance and some energy. Fruit, tannin and acid in decent balance. 16+ 25-40 (JR)

A modern styled effort that has subtle oak in its crème de cassis, tobacco, and earthy aromas and flavors, the 2016 Château Petit Faurie de Soutard is medium-bodied, has a firm, focused texture, fabulous purity of fruit, and a great finish. It’s still tight and holding things relatively close to its vest, yet it’s balanced, has good concentration, its acidity is nicely integrated, and again, its purity of fruit is something to behold. Give it 2-3 years of bottle age and it’s going to drink well over the following 10-15.