2016 Château Margaux

Aromas of graphite, earth and black currants. It is really elegant, nuanced and delicate, with precise, subtle fruit and an almost ethereal palate. The tannins are tender, yet with enough focus and precision to be cohesive and fully integrated. Elegance at its best. Drinkable now, but it will evolve toward an even more delicate and beautiful expression with time. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

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.

The 2016 Château Margaux has an intense bouquet of blackberry, briar, crushed stone and subtle cedar aromas that enrapture the senses; hints of pencil box and sous-bois emerge with time. The harmonious palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, and a touch of bitterness lends tension on the finish. Impressive – very impressive. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.