2016 Château Desmirail

This estate turned out a fabulous 2016 Château Desmirail that shines for its purity, elegance, and finesse, which is very much in the style of the 2016 vintage. Spring flowers, tobacco, menthol, and beautiful blue fruits all emerge from this medium-bodied Margaux that has fine, silky tannins and a great finish. It’s not a blockbuster, but it’s all about purity and finesse. Drink it over the coming 15 years or more.

The 2016 Desmirail shows much better now than a couple of months ago: crisp and focused, offering light, tertiary and graphite-tinged black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin and a fine thread of acidity, but just a little compact and austere on the finish at the moment. Give this Margaux five or six years in bottle.

This has a super spicy, modern and meaty nose with some dark plum, berry and chocolate, sitting fresh. The palate delivers a firm yet sweet impression with plenty of ripe summer berries, swathed in spicy oak to good effect. A blend of 55 per cent merlot, 40 per cent cabernet sauvignon and five per cent petit verdot. Try from 2023.