Main characteristics of the vintage

The 2016 vintage was defined by a cool and wet start to the season, followed by a very dry and rather hot summer.

The winter was relatively mild. Regular and intense rainfall marked out the spring and allowed the water tables to build up their reserves.

The few episodes of frost at the end of April caused no damage in the vineyard. Once again, the estuary played its essential role as a temperature regulator.

Full flowering took place around 7 June. At the end of the month, the summer set in to stay, marked by very strong heat as from 15 August. The vineyard suffered but tolerated these extreme conditions thanks to the incomparable qualities of the terroir and its water reserves built up at the start of the year. Veraison started mid-August, indicating an October harvest. September was hot and sunny. The rain on 13 September relaunched the ripening cycle of the vine, slowed down by the very strong heat of summer. The 4 grape varieties reached optimal ripeness. The alternating hot days and cool nights preserved an impressive balance between freshness and aromatic power.

The harvest took place calmly under a radiant sun from 23 September to 14 October.

This year, even more precise selection of plots was carried out by an expanded team in the vineyard (90 pickers).

In the cellar, each vat has its own identity and the custom vinifications allowed the extraction of the best potential from each of them. This ultra-precise work resulted in a large palette of 50 different lots for the blending.

Period of harvest

September 23rd –  October 14th

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon : 35%

Merlot : 52%

Cabernet Franc : 2%

Petit Verdot : 11%

Tasting notes

The colour is dense and deep.

The complex, expressive and indulgent nose unveils aromas of ripe fruit and spicy notes on aeration.

The full and round palate shows good complexity. There are notes of well-ripened black fruit, liquorice and vanilla. The tannic structure and freshness of the fruit are perfectly in balance.

Long and persistent finish.

A very great Dame that can (still) wait!