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| 2016 Bordeaux En Primeur: L'Eglise-Clinet, Léoville Las Cases, and Le Petit Lion
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| | | As the current harvest comes to market, it is important to remember what made 2016 a uniquely extraordinary vintage. |
| The winter and spring saw heavy rains and cool temperatures that eventually gave way to a long, dry summer. From mid-June until mid-September, Bordeaux experienced drought-like conditions with several heat waves and virtually no precipitation. The intense heat coupled with the dry weather strained the vines, particularly allowing older vines with deeper roots to fully express themselves. Substantial diurnal temperature variation helped to retain acidity, and, finally, a brief shower fell in mid-September, refreshing the vineyards just in time.
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| | The warm and dry summer allowed for long, even ripening, particularly for the Cabernet Sauvignon that is the Médoc’s specialty. Wines in 2016 contain lower alcohols and showcase more acidity than in recent vintages, complementing their vibrancy, fruit, and structure. The 2016 vintage appears to challenge the historic 2005 and 2000 vintages for sheer complexity, concentration, balance, and ultimate ageability. As Mathieu Chardonnier of CVBG puts it,
“This is as good as Bordeaux gets.”
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| | What are the advantages to buying Bordeaux En Primeur?
Bordeaux's history of selling futures dates to at least the 17th century. Buying the new Bordeaux vintage as a future allows you to lock in the lowest available pricing for highly-allocated wines before they reach the rest of the market. Acquiring wines via this method also allows you to secure wine with the best possible provenance: once bottled, these pristine, just-released wines are shipped directly from Bordeaux to our warehouse. |
| | | | | | | | | | “The 2016 Leoville-Las Cases comprises 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 11% Cabernet Franc picked between 30 September and 19 October, during which the harvesters were out in the vines for 16 days. It is matured in 90% new oak and delivers 13.60% alcohol and an IPT of 82. It is initially tightly coiled on the nose and needed coaxing from the glass. There are scents of small black cherries, boysenberry, crushed violets and a slight flintiness that emerges with time. The definition is very impressive—you can almost pick the aromas out one by one. The palate is awe-inspiring. The tannins are so filigree, in fact not dissimilar to their neighbor across the border at Château Latour. That seam of graphite lends this Léoville Las-Cases a Pauillac-like personality, but ignoring stylistic similarities, it is the intensity, depth and arching structure that astounds, with detail on the finish that rivets your feet to the spot. Then the finish is ultra-precise, one of the most mineral-driven that I have encountered in almost 20 years visiting the estate, plus it is endowed with one the longest aftertastes you will find in 2016. Yeah, it's good.” Wine Advocate 98-100 Points
“A brick house, with layers of cold charcoal, smoldering tobacco, warm cassis, dark plum and blueberry reduction flavors all working seamlessly together. The charcoal edge underscores the entire finish, which is focused and ridiculously long” Wine Spectator 97-100 Points
“Cabernet Sauvignon makes up 75% of the main blend, with 14% of 80 year old Merlot and 11% of Cabernet Franc, and aged in 90% new oak. It is hard to think of a vintage when this is not a great wine, but in 2016 it is exceptional, comparable to the majestic 1996. It has all the intensity, richness and depth, but it lets the light in. The yield is fairly high at 40hl/ha, with 3.66pH balancing a tannin index of 82IPT. This is the highest ever at this property and yet the wine is elegant, gorgeous and juicy, with an endless array of black fruits and graphite. The tannins are right there pushing at the front of the mouth, but remain pliable. No need to worry about this ageing long into the future. 98-100 points.” Decanter 98-100 Points
“A unique Las Cases that harkens back to some of the great classics such as 1985 or 1986 with its solid backbone of tannins and a walnut, licorice and blackcurrant character. Full and powerful, characterized throughout by a steeliness that shows its strength and energy. Better than the 2015. Ultra-classic.” James Suckling 98-99 Points
“Full of the ripest Cabernet Sauvignon, this is an impressive wine. Dark and tannic, it still has room for considerable fruitiness. It balances dense tannins and layers of black plum fruit along with the freshness of the vintage. Everything is in its place; it just needs time, plenty of time.” Wine Enthusiast 97-99 Points
“Léoville Las Cases is usually a brutish, powerful wine, especially when young. The 2016, on the other hand, is a wine of total finesse. There is almost no sensation of tannin, even though the wine has the highest degree of tannin ever measured here. Sometimes wines can go from the merely outstanding into the realm of the sublime. That is very much the case with the 2016 Léoville Las Cases. I could describe the aromas and flavors, but that seems superfluous for a wine that delivers so much pure pleasure. Silky (yes, silky) tannins wrap around a super-expressive finish laced with the essence of blue/purplish fruit, crème de cassis, lavender and blueberry jam.” Vinous 95-98+ Points
“Amazing combination of the stoniness and backbone of traditional Las Cases with extraordinary vitality and energy, all overlaid with fully ripe fruit. Such richness! Round tannins but the most youthful wine I have yet encountered. Extremely minerally and thrilling. Jean-Hubert Delon bemoans the fact he will not be alive to see it at its peak, and is convinced it will shut down at some point. It is glorious to taste now.” Jancis Robinson 19 Points
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| | | | | | | | “Linear and tight with firm yet silky tannins. It’s very tight and structured, offering classic Bordeaux strength and personality. Full-bodied yet reserved. Second wine of Las Cases.” James Suckling 93-94 Points
“Rich and packed with ripe tannins, this is definitely structured. At the same time, the fruit is so enticing. The combination makes for a wine that will be fruity, delicious and very drinkable.” Wine Enthusiast 91-93 Points
“The 2016 Le Petit Lion is plush, open and seductive. It offers striking freshness, with plenty of distinctly red flavors and silky tannins to match its creamy, nuanced personality. The 2016 is not a big wine, but it is charming and, above all else, absolutely delicious, especially if enjoyed within the first 10-15 years of its life.” Vinous 90-92 Points
“This is more of a Léoville Las Cases expression, while Clos de Marquis is more of a St-Julien expression. The blend is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc, aged in 30% new oak. Even here the Merlot is 50-60 years old, together with young vines up to 20 years old, with a yield of 40hl/ha and representing 35% of the production. This has a stunning cassis mid-palate with a menthol freshness on the finish. It really does deliver a lot of the poise and power of the grand vin” Decanter 91 Points
“Very dark crimson. Sweet and fresh at the same time. Sinewy and round. Lip smacking. Just a little green note on the end. Real lift to this and not quite mouth-filling – just a little austere hole on the end but pretty good!” Jancis Robinson 16.5 Points
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| | | | | | “This has so much violet and black-olive character to it. It’s full-bodied and powerful with incredible power and depth of old-vine tannins. It just rolls on and on. What a finish.” James Suckling 98-99 Points
“The 2016 L'Eglise-Clinet is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc picked between 21 September and 4 October for the former and on 6 October for the latter. It was cropped at 43 hectoliters per hectare and matured in 80% new oak, with around 14.2% alcohol. Lucid in color, it has a quintessential L'Eglise-Clinet bouquet with blackberry, raspberry coulis, liquid minerals and hints of iris and incense. The palate is very precise and crisp, some of the finest tannins that you will encounter in Pomerol, tensile right from the beginning, taut and linear with immense precision towards the extended mineral-soaked finish. This is nothing less than a brilliant wine from Denis Durantou, undoubtedly one of the stars of the vintage.” Wine Advocate 97-99 Points
“The 2016 L'Eglise-Clinet is a magnificent, heart-stopping wine. Deep and expressive, yet with striking translucence, the 2016 simply has it all. Scents of graphite, crushed rocks, blueberry jam, spice, menthol and smoke resonate on the palate with soaring intensity and tremendous richness. Mind blowing in its depth, with tremendous persistence, an extraordinary poise, the 2016 is captivating.” Vinous 96-99 Points
“We are now levitating somewhere above the rest of Denis Durantou's excellent range. Typical of the incredibly deft and precise way of working that is his signature, this wine brings cinammon and clove then hugely deep, rich dark fruits. Utterly elegant, it completes a circuit around your mouth. This is a physical reaction to a wine that you only get in certain vintages and in very few wines. A great European wine.” Decanter 98 Points
“A flash of spearmint gives this a fresh feel, while the core of raspberry and boysenberry fruit follows up quickly, carried by lively acidity. The long, fruitcake-filled finish keeps a sense of elegance. Very enticing.” Wine Spectator 94-97 Points
“Deep sultry crimson. Heady. Savoury nose. Meaty flavours and fantastic structure with enough flesh in the middle. Not the sweetest and not as fat as usual but there is drama and depth here. Very long. I think this will come round.” Jancis Robinson 17.5 Points
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| We are also pleased to offer 2016 futures from the following Châteaux: |
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Orders subject to confirmation
All allocations are secured with trusted négociants, with delivery anticipated in Spring 2018
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Corporate Office
14201 Chambers Rd
Tustin CA 92780
USA
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Hong Kong Office
Room 1603, 16/F, Miramar Tower
Ruttonjee Centre
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Telephone: 949 748 4845
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Email: Info@SpectrumWine.com
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