Chateau Haut Beausejour 2016 Saint Estephe

In 1992, Jean-Claude Rouzaud, oenologist and Board Chairman of Champagne Louis Roederer, acquired and combined two Cru Bourgeois vineyards in the heart of the Medoc‘s prestigious Saint-Estèphe appellation: Château Picard and Château Beauséjour. Together, these properties make up what is now called Château Haut-Beauséjour.

The appellation of St. Estèphe is unique by its proximity to both the Atlantic Ocean and the Gironde River. The soil consists of gravel over clay, providing good drainage and a temperate, maritime climate, which is excellent for the maturation of the grapes.

The proportion of Merlot is higher relative to other châteaux in the appellation in order to give the wine a more fleshy aspect. This makes the wine more approachable at a younger age yet provides enough structure for aging.

This wine from the outstanding 2016 vintage is 62% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in French oak casks for 12 months, 30% new oak.

James Suckling scored this 92-93 points saying “A generous, dramatic but forthrightly tannic St.-Estèphe that has enough cassis fruit, smoke and minty freshness to easily carry this structure and still come off energetic at the long, refreshing finish. Drink or hold.”

Decanter Magazine scored this 90 points saying “Another Pichon Comtesse estate up in St-Estèphe with a lovely ripe fruit expression. There are some tight, austere tannins right now, and the wine is a little less immediately exuberant than some, but give it a few years in bottle to flesh out.”