Wine Review of 2016 Château Beau-Site Haut-Vignoble Saint-Estèphe, Bordeaux, France
Score: 91+/100
Chateau Beau-Site Haut-Vignoble is a relatively small wine estate, counting with about 20 blocks spread around the commune of Saint-Estèphe in Médoc and covering around 20 hectares of vineyards (50 acres).
Owner and vigneron Pierre Braquessac makes wine blended from Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (40%), and Petit Verdot (5%) from vines on gravelly soils planted at 8600 vines/hectare.
Wines from Château Beau-Site Haut-Vignoble are certainly age-worthy, excellent to enjoy after 5-10 years of ageing, while tasting the 1990 vintage demonstrates that in great vintages they can age beautifully for decades.
Braquessac’s approach to winemaking aims at respecting and expressing the purity of the fruit, yet giving his wines the typical mark of great Médoc wines, a sense of savoriness, delicate oak, balance, age-worthiness and solid tannic structure displayed with elegance.
The latest release 2016 vintage might well be the best wine Pierre Braquessac has ever made on the property since he took over winemaking of the Chateau from his father Jean Louis Braquessac around vintage 2004-2005.
Overall Reviews Notes & Tasting Impressions
A gorgeous Médoc Bordeaux wine, and an elegant and complex Saint-Estèphe at that.
The generosity, opulence and concentration we love from the appellation are there, with a clear sense of the earthiness too.
The character of this Northern Médoc terroir is all in there, expressed beautifully, but combined with the fruity and spicy generosity offered by a great vintage.
Oak has been integrated very well into a genuine expression of ripe fruit. The whole gives a sweet/savory feel, smoky and mineral, yet intrinsically fruity and heart-contenting.
A wine with a solid 15-20 years of ageing potential, yet surprisingly enjoyable to drink now already, only one month after bottling.
At a very affordable price for the area, my friend Pierre Braquessac has delivered here a stunner of a wine offering exceptional value in this 2016 vintage.
Stock up while you can…
Full Tasting Notes
This Médoc red comes in a rather dark red color indeed, looking dense and nearly black to the core, with purple hues to the core betraying this is a baby of a Bordeaux wine.
The nose is powerfully scented, feeling rich and fruity from decadent ripe blackberry and plum aromas.
More importantly, the aromatic profile feels extremely deep and profound. An outstanding complexity comes through.
Loads of mixed spices, from the sweet type like cinnamon and clove, through nutmeg and black pepper, to even warming and spicy ones with a sense of chili-like mintiness and eucalyptus (gum tree essence).
It is extremely charming and captivating to smell at, from so many layers made available to your sense, always with a sensation of opulent spicy and ripe richness.
The palate follows suit, with an outstanding overall balance. Flavors, again, are bursting with both fruity and spicy complexity. The whole is dry with a crisp acidity, yet the wine feels very smooth and round.
Tannins are soft and round, backed in their smooth expression by an oily palate-coating body.
The long and layered finish delivers gorgeous ripe red berry notes mixed with sweet spices, oaky and smoky caramel, discrete hints of vanilla for an intriguing and utterly tempting after-taste.
Enjoy 🙂
Related Château Beau-Site Haut-Vignoble Wine Review
Vineyards Views Video around Saint-Estèphe at Château Beau-Site Haut-Vignoble
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