Le Prieuré 2016

One of the unquestioned Sleeper jewels of the year, the 2016 Le Prieuré is off the charts beautiful. Silky and impossibly refined, the 2016 is a wine of pure and total precision. Today, the 2016 is a bit more restrained than it was from barrel, when it was a more overt wine. That is not a bad thing, though, as I suspect the 2016 is going to need a number of years to be at its finest. Dark, beautifully perfumed and gracious, Le Prieuré represents the height of finesse in Saint-Émilion. Jean-Claude Berrouet consults for the Artemis Group, which is now the sole owner of Le Prieuré. The 2016 is a fabulous wine by any measure. Don't miss it.

The 2016 Le Prieure has an attractive, quite floral bouquet with plenty of blackberry and blueberry fruit, the oak nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with supple ripe tannin, plenty of blackberry and bilberry fruit intermingling with tobacco and spice towards the finish. This is a fine Le Prieuré from Paul Goldschmidt (see also Le Siaurac and Vray Croix de Gay) but let's see if it surpasses the excellent 2015.

Dense and minerally red with blueberry and blackberry character. Hints of licorice, too. Medium body and a juicy finish.

A classic blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Château Le Prieure sports a deep, saturated ruby/purple color as well as notes of ripe black cherries, blackcurrants, scorched earth, and some obvious minerality. With medium to full body, present tannins, and good acidity, it's a beautiful, impressively balanced Saint Emilion to drink over the coming 15 years or more. Drink 2019-2034.