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Potensac 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Médoc
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyMerlot/Cabernet Sauvignon/Cabernet Franc

Produced by the Léoville Lascases team in the Northern Médoc near to Sociando Mallet, above St Estephe with maturation in 33% new oak. A second wine - La Chapelle de Potensac - is also made here.

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Potensac

Label

Tasting Notes

Is the 2016 Potensac this estate's finest vintage to date? Certainly, its compelling bouquet of cassis and pencil shavings and it's seamless, beautifully balanced palate make a strong case. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a long, penetrating finish, this is built to age with style, yet it is also quite accessible at this early stage for a young Potensac. Drink Date 2025 - 2045

91+
William Kelley, RobertParker.com (Cellar 33), August 2022

Suave aromas of cedar and fresh red flowers with a thread of ripe red berries and blackcurrants, mulberries, coal smoke and cool stones. The palate delivers a wealth of rich red-fruit flavors, framed in sleek tannins that build with precision and length. A class act. One of the best from here in the modern era. Try from 2023.

94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2019

Blended of 44% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Potensac features chocolate box and Sichuan pepper scents with a core of cassis, warm blackberries, kirsch and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, it has a great core of expressive black fruits, grainy tannins and lovely freshness, finishing with a red fruit lift. Drink 2020-2035.

90
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim En), November 2018

Potensac benefits from its location close to St-Estèphe in this vintage, and the tannins are absolutely beautiful, far more bouncy and fresh than in some vintages. Deep, rich blueberry and raspberry fruits are framed by the same floral prettiness as the second wine. What an excellent vintage for Potensac, owned by the Delon Group. A definite buy this year, give it maybe five years then crack right into it. 56% grand vin, 34% to Chapelle de Potensac and 10% sent to bulk. A blend of 44% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, aged in 30% new oak. 3.49pH.

Drinking Window 2022 - 2038

90
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

Bright crimson. Racy and very rich and polished. Lovely tannins. Very juicy. Some tannin and potential underneath. Firm structure but no austerity. GV?
Drink 2024-2033

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2017

Another sleeper is the 2016 Château de Potensac, which is 44% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all aged 14 months in 30% new French oak. This beauty is upfront and ready to go, with a dark, rich bouquet of currants, unsmoked tobacco, graphite, and earth. With beautiful concentration and a layered, elegant texture, it’s one of those wines that has ample upfront appeal yet will keep for 15+ years. Drink 2019-2034.

91
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, February 2019

The nose has fragrance spring violets the start of the palate is light and bright but it fills out in the middle with sweet ripe black fruits. The tannins are fine and integrated with the richness balanced by freshness the finish has good depth and sweetness. 2024-34

88/90
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2017
90
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2017
Read more tasting notes...

The 2016 Potensac is a blend of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, cropped at 55 hectoliters per hectare between 5 and 19 October (11 days of picking), then matured in 30% new oak. Jean-Hubert Delon told me that his team was selective in the winery and so the Grand Vin only comprises 55% of the total production. It actually shares the potent marine/estuarine influence of the Chapelle de Potensac, plenty of black fruit here, maybe a little rustic but with plenty of character. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite linear at first, opening nicely in the mouth to reveal a spicy and lively middle and finish. This has a little more panache than the 2015 Potensac, more detail towards the finish, and it should give plenty of drinking pleasure over the next decade or more. Drink 2020 - 2035.

90/92
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (230), April 2017

What a racy and focused Potensac with wonderful density and finesse as well as a firm and polished tannins that hold the whole thing together. A beautiful, reasoned young red. One of best Potensacs in a long time.

93/94
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2017
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.