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Villa Bel-Air 2016

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Graves
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon

This property in the Graves is owned and run by the Cazes family of Lynch Bages. Previous vintages here have offered very good quality and delivered attractive, forward drinking with extremely modest release prices. The vines (planted in 1988) are now reaching maturity. 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged in one third new oak and the rest in one and two year old barrels from Lynch Bages.

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Tasting Notes

Owned by the Cazes family, this is a classic Graves that offers excellent value. The 2016 is a deep, rich ruby colour and attractively rustic in expression. It opens well in the glass, with a good balance of freshness and enticingly ripe plum fruits, kept in place by tannins that offer just the right amount of tension for a wine that is aimed at medium term drinking.
Drinking Window 2020-2030

89
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2017

This property in the Graves is owned and run by the Cazes family of Lynch Bages. Previous vintages here have offered very good quality and delivered attractive, forward drinking with extremely modest release prices. The vines (planted in 1988) are now reaching maturity. 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc. Aged in one third new oak and the rest in one and two year old barrels from Lynch Bages. 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc in 2016, with 30% new oak. Bright, crunchy cherry fruits on the nose with a hint of all spice and cedar. The palate is brambly and juicy, with forward red and black fruits, toast and vanilla bean. Clean, juicy, soft and approachable, with early drinking pleasure clearly in mind.

90+
Farr Vintners, April 2017

The nose has floral fragrances violets the start of the palate fresh but there is more concentrated fruit in the middle rich ripe cassis and black cherry. It feels lighter at the back an underlying freshness but there is rich fruit on the finish. 2024-35

86/89
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 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.