Chateau Olivier 2016

WINE ENTHUSIAST: WINE ENTHUSIAST:"Dense tannins are balanced by equally rich fruit in this wine. It comes from vines around a medieval, moated castle on the edge of Bordeaux city. The wine is full of ripe, juicy blackberry flavors that circle of core of dryness. Both will allow the wine to age well. Drink from 2025."

JAMES SUCKLING: JAMES SUCKLING:"A solid column of pretty cool fruit with blackcurrants and stones. Full body, polished and chew tannins and a juicy finish. Hints of asphalt and smoke to the dark fruit at the end. Drink in 2022."

DECANTER: DECANTER:"This is tight right now, still extremely young and Cabernet-dominant. You can feel the depth of the fruit, and this will take its time to open. They are really focussing hard on the red wine at this estate, finding its feet, growing its profile and giving it direction. Good quality, though give this a good five years before thinking about opening."

FALSTAFF: FALSTAFF:"Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, schwarze Kirschen, feine tabakige Nuancen, ein Hauch von Schokolade und Edelholz. Mittlerer Körper, reife Kirschen, bleibt haften."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER:"Refined, elegant ripe and juicy, this is the finest vintage of Chateau Olivier Rouge ever produced. It is the purity in the fruit that defines this medium bodied, round, soft, fresh, red berry and leafy tobacco oriented wine. Drink it young if you must, else, age it for 6-8 years allowing it to gain more secondary nuances."

WINE SPECTATOR: WINESPECTATOR:Fresh and sleek, with plum and black currant fruit that is a touch restrained in style, while light iron, tobacco and black licorice notes line the finish. A singed cedar echo imparts a slight old-school hint, but the fruit is energetic and the acidity fresh. Should be fun to age a bit. Drink now through 2032. 10,000 cases made. — JM"

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:"Deep purplish crimson. Pure, tight, cedary black fruit. A good counterbalance of cedar-like freshness and pure intense cassis. Rich, dense and with an attractive dark savoury quality even with all this beautifully ripe fruit. Rich, full and fresh. Persistent too. Moreish even now. (JH)"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: THE WINEADVOCATE:"The deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Olivier features Black Forest cake, kirsch, dried herbs and warm cassis with hints of garrigue, tapenade, forest floor and truffles. Medium-bodied with an elegantly styled palate, it has a solid foundation of ripe, grainy tannins and great freshness lifting the long earthy finish."