Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse 2016

JEB DUNNUCK: "Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Almost opaque in color, the wine smells like you are in a flower shop on an ocean liner at sea. The freshness makes this pop. The layers of unctuous, juicy, fresh, lively fruit give it life. And the finish which hits you in all the right spots, truly delivers the goods for over 60 seconds! Not as hedonistic as the 2015. Instead you find more focus, acidity and length. This is a beauty that still sells for a song, considering the high level of quality found here."

JAMES SUCKLING: "The aromas of mushrooms, tobacco, vine bark, stones and black fruit. It changes so quickly and then comes back. Full-bodied and remarkably balanced, concentrated and structured. Such precision and beauty. Try after 2024."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) slips seductively out of the glass with perfumed scents of candied violets, chocolate-covered cherries, lavender and baked plums with nuances of redcurrants, forest floor, mossy bark and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of grace and finesse with a super fine-grained frame and lovely freshness lifting the intense, perfumed fruits to a very long, mineral-tinged finished. Gorgeous."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur mit lila Rand. Sehr konzentriertes rot- und blaubeeriges Bouquet mit Himbeermark und Rosenholz, dahinter Früchtetee und heller Tabak. Am sehr engmaschigen Körper mit dicht besetztem Tanningerüst, ein Powerpack, etwas Graphit und Wacholder spürbar, der packt zu und lässt dann einfach nicht mehr los, auch weil er ganz lang endet! Für diesen klassischen St.-Émilion war der Jahrgang wie geschaffen. Grossartig!"

DECANTER: "I just love this - it's compact, closed and tense, and yet aromatically rich, juicy and powerful. It's totally delicious and easily one of my favourite St-Emilion 2016s. It combines the austerity of limestone with the power and seductive appeal of clay. It will take its time opening, but will amply reward patience. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "While this wine offers superripe fruit, it also has the freshness that comes from the vintage. It is both opulent and juicy with spice and a smoky character from the judicious wood aging. Drink this generous wine from 2025."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feine Zwetschkenfrucht, reife Kirschen, zart nach Nougat, ein Hauch von Edelholz, kandierte Orangenzesten. Stoffig, rund und extraktsüß, feine, tragende Tannine, gute Struktur, zarter Schokotouch, rotbeerige Nuancen, bleibt gut haften, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Dark and winey in feel, with lots of coiled-up macerated dark currant, fig paste and blackberry compote flavors laced with smoldering tobacco and alder notes, all backed by a chalky persistence through the finish. A touch austere now, but with serious length, so tuck this one away in the cellar. Best from 2023 through 2038."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Spicy dried-fruit nose. Lots of tannins but lots of drive too. Can’t fault this for energy! Ambitious."