Chateau Le Prieure 2016

DECANTER: "A lovely wine from vines averaging 44 years of age. It gets the balance pretty well nailed down, displaying the richness and power of modern St-Emilion with polish and lift. It shows a hint of elegance, with some salinity on the finish. 50% new oak. 47hl/ha yield. Consultant is Jean-Claude Berrouet."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Attractive red plums and roasting herbs with a stony and quite grainy edge. The palate has a punchy and grainy core of rich, dense tannins. Assertive, clear-cut finish. A blend of 80 per cent merlot and 20 per cent cabernet franc. Try from 2022."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Silky, vibrant, fresh and showing a beautiful assemblage of flowers, cherries, rocks and licorice, the wine is sweet, pure and lively. For the time being, this is still a hidden gem, I suspect that will change with time."

WEINWISSER: "Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Eine solch tiefe Farbe hatte dieser Wein bisher noch nie! Deutliche Holundertöne, fast überfruchtig. Cremiger Gaumen, etwas portig, doch die Süsse passt zum Rest. Das wird was."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, fester Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart reduktiver Hauch, reifes schwarzes Beerenkonfit, floral, etwas Hibiskus. Saftig, elegant und rund, wirkt jedoch etwas weitmaschig, frisch strukturiert, unkomplizierter Speisenbegleiter."

JEB DUNNUCK: "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."