Why is the 2016 Bordeaux exceptional?
Against all odds, the wine of Bordeaux 2016 will be another exceptional vintage. Classified Growths of Bordeaux They struggle to communicate about this situation, even though the vintage is associated in most regions of France with hail, frost, or other natural disasters. The result is therefore paradoxical and all the more improbable given that nature has delivered one of its jewels: the 2016 Bordeaux wine is one of the greatest vintages the region has ever produced.
A climat very complicated
After a curiously mild winter BordeauxSpring was marked by endless rains that allowed the vines to develop abundantly and withstand numerous threats. A first miracle then occurred at just the right time: the flowers appeared when the weather was quite mild and without any sudden temperature fluctuations. Then summer brought an incredible drought with very hot days and thankfully cool nights. The vines depleted their water reserves, and a slow ripening process began. The harvest took place under excellent conditions.
None of the vineyard managers we met, on either the right or left bank, spared us the details of the stress they must have experienced between March and October 2016. "We could never have hoped to produce grapes of sufficient quantity and quality this vintage," explained Mr. Teitgen, the technical director of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte.
Bordeaux 2016, what an exceptional vintage you are!
Because, indeed, the 2016 Bordeaux wine is exceptional. Following 2015, this is a vintage that will go down in history. But how is it different, and what characterizes it as such?
First of all, all the grape varieties were able to achieve very high-quality phenolic and aromatic ripeness: "It's very rare to have Cabernet Sauvignon of this quality," emphasizes Mathieu Cuvelier, the owner of Clos Fourtet and Château Poujeaux. The harvest took place under such conditions that no property could have made any real mistakes regarding the harvest dates. The harvest was abundant, and the grapes arriving at the sorting table were in impeccable condition.
THE Bordeaux wines 2016 will be successful in almost all appellations and especially in Saint-Estèphe, Pauillac And Saint Julien but also in Saint-EmilionThe majority of Châteaux claim a higher than average percentage of first wine.
Beyond the perfect refinement of tannins thanks to dry days and cool nights, which impart impressive opulence and aromatic complexity to the wine, the 2016 vintage displays a moderate alcohol level and fairly high acidity. The 2016 Bordeaux will be enjoyable to drink in its youth and will age beautifully in the cellar for many years to come.