Community Tasting Note
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Motz wrote: 94 points
June 16, 2019 - The 2016 Bordeaux vintage has proven underwhelming in my experience, and I have mostly found comparisons to the 2010 vintage befuddling. I have looked forward to tasting this wine, my favorite Left Bank offering, as a true measure of the vintage, and it was my privilege to enjoy it alongside the 2014 and 2015.
This was the first 2016 vintage wine that I found a basis for comparison to 2010, particularly on account of its massiveness. Indeed, the most tannic Pontet-Canet since that hallowed vintage. This noted, unlike the 2010, which packed a mind-bending amalgam of flavor and substance, this wine features more structure than flavor. Paucity of mid-palate flavor, other than purple and black berries, which this boasts in abundance, along with absence of underlying substance, have been my two main critiques of 2016 wines. This suffers from the first issue, though not at all from the second. By measure of tannin, it reminded me of the finest Sagrantino di Montefalco, gripping to the core, but lacking other necessary elements to make it complete. Those who remember the layered flavors in the 2010 may also find the 2016 somewhat disappointing.
There is flavor here, though it takes a decided back seat to structure, and this is by any measure a fine wine. It does not, however, merit the 97-98 average pro score it has received, nor did it move the needle regarding my viewpoint of the overstated vintage. Recommend holding for no less than a decade. I am at the threshold of closing the pocket book to 2016 Bordeaux, but would love to be proven wrong.3 people found this helpful 14,139 views
4 Comments
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thesternowl commented:
6/17/19, 7:53 AM - @MOTZ thank you, once again, for sharing such a thoughtful note on the 2016 P-C as well as your early assessment of the 2016 Bordeaux vintage in general. I've only had a couple 2016's from different producers and my experience certainly isn't a large enough sample size to make an opinion, yet. Excited to see what happens with these wines down the road.
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Motz commented:
6/20/19, 1:44 PM - Thank you. Looking forward to 2017 and 2018, and have seen indications that some 2017 wines hold promise.
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timdelgado commented:
2/21/20, 11:08 AM - I agree completely with your assessment. It seems like the pros are extra committed to hyping the '16, '17 & '18 vintages, and while these vintages have excellent wines, they are in no way comparable to 2010 or 2015 for this taster. I can only assume they feel it is an important time to promote their industry. Having tasted almost all the top wines from these vintages, I was highly selective with my purchases of the more classically-structured 2016, and was underwhelmed by the 2017s. Being on the wrong side of 50 now, I will not be purchasing new-release, red bordeaux moving forward, and am fortunate to have stocked up on 2010 & 2015.
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Motz commented:
2/24/20, 2:15 PM - Glad you have lots of 2010s and 2015s, great vintages. I have not yet tasted 2018s, but I quit buying 2016s almost a year ago. Most are non-descript, New World look alikes, and soulless.
Not quite on the far side of 50...but I can see it from where I stand.
Cheers!