All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: Right after opening this was a deep brooding wine, very powerful and masculine, just hinting at all the potential. Double decanted and 4 hours later the wine had changed completely. Very inviting, fully expressive nose with ripe and very pure dark red and dark fruit, herbs and minerality. Incredible on the palate as it shows incredible concentration with layers upon layers of fruit, minerality, herbs, earthy notes, coffee - all delivered in UHD but at the same time the wine has no weight, super airy and light texture and feel, ultra soft tannins, superb freshness, very long and expanding finish. It strongly reminded me of the Le Pin 2000 we had a few weeks earlier. Wow.

Decanting: A double decant a few hours before consumption was right. It needed it but not more.

Group rank: #1 out of 8 wines
Group score: 96.9 pts

All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: Right after opening, the Figeac showed brilliantly with intense aromatics combined with an amazing purity, airiness and luxuriousness that has become the norm in recent vintages. A quick double decant and a few hours later it showed different, more muted, more in the dark fruit spectrum (compared to the sweet, pure, fresh red berry potpourri it had before) and didn‘t get good grades from the group. A few of us waited, did a lot of swirling and suddently the wine had a comeback (and higher scores from those who waited). It gained in expression and concentration with dark cherries, sour cherries, strawberries, minerality, herbs being the main aromas on the nose and palate. High precision but not as complex as the Ausone in the next glass. Probably it had a tiny hole mid palate but that is more phase than wine related, imo. As mentioned, the structure and texture are impeccable. This bottle proved again that these days, Figeac is a blue chip on the right bank, especially for those seeking elegance and not too much ripeness and extraction.

Decanting: A double decant a few hours before consumption which didn‘t help. I would not decant the wine at this point.

Group rank: #7 out of 8 wines
Group score: 94.3 pts

All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: Expressive nose with intense ripe red and dark berry aromas, herbs and minerality. Superb precision and very inviting. On the palate the same aromas with a bright red fruit core at the center and some additional aromas fine fresh tobacco. Again, all aromas are delivered in HD. Slightly grainy tannins at first but with any minute in the glass, the wine became softer, rounder and more integrated. Very well integrated acidity providing a perfect lift. Very airy feel and creamy texture. Good length. Quite complete already but not yet the most complex wine. What was surprising, and the same is true for Montrose, is how open, ready and feminine these St. Estephe wines were showing. The Montrose (rated 97+ pts) is the better wine today (and will be in the future) but the Cos is certainly one of the best Cos ever produced too.

Decanting: Decanted for roughly 2 hours which seemed right.

Group rank: #4 out of 8 wines
Group score: 95.0 pts

All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: Bombastic nose with layers and layers of expressive aromas of dark berries, bright red fruit, crushed rocks, fresh and roasted herbs and some Mouton-like burnt sugar aromas, I‘ve never experienced in a Montrose before. A 98/99 pts nose, just wow, wow, wow. On the palate the wine is spectacular too with super precise red and dark fruit, burnt sugar, roasted aromas, minerality, herbs all embedded in a superb structural frame with fine tannins and a perfect structure. The wine is light and airy but not in the same category yet as the Ausone in the flight before. Long, expanding and complex finish. What was surprising, and the same is true for the Cos, is how open, ready and feminine these St. Estephe wines were showing. This is without doubt the most spectacular young Montrose I‘ve ever had and I‘m pretty sure this can reach perfection. So far, this is one of the wines of the vintage for me. 97/98 pts in the context of this tasting with upside for more.

Decanting: Decanted for roughly 2 hours which seemed prefect.

Group rank: #3 out of 8 wines
Group score: 95.9 pts

All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: This wine was one of the standouts (rated up to 98 pts) in the arrivage tastings 3 years ago and it again delivered although I get the feeling that it is slightly closing down. Right after opening it showed its complex aromatics but no longer with the same expressiveness as some time ago. After a double decant and a few hours later it showed a bit more open. Medium+ expressive nose with coffee, burnt sugar and whafts of dark berries. Very reminiscent of a magnum of the 82 I‘ve had last year (and how the regular 1982 must have been in its youth). On the palate there are beautiful red and dark berries, ripe but fresh and pure. Loads and loads of minerality with lots of graphite at the centre. Some hints burnt sugar and earth but overall showing less complexity than 3 years ago. This wine is shutting down and at this point with the fruit retracting slowly, the aromatic balance is no longer as outstanding as it was. Super fine tannins, high but well integrated freshness, light and airy texture with a touch (but no longer enough) creaminess. Good length. A very promising showing but we have to wait here for at least 10 years is my guess.

Decanting: A double decant a few hours before consumption did help a bit. I would go for a straight two hours in the decanter at this points but better wait 10 years.

Group rank: #2 out of 8 wines
Group score: 96.4 pts

All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: The nose was muted and hence clearly inferior to the Lalande in the next glass. A bit more open on the palate with fine, pure, fresh red and dark berries, leather, earth and fine tobacco as well as some minerality. Not very expressive and complex. The structure is very luxurious with a wall of satiny tannins and a high but well integrated freshness, medium+ bodied with a realtively light and elegant feel and a touch of creaminess. Medium length. I hoped for an Euraka moment but this bottle didn‘t sing and will need time. The Lalande showed more of its magic.

Decanting: Muted upon opening and still muted or even more after roughly 3.5 hours in the decanter. I‘m not sure if any decanting will help at this point, this is in shutdown mode.

Group rank: #5 out of 8 wines
Group score: 94.9 pts

All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: Quite expressive nose and palate full of ripe sour cherries, dark cherries, some blackberries, herbs and minerality as well as the typical VCC spices. Very good precision but you can sense that it doesn’t show yet its full potential. The structure is impeccable with velvety tannins and a good freshness, a relatively light and airy feel. I guess this didn‘t land as much with the group as it is really on the fresher side at this stage missing a bit of sexy creaminess and a bit intensiveness. I like this fresh style and clearly prefer this 2016 to the very ripe and very Napa-esque 2015.

Decanting: Quickly double decanted a few hours before consumption.

Group rank: #8 out of 8 wines
Group score: 93.7 pts

All wines tasted single blind. This tasting proved again that 2016 is an amazing vintage. Compared to many other recent vintages, the 2016s show no excess in any category (especially beneficial for right banks these days) but wines that are still fully ripe. The aromatic complexity and precision are off the charts and structural frames are luxurious. Compared to the more solar 2015s wines we tasted last year, the 2016s will need more time to integrate and open up and might be a tad less charming at this point, but the potential is immense. Group winner was an incredible Ausone, ahead of the Pichon Lalande and an incredible and singular Montrose (which for me was a tied #1 with the Ausone).

TN: Expressive on the nose and palate with layers of fine, ripe but still fresh red and dark red fruit, lots of spices, some minerality and herbs. I like the freshness and precision, the purity of fruit a lot. A wall of fine tannins and a high freshness and an already nicely creamy structure but overall light feel. This is very promising but was a bit wild and not yet perfectly integrated but I guess this will easily hit the 95-97 pts category once mature.

Decanting: Decanted for two hours. Probably it would have needed even a bit more air (or less, I haven‘t tasted it upon opening).

Group rank: #6 out of 8 wines
Group score: 94.7 pts