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Wine Description
The Story
Pomerol, Saint-Emilion’s neighbour, is located to the north-east of Libourne and is the smallest of Bordeaux’s prestigious appellations, covering just 800 hectares (1,976 acres) of vineyard.
Its outstanding terroir is largely made up of clay-gravel soils in which the Merlot, the king grape variety of the region, finds its full expression alongside the Cabernet Franc, which is planted on the deepest gravel soils. Beauregard is situated at the entrance to the appellation and covers an area of 17.5 hectares (43 acres), making it one of the largest Pomerol estates. Its grape composition is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. In 2016, 4% of Cabernet Sauvignon was added to the vineyard, and these grapes will enter into the blend within a few years.
The vines have reached an average grand old age of 35 years, while every new plantation is planted at the very high density of 9,200 vines per hectare.
The wine-making facilities at Beauregard have been completely redesigned with a new, high-performing gravity-flow vat cellar containing 22 temperature-controlled tronco-conical concrete vats of 60 to 80 hectolitre capacity, which enable extremely precise plot by plot vinification. Two barrel cellars, one of which has a gravity-flow system, follow the strictest rules of fine wine ageing.
Wine Information
A demanding vintage that required constant vigilance but which will most probably turn out to have produced one of the greatest wines at the estate.
The first six months of the year were very wet. By the end of March, we had already recorded cumulated rainfall of twice the usual amount. With this humidity, the mildness of winter triggered an early budding in the vines. The temperatures during the following months slowed down the vine cycle. Then a combination of heavy rains and mild temperatures brought about high vine disease pressure, especially that of downy mildew. Meticulous preventive work allied to the appropriate rate of spray treatments enabled us to get through this period without any serious damage.
The month of July marked the end of the rains for the summer, and a period of severe drought then set in. During August and September markedly higher than average temperatures were recorded. Water stress, which is necessary for the production of high quality grapes, gradually set in.
A bout of rain at the beginning of September “unblocked” the plots of young vines growing in soils with low moisture levels and favoured the ripening process in all of the plots.
Thanks to this almost miraculous weather, our grapes were able to reach perfect ripeness in each of the plots. Precise control of crop size was necessary to achieve this optimal ripeness. The harvest was therefore late and long drawn-out. We were able to take advantage of an Indian summer that stayed with us for the first two weeks of October. The homogeneity in the ripeness of the grapes was outstanding this year. After precision vinification aiming to bring out the purity, balance, complexity and elegance of our crop, the tastings we carried out during the wine’s ageing process demonstrated the value of all the efforts we made throughout the growing season and promised an outstanding future for the 2016.
Vintage 2016
Bordeaux 2016 in review “A paradox”
by Andrew Caillard MW
The 2016 Bordeaux vintage will be remembered as one of the great years of the 21st century. I haven't been this excited about the prospects of wines this young since the remarkable 2009 and 2010 vintages. At that time, China was at the zenith of its extraordinary rise of fine wines where the highest estates, particularly Château Lafite , had become a backwater currency. Each man and his dog, with a connection to the government, curry favor or accept gifts with the Grand Cru Bordeaux, particularly the Premiers Crus. During this extraordinary period, Bordeaux prices began to rise at a faster rate than Sydney Real Estate. During the filming of Red Obsession in 2011, the Bordeaux wine market had become a classic bubble, even if the main actors still believed otherwise. Self-reliance and denial always go hand in hand. Nonetheless, it took five years for the market to reset. Bordeaux is more confident again. Even China's interest has increased again. The market today is around 280 million euros per year, which illustrates the resilience, power and track record of Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé wines.
The 2016 Primeurs are also very different from previous years. There is a changing of the guard with new generations beginning to make their mark at all levels of the industry and wine production. Philippe Bascaules returned from California to Ch Margaux. Eduard Moueix of JP Moueix is clearly on the rise, and the owners of Ch Angelus have passed on their duties to the next generation. This energy, this renewal and this enthusiasm are great for Bordeaux. Chateau owners, winemakers and business leaders seem to be more enlightened and interested in the world around them, even Australia.
This very contemporary and sparkling 2016 vintage seems to reflect the freshness and dynamism of a new era of wine. Even Château Pavie, once the poster child of the Robert Parker era, has raised the white flag. Its long alliance with overly sweet sweet wine is over, it seems. The 2016 versus the 2015 is like comparing a racehorse to a sloth, although vintage conditions would normally land on something similar in style. The affable consultant oenologist Michel Rolland, great master of the aesthetics of taste, has clearly evolved with the times. There is no longer a clear individual to impress.
Nevertheless, with Robert Parker now quite far from the scene, there seems to be a merry-go-round of position among ambitious American wine critics in particular. Hard-working James Suckling and James Molesworth of Wine Spectator, like the horses of the apocalypse, have already walked through the starting gates and made their prophecies known to the world. Everything points to an early campaign, but it will likely last forever, such is the tactical perspective and hierarchical nature of this beast.
It's worth putting everything in context. Primeur tasting generally takes place after the end of the malolactic fermentation of the wines. Tasting earlier could in theory compromise or distort the opinion. This is arguably a growing problem with leading wine writers trying to outdo each other. However, it doesn't take a genius to understand the quality of a very good vintage. Color, aromatic complexity, concentration, tannin quality, oak and acidities are key elements and we are all looking for a patterned balance, an individual voice or something to believe in . With so many wines, the nuances can be infinitesimal, certainly from a linguistic point of view, and therefore difficult to really differentiate. An understanding of the winemaking house's background, style and sub-regional characteristics also helps to provide an overall impression. Cultural references, experience, language, personal loyalties, etc. will also give rise to divergent opinions. Fear of not doing things well could also be a factor. And of course there is the 1855 classification, which may have a moderating effect. For example, would a wine critic dare to give a fifth growth a higher score than a first growth?
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Pomerol
Olivier Berouet of Ch Petrus describes 2016 as “a vintage that can only be compared to itself”. Clay substrates played an important role in maintaining sufficient soil moisture. Typically, the wines are round, supple and richly flavored with beautiful aromatic complexity, fine and abundant tannins, superb fruit definition and mineral length. The wines have incredible dimension and balance. Vieux Château Certan is in a league of its own with its very clear inimitable house style and luxurious quality. Ch Petrus, Ch Lafleur, Ch Lafleur Petrus, Ch Latour a Pomerol, Ch L’Evangile and Ch La Conseillante are adorable.St Emilion
St Emilion wines are quite varied but many have a dark inky quality with superb pastry fruits and fine chalky textures. Ch Cheval Blanc is very impressive this year and is clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Ch Figeac is slightly more vigorous than its neighbor, but it has produced one of the best wines in twenty years, probably due to the high proportions of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Ch Pavie is also impressive and it's just great to see this legendary brand producing a wine consistent with its status. Ch Pavie Macquin, Ch Pavie Decesse, Ch Canon, Ch Tertre Rotebeouf and Ch Troplong Mondot are all worth seeking outSauternes Barsac
The dry growing season allowed the Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc to reach full maturity, but the lack of rain was not encouraging. When it finally fell on September 13, the humidity in the vines began to encourage botrytis cinerea (noble rot). Further rain on September 30 and a very useful soaking on October 10 ensured a normal vintage. The results are mixed, but the best estates all produced very good wines. Ch d’Yquem is quite classic but will not be released during this en-primeur campaign. Ch Caillou, Ch Climens, Ch Coutet, de Myrat, Ch Doisy Daene, Ch Guiraud and Ch Lafaurie Peyreguey, Ch Rieussec and Ch Sigalas Rabaud have all made very good wines.Dry white Bordeaux
The region's dry white wines are also generally very good. The fruit has developed very good maturity and many have a very clear lemony curd, sometimes tropical fruit flavors, flint/yeast complexity and very good natural acidities. Many feel quite polished and taught. Ch Haut Brion Blanc and Ch La Mission Haut Brion Blanc are wonderful but what a price for the experience. Ch Pape Clément and Ch Smith Haut Lafitte also made very beautiful wines. The White Pavilion of Ch Margaux is also worth the detour.2016 BORDEAUX: WINEGROOM OPINION
2016 will offer the first fully organic Château Latour, and if the positive – almost bullish – rumblings from Bordeaux are to be believed, there will be a lot more excitement to follow:
“The grapes are already very 'tasty' and the analytical readings are at a good level, improving day by day. We are very confident! » – Guinaudeau family, Lafleur
“Deep vintage...If I'm right, they will age forever. » – Thomas Duroux, Palmer
“We had perfect weather conditions throughout the harvest. No rain, sunny days, cool nights. We were therefore able to wait for perfect phenolic maturity. » – Pierre Graffeuille, Léoville Las Cases
“The wines have a more sober character than in 2009. For me, it is closer to 2010 although a little lower in acidity. In some cases, it is better than in 2015, certainly more so even across the region. » – Hubert de Boüard, Angélus
“It is a vintage with good maturity at the harvest, giving us very beautiful raw material, but with a distinguished structure. » – Bruno Rolland, Léoville Las Cases
“The fact is that dry vintages are still quality vintages. » – Kees Van Leeuwen, White Horse
“The 2016 vintage is a bigger style than 2015. I tasted them side by side. In 2016, the acidity is higher. » – Jean-Christophe Mau, Brown
“The concentration in the grapes this vintage was incredible. » – Jean-Michel Comme, Pontet-Canet
“It’s clearly a great vintage... between 2005 and 2009 in style. » – Philippe Dhalluin, Mouton Rothschild
