TASTING NOTES:
Big and juicy red with lots of fruit and tannins yet it’s not overdone. Full-bodied, chewy and intense. Lots of potential here. Better than the 2015?
-James Suckling, 95 pts.
Packed with young tannins, this wine shows the structure of the vintage as well as its fresh and perfumed fruit. The combination will develop to produce a restrained and elegant wine. Drink from 2025.
-Wine Enthusiast, 95 pts.
Well-built, with a core of dense plum paste, raspberry reduction and melted red licorice notes framed by roasted apple wood accents and backed by juicy, brambly grip on the finish. Youthfully vibrant and should cellar well in the midterm. Best from 2021 through 2031.
-Wine Spectator, 92 pts.
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Carbonnieux reveals warm black and red plums, blackcurrants and cigar box scents with a waft of crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, fine-grained and with great freshness, it delivers a minerally finish.
-Robert Parker, 91 pts.
Notes of red and black currants, truffles, smoked earth, and graphite emerge from the 2016 Château Carbonnieux. Medium-bodied, ripe, with present tannins and good acidity, it has an old-school vibe and is classic Graves. Drink it over the coming 10-15 years.
-Jeb Dunnuck, 91 pts.