Pomerol: primeurs 2016

A quick stroll through the vineyards at the end of August suggested the worst, but Pomerol is a great terroir and managed to counteract the negative thoughts we had. Although the gravelly soils have suffered, resulting in singular wines (such as Petrus, which is very distinctive this year), the more clayey soils such as Gazin or Evangile are coping remarkably well. On the other hand, l'Eglise-Clinet and Clos l'Eglise impress, while Clinet offers more charm than usual.

Château La Clémence - Pomerol - 2016

A very modern, woody nose. Freshness, significant extraction, volume, density. A little modern for my taste. - 15/16

Château Cantelauze - Pomerol - 2016

Plum, black fruit, an original nose. Straightforward on the palate, taut despite a massive side. Tannins a little too structuring for my taste. - 15/16,5

Château La Commanderie - Pomerol - 2016

Woody, toasty nose. A tannic charge that clenches a little, powerful tannins, a little too much. - 15/16,5

Château Nénin Fugue de - Pomerol - 2016

Floral, fruity too, velvety, fleshy, crisp too. Juicy mouthfeel, freshness. A very fine, elegant wine. - 15/16,5

Château Taillefer - Pomerol - 2016

A slightly closed nose, though quite floral. Velvety, juicy, fruity, very good tannic charge with a lingering finish. - 15/16,5

Château Cabanne (la) - Pomerol - 2016

Black fruit, spicy, fresh. Medium-bodied, fresh, pleasantly long and tense rather than structured. - 16/17

Château Fayat - Pomerol - 2016

Smoky, licorice, beautiful aromatic framework on freshness, floral notes too. Juicy, velvety, with hints of iris and spices, tending towards structuring tannins - 16/17

Château La Renaissance - Pomerol - 2016

Smoky, toasty, very fine wood in a very Pomerol environment. Round, mellow, generous, with fine tannins, average structure but assertive finesse. - 16/17

Château Lafleur-Gazin - Pomerol - 2016

Mentholated freshness, spicy notes too. Juicy and dense at the same time. A fabulously tannic Lafleur-Gazin. - 16/17

Château Lécuyer - Pomerol - 2016

Dynamic, slightly lively, floral nose. Very nice creamy mouthfeel, beautiful tannic charge with flavor, sapidity. - 16/17

Château Saint-Pierre II - Pomerol - 2016

Beautiful, fresh, fruity nose. Greedy, pure expression. Precise, laser-like palate with good acidity and movement. Long-lasting freshness - 16/17

Château Saint-Pierre - Pomerol - 2016

Plum, a little spice, black fruit. Juicy, fleshy mouthfeel, softness and a lovely sensation of freshness on the finish. - 16/17

Château Valois (de) L'Eclat - Pomerol - 2016

A floral nose, with a hint of iris. Quite dense on the nose and palate, velvety, suave, round and mellow. A sensual wine. - 16/17

Château Beau Soleil - Pomerol - 2016

Beautiful woodiness, smokiness, intense black fruits. Fresh and juicy on the palate, with good density and remarkable length. - 16/17,5

Château Bel-Air - Pomerol - 2016

A little shy, slightly spicy. Fresh, silky, a beautiful patina with freshness, lightness and real balance. - 16/17,5

Château Caillou (le) - Pomerol - 2016

Dynamic and fresh, with notes of black fruit, spices and light smoke. Well-balanced, round and suave on the palate, with tannins that make a slight impression on the finish. A lovely ensemble. - 16/17,5

Clos Grangeneuve - Pomerol - 2016

Pronounced wood, spices, black fruits. Fresh, fleshy, sapid. - 16/17,5

Clos Vieux Taillefer - Pomerol - 2016

Juicy, fresh, almost creamy, beautiful tannins with a fresh finish. A real success. Superb juicy mouthfeel. - 16/17,5

Château Création (la) - Pomerol - 2016

Clean, pure nose, beautiful fruit. Fresh, minty, round, delicate and delicate on the palate. A fine success. - 16/17,5

Château Evangile (l') Blason de - Pomerol - 2016

Intense black fruit, a little blackcurrant, blueberry too. Velvety, sapid, taffeta mouthfeel with superb length and a crisp finish. - 16/17,5

Château La Croix de Gay - Pomerol - 2016

Blackcurrant, spicy, a little plum. Velvety, fleshy, a beautiful expression on the palate, juicy and suave. Lively. Movement. - 16/17,5

Château La Grave Trigant de Boisset - Pomerol - 2016

Black fruit, spices too, with a deep structure on the nose. Dense and delicate, volume, sapidity, very minty on the finish. Superb freshness. Much less austere than usual. - 16/17,5

Château Le Moulin - Pomerol - 2016

Black fruit and spice on the nose. Juicy, straightforward palate, harmony, balance and greed. - 16/17,5

Château Mazeyres - Pomerol - 2016

Nose of black fruit and flowers. Suave and sapid, beautiful juice, fleshy but always elegant. Without doubt the most accomplished Mazeyres. - 16/17,5

Château Montviel - Pomerol - 2016

Rather timid nose. Fresh, unctuous on the palate, with dense, well-controlled tannins that hold the wine together. Good length. - 16/17,5

Château Saint-Pierre - Pomerol - 2016

Spicy, a little charcoal, slightly graphite. Velvety mouthfeel followed by a tannic framework of density and precision. Long, taut, fresh finish. Superb. - 16/17,5

Château Vieux Maillet - Pomerol - 2016

Fresh, greedy, black fruit notes. Unctuous, creamy palate with real freshness underpinning the whole. Superb juicy mouthfeel. - 16/17,5

Château Vray Croix de Gay - Pomerol - 2016

Elegant, almost floral nose with lovely purity. Juicy to perfection, very nice mouthfeel, velvety, harmonious. One of the estate's most accomplished. - 16/17,5

Château Bellegrave - Pomerol - 2016

Violet and black fruit on an elegant nose. Fresh and velvety, the palate is firmly in place, dynamic enough to provide an airy finish. A great success. - 16/18

Clos du Clocher - Pomerol - 2016

Spicy, smoky, woody/grilled. Very nice mouthfeel, creamy, juicy with velvety tannins. A beautiful expression of black fruit on the finish with airy density. - 16/18

Clos René - Pomerol - 2016

Fresh and velvety, beautiful juice on the palate, tannins that squeeze a little but a beautiful whole with vivacity and elegance. A very pretty Clos René - 16/18

Château Moulinet - Pomerol - 2016

Fresh fruit, very floral, almost morello cherry, a beautiful expression of fruit. Silky, juicy too, with precision and magnificent tension on the finish. Elegant as hell - 16/18

Château Valois (de) - Pomerol - 2016

Floral (violet and iris), fresh, powerful, complex for a relatively modern nose. Juicy and unctuous, the palate is structured by tannins in top form. A very fine wine. - 16/18

Château Beauregard - Pomerol - 2016

Blackcurrant and black fruit on the nose, with good oak. Velvety, fleshy, also mellow with very fine tannins. - 17/18

Château Bon Pasteur (le) - Pomerol - 2016

Spicy, a little shy. Suave, round, carved out of the mass without any asperity, with greediness - 17/18

Château Fleur-Petrus (la) - Pomerol - 2016

Violet, very floral. Juicy and almost creamy, fleshy and smooth. A very charming La Fleur-Petrus despite the heavy tannic load and tension. - 17/18

Château Hosanna - Pomerol - 2016

Fresh, greedy nose of ripe black fruit. Velvety and almost creamy on entry. Vibrant, balanced tannins with good ageing potential. - 17/18

Château L'Enclos - Pomerol - 2016

Spicy, very floral, almost lilac, iris, lily. Fresh on the palate, with structuring tannins, velvety texture and substance. Powerful yet elegant. - 17/18

Château Lafleur Pensées de - Pomerol - 2016

Floral, violet, a little iris in a fresh register. Juicy on the palate, what freshness, velvety yet taut, superb tannins, an ensemble of rare nobility. Rarely has Pensées been so dazzling. A magnificent addition to the soul. - 17/18

Château Lagrange - Pomerol - 2016

Superb freshness, with notes of spice and iris. Juicy, velvety and fleshy on the palate, with elegance and building tannins that hold everything together. - 17/18

Château Latour à Pomerol - Pomerol - 2016

Elegant, spicy oak. Velvety, juicy, fleshy, a very fine tannic structure with depth and delicacy. Mentholated finish. A great success. - 17/18

Château Nénin - Pomerol - 2016

Floral, a little violet, iris and beautiful spring flowers. Patina, elegance with substance, but always elegant and delicate. - 17/18

Château Petit Village - Pomerol - 2016

Black fruit, spicy with floral notes. Well-established palate, volume, precision too, with real freshness. Airy, fruity finish. - 17/18

Château Pointe (la) - Pomerol - 2016

Fresh, slightly smoky, fruity, even greedy. Juicy and tasty, volume, tension too, for a full, well-made whole. -17/18

Château Bourgneuf - Pomerol - 2016

Woody and smoky, the nose reveals notes of black fruits and spices. Velvety flesh, volume for a perfectly balanced, fruity, delicate wine. A real success. - 17/18,5

Château Certan de May de Certan - Pomerol - 2016

Expressive nose of violets, iris and flowers. Lively and fresh. Round and velvety, juicy fleshiness, greediness in the fruit. The impression of biting into a grape. Superb. -17/18,5

Clos l'Eglise - Pomerol - 2016

Nose of violets, very fresh black fruit, beautiful woodiness. Subtle, velvety mouthfeel, very fine tannins, volume, roundness, mellowness. A complete and superb wine. Taffeta mouthfeel. Clos l'Eglise is back among the greats. At last... - 17/18,5

Château Eglise-Clinet (l') La Petite Eglise - Pomerol - 2016

Nose of iris, cherry, blackberry. Velvety, juicy, silky mouthfeel, volume, power but without an ounce of asperity. Taffeta. The most accomplished of the "Petite Eglise" - 17/18.5

Château Gazin - Pomerol - 2016

Restrained and delicate, the nose exudes pretty notes of flowers and black fruits. Suave and velvety on the palate, with beautiful bitters on the finish, softness and suppleness. An elegant, fresh, subtle Gazin. - 17/18,5

Le Clos du Beau Père - Pomerol - 2016

Beautiful black fruits, melted oak, a heavy tannic load. What a backbone! Beautiful velvety mouthfeel, structuring tannins, built for ageing. Superb. - 17/18,5

Château Le Gay - Pomerol - 2016

Woody nose, also fruity for a beautiful complexity. Some floral notes on aeration. Juicy and round, good density with a high tannic load but still delicate and velvety. Very fresh on the finish. -17/18,5

Château La Conseillante - Pomerol - 2016

Beautiful aromas of flowers, violets and a little blackcurrant. Juicy, floral aromas on the palate, softness and lovely fleshiness. Fresh, taut finish, tannic structure. A typical La Conseillante, powerful yet delicate. - 17/19,5

Château Clinet - Pomerol - 2016

Gingerbread, a little mocha, very fine black fruits. Beautiful mouthfeel, velvety, persistent tannins, superb structure, airy, long finish. At once creamy and refocused by a tannic charge. Very sapid. - 18/19

Château Trotanoy - Pomerol - 2016

Floral and spicy, with a nose of great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and juicy, very fine tannic structure with freshness and balance. Great ageing potential. A most accomplished Trotanoy. - 18/19

Château Lafleur - Pomerol - 2016

Fresh, subtle, pure nose with notes of violet, very floral, black fruit. The mouthfeel is different from Pensées, more precise, purer, more crystalline. The finish is airy, greedy and quite tannic. Powerful elegance. The wine of the vintage... Perhaps the finest Lafleur ever made - 18/19.5

Vieux Château Certan - Pomerol - 2016

Superb black fruits, crispness, flowers. Delicate. Juicy, big tannic charge, velvety too, freshness too. What breed! - 18/19,5

Château Eglise-Clinet (l') - Pomerol - 2016

Nose of violets and iris, with a very fine wood finish. Velvety entry, beautiful tannic power with volume, intensity and incredible length. A tannic charge that structures the whole for a superb l'Eglise-Clinet. A benchmark bottle. One of the estate's most singular, but what class! -18/20

Château Evangile (l') - Pomerol - 2016

Blueberry, iris, a touch of violet, crisp tannins, volume, lots of substance but in harmony, a superb velvety sensation. The tension brings magnificent length. L'Evangile, still round and mellow, is full-bodied and soulful. More sparkle than 2015. - 18/20

Petrus - Pomerol - 2016

Nose of blackberry, blueberry, quite distinctive for Petrus. Soft, round, quite singular, a big tannic presence in subtlety, purity, airy. On rails with a straightness linked to freshness. Strong tannic structure. A disconcerting and imposing Petrus in the best sense of the word. - 18/20