Chateau Pedesclaux, Pauillac, France 2016

Description

The 2016 Pauillac is a textbook example of why the vintage is so highly regarded on the Left Bank, delivering both power and precision in equal measure. The nose is deep and focused, opening with blackcurrant, cassis, and dark cherry, layered with graphite, cedar, and subtle floral notes. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with tightly woven, fine-grained tannins and bright, well-integrated acidity that give it a firm, confident structure. The fruit remains pure and controlled, framed by savory notes of tobacco and crushed stone that build through the mid-palate and carry into a long, composed finish.

Still clearly youthful, this wine benefits from air now but is built for the long haul, offering excellent balance and depth with the promise of graceful evolution over the next 10–15 years.