2016 Barde Haut
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Barde-Haut has a crisp and well defined bouquet, very pure, with black cherries, blueberry, violet and a touch of crushed stone, all very focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, silky smooth in texture with pure black cherries, raspberry and light orange rind notes towards the finish. This represents an impressive follow-up to the 2015. Tasted at the Barde-Haut vertical at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Barde-Haut has a very opulent bouquet, initially seductive but requiring time to open up. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and quite glossy in style, offering tart red cherry fruit laced with cranberry and black pepper. This does not kick on toward the finish, probably because it is at an awkward stage of development. I will reserve judgment for now and revisit ASAP. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Lastly, the 2016 Château Barde-Haut might end up being the best wine ever made at this address from the Garcin-Lévêque family, and it certainly ranks with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Dense purple-hued with awesome notes of cassis, black cherries, spring flowers, damp earth, and violets, it hits the palate with incredible purity and precision, a deep, multi-dimensional texture, sweet tannins (from ripe fruit, not sugar), and a building sense of minerality that shows on the finish. It has the depth of fruit and elegance to shine even today yet will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and evolve for two decades.
Tasted blind. Mellow nose. Then rather tart on the palate. Very pinched and without much follow through. Sandpaper tannins. (JR)