2016 Olivier Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Olivier Blanc is showing more new oak on the nose than its peers, though it is well integrated; peach and orange blossom scents come though with aeration. The palate is well balanced with a twist of bitter lemon on the entry. The oak feels a little prominent here and just steals a little delineation from the finish, but otherwise this should age well. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
The 2016 Château Olivier Blanc has a bracing minerality as well as medium-bodied notes of tart peach, crushed rock, and lemon zest. It’s clean, beautifully balanced, and has balancing texture. The whites in 2016 are top notch, with both richness and freshness, and this is a great example.
The 2016 Olivier Blanc has a crisp apple peel and honeysuckle bouquet; touches of orange peel develop with time. The palate is well balanced, with crisp acidity, and quite spicy and lively toward the finish. A suggestion of clementine lingers on the aftertaste. Fine, though not the best of the white Pessac-Léognans this year.
About the producer
Ch. Olivier is one of the few actual castles in Bordeaux – coming with a moat and drawbridge. Since Alexandre de Bethmann took over here in 2012, the château has been given a new lease of life, with quality on the rise.