2017 Château Bourgneuf
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Bourgneuf has really gained in density over the course of its élevage, while remaining as restrained and understated as it always is. Pliant, silky and wonderfully nuanced with lovely aromatic top notes, Bourgneuf is one the undiscovered jewels in Pomerol - and in Bordeaux more broadly. Expressive floral and savory notes add aromatic dimension but in 2017, Bourgenuf stands out for its textural depth and resonance, both of which are pronounced to a degree I have not seen previously. I would give the 2017 a few years in bottle to soften. It is such a gorgeous wine. Tasted three times.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Bourgneuf, as I found from barrel, does not quite "click" on the nose although, the third and fourth bottles and later tastings attested to a wine beginning to gain more cohesion and refinement. The palate is better with good grip on the entry, quite saline in the mouth with a sapid and nicely focused finish. Give this a couple of years in bottle to find its "groove".
The 2017 Chateau Bourgneuf is a more powerful Pomerol in the vintage, offering lots of dark, chocolaty fruit as well as classic Pomerol notes of damp earth, spice, and tobacco leaf. Elegant, medium to full-bodied, nicely textured, and with present yet ripe tannins, it's a beautiful wine that's going to round into form with just a few years of bottle age and drink nicely for over a decade. The blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, aged in 35% new French oak. Stephane Toutoudji, who works with Thomas Duclos, also consults here.
The 2017 Bourgneuf feels a little simple on the nose compared to the 2015 and 2016: dark berry fruit, and earthy notes are maybe just missing a bit of flair. The palate is smooth on the entry with soft tannin, quite pure in style with cranberry and blackcurrant fruit mixed with truffle and smoke towards the finish. Not bad, but perhaps just let down a little by the aromatics at the moment. Tasted twice with consistent notes.