The 2016 vintage

The 2016 vintage, across the French vineyard, proved to be a year full of climatic contrasts that, against all odds, led to remarkable results. Far from being a straightforward vintage, it managed to defy predictions thanks to opportune meteorological twists, ultimately offering wines of often exceptional quality.

The 2016 vintage in Bordeaux

In Bordeaux, the 2016 vintage is now widely recognized as exceptional, even legendary. After a wet start to the year, the summer period was marked by a prolonged and potentially devastating drought for the vines. Concern among winemakers was palpable. However, the last rains that occurred just before the harvest were salvific, bringing the necessary water to unlock maturation and allow the grapes to reach perfect ripeness. This providential intervention not only saved the harvest, but it also contributed to an exceptionally high quality of red wines. Furthermore, yields were slightly more abundant than usual, thus combining quantity and quality, which is quite rare. Bordeaux 2016 wines are characterized by their depth, freshness, tannic finesse, and incredible aging potential.

When it comes to sweet wines, the 2016 vintage in Sauternes also yielded excellent results. Conditions allowed for the optimal development of noble rot, Botrytis cinerea, without the risk of dilution. Winemakers were able to harvest grapes of great concentration, resulting in rich, pure wines with beautiful freshness. Sweet fruit aromas are particularly prominent, and despite significant yields, quality was high, confirming the surprising and generous character of this 2016 vintage.

Burgundy wines in 2016

The year 2016 was challenging for the Burgundy vineyards: after a mild winter, late frosts in April drastically reduced volumes. Despite this and the appearance of diseases, a dry and warm late summer and autumn allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness. The 2016 whites are rich and dense, with notes of ripe fruit, balanced by superb freshness. As for the reds, they are a model of structure and length, offering aromas of small berries, spices, and dried fruits. These reds are built for aging and promise extraordinary quality over time.

The 2016 vintage wines in the Rhône Valley

The 2016 vintage is a rare success for the Rhône Valley, combining both quality and quantity. Despite a challenging spring, September rains and a dry, cool autumn allowed for perfect harvests and impeccable sanitary conditions.

The grapes showed remarkable concentration (small berries, thick skins), offering ideal pH and acidity for unparalleled aging potential. The southern grape varieties (Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre) fully revealed their aromatic richness and color. In the north, ripeness was optimal with superb balance.

In summary, 2016 is a vintage that surprised with its exceptional quality throughout the Rhône Valley, producing concentrated, fresh, and very promising wines.

2016 vintage champagnes

The 2016 vintage in Champagne was extremely difficult: devastating April frosts, summer rains promoting diseases, and an August heatwave. The harvest dropped by a third.

Despite everything, Pinot Noir and Meunier performed well, unlike Chardonnay. The quality is good, offering fruitiness and acidity, but without genius. Blanc de Noirs are to be preferred, with a respectable aging potential for the best cuvées.

Our selection

DOMAINE DE LA ROMANEE CONTI 2016

I buy

PETRUS 2016

I buy

CHÂTEAU AUSONE 2016

I buy