Red Graves 2016: panel tasting results

The 60ha of vineyards are situated on an ancient alluvial terrace topped by a thin layer of more recent Garonne gravel. The winery’s 28 wooden...

After falling into decline in the 1950s, Château Brown was revived after it was bought by businessman Bernard Barthe in 1994, to be taken over...

This 20ha estate has been owned since 1994 by Florence and Daniel Cathiard, who also own Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Today, its 15ha for reds...

Château Carbonnieux has returned to traditional working of the soils and is trialling organic farming methods. The property consists of 119 plots with a range...

The estate takes its name from the remnant of a 12th-century fort in the main courtyard. Grapes for the red wines are rigorously sorted before...

Château Léognan’s 6ha of vines were first planted on a vein of gravel and sand in the early 20th century and, prior to its purchase...

Multi-layered complex aromas of roses, violets, dark plums, toasty notes, cedary wood and hints of savoury notes. Quite expansive fruit character on the palate with...

Complex nose of cigar box, crushed stones, cedary wood and fleshy dark fruits. Very smooth on the palate, rich and fleshy with a lovely tannic...

Restrained aromatics with subtle black cherry and cassis notes intermingled with pencil lead, tobacco and cedar and cigar box. Powerful on the palate with silky...

A rather opulent nose, with fresh and dried black cherry, raspberry, dark chocolate, liquorice and cigar box notes. Very fine in the mouth with silky...

Vibrant aromas of cassis, kirsch, wood shaving and savoury spices. Elegant on the palate, vibrant mouthwatering acidity supporting its concentrated luscious fruit character. Long, complex...

Complex aromatics with black and red cherry, plum and cassis notes intermingled with hints of spice and cedar from the well-integrated use of oak. Full-bodied...

Fresh dark fruits. cherry and blackcurrant with some herbal notes on the nose. Very precise, delineated and fine in texture. Lovely tannins, finely layered, and...

Serious nose of wet stones, cocoa, red brick, ripe black cherries and plums. Firm structure of fine-grained tannins, with a crunchy acidity and long earthy...

Leafy notes on the nose under tobacco, dried meat, ripe plums and black cherry aromas. Fresh, red fruit character on the palate with good concentration...

Warm nose showing fine details of tapenade, smoked wood, roasted coffee and blackberries. Fleshy and weighty on the palate, opulent yet balanced by a vibrant...

Toasty nose showing cigar box, Asian spices and plush dark berry aromas with nuances of leather and mocha. Full-bodied and opulent, with a velvety texture....

Very intriguing nose. Earth, iron, violets, leather and nuances of cinnamon and tobacco leaves. Soft, plush texture with lovely black cherry character. Fine grained tannins...

Refined, elegant, brilliant. Spring rain and a dry, sunny summer and autumn meant perfectly ripe grapes, a growing season CEO Véronique Sanders dubbed Le Bonheur...

Attractive scents of sweet oak spice, ripe red bramble fruit, vanilla and fragrant violet nuances. Mouth filling with freshness and a nice concentration. Rounded, with...

Fresh aromas of peppery black fruits, pure cassis and spicy notes with roasted coffee undertones. Earthy on the palate, with a mineral edge. Complex and...

Evolved aromatics, from tobacco and cedar to nuances of leather and spice with hints of ripe black cherry and blackberry notes. Harmonious, with refreshing acidity...

Aromatic nose of violets, as well as vanilla and blue fruits, and hints of cocoa nibs and roasted coffee. Finely-textured, harmonious with purity of fruit...

Smoky nose with some warm gravel and sweet spice under toasty notes of oak and cassis overtones. Lovely purity with a classical texture on the...

Savoury nose showing cassis, plum and black cherry with mineral earthy notes. Generous black fruit flavours on the palate with firm structured tannins and a...

Black chocolate on the nose with mocha showing some opulence. Intense black fruit with a touch of cocoa nibs. Fine-grained texture on the palate, with...

Dried mushroom and dried meat with light balsamic character and oriental spices nuances. Firm tannins on the palate with a nice balance.

Charcoal and cigar box with polished red cherry fruit and nuances of mocha and floral notes. Elegant wine with fine-grained tannins and refreshing acidity.

Cigar box and cedar with some light notes of leather and game. Elegant black fruits with freshness and some dried meat on the palate. Ripe,...

Restrained scents of subtle black cherry, pencil lead, violets and toasted wood. Very attractive wine. Concentration yet remains elegant despite the weight.

Tobacco and coffee on the nose with ripe bramble fruit. Elegant on the palate with good freshness and energy. Quite a long finish.

Ambitious nose with forward aromas of chocolate and vanilla and leafy nuances. Ripe and fleshy black fruits, with some opulence on the palate and a...

Dark fruits, brooding character but there is plenty of freshness here. Some licorice and anise notes, with ripe firm tannins.

Toasted wood, black pepper, coffee aromas and ripe black fruits. The palate is generous with fleshy black fruits with some weight.

Fleshy black fruits on the nose with some coffee aromas. Medium body with pleasant plum and black fruits on the palate. Harmonious.

An inviting nose of berry fruit, floral fragrance and soft cedar tones. Crushed velvet textured tannins support a wide mouthfeel full of fresh and juicy...

Warm stones, dried tobacco and some aromas of clove. Elegant example with smooth tannins, dark berry and cherry fruit character and lively acidity.

Appealing nose. Plenty of pure, dark berry fruit. Soft and generous on the palate with a fresh acidity and long finish.

Pronounced aromatics with black cherry and cassis notes intermingled with mocha, toast and cedar from the new oak. Full-bodied and mouth-filling.

Rich and generous nose with cocoa nibs, mocha and ripe black fruits. Well-defined palate, clean and focused, with poise.

Notes of leather and dried meat with some wood smoke. Ripe bramble fruits with fine texture and quite classical feel in the mouth.