CHÂTEAU DU TERTRE

2016 5ème Cru Classé Margaux

EN PRIMEUR

Ripe fat fruit nose, but the palate has some astringency as the acidity tightens the tannins. The broad style is slightly fighting the style of the vintage here? Drinking range: 2024 - 2036 Rating: 89-90 L&S (Apr 2017)

* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.

An outstanding Margaux with its classic perfume of sweet red fruits, dried flowers, balsam wood, and spice, the 2016 Château du Tertre is medium-bodied, elegant, and seamless on the palate. This is one of those wines that grows on you with time in the glass, and while it plays in the elegant, pretty end of the spectrum, it has wonderful fruit. It should keep nicely for 15 years or so. Drinking range: 2019 - 2034 Rating: 90 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Feb 2019)

The 2016 du Tertre has really come together nicely. There is a sense of translucence in the 2016 that conveys finesse and refinement. Sage, mint, dried flowers and sweet herbs add layers of aromatic nuance as the sweet red cherry and plum fruit is pushed forward. I would prefer to drink this pleasant, easygoing Margaux over the next 10-15 years. Drinking range: 2021 - 2036 Rating: 92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jan 2019)

The 2016 Du Tertre is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot picked from 27 September until 19 October. Estate manager Alexandre van Peek told me that this represents one of the highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon in recent years. Matured in 35% new oak, it has a harmonious bouquet with pure blackberry, raspberry and mineral scents that are neat and well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, quite saline on the entry, understated at first, but gaining weight in the mouth and delivering a precise and minerally, classic Margaux finish. All it's missing is the persistence on the finish. It just seems to rush out the exit door before you've really gotten to know it. Hopefully it will develop that side during barrel maturation. Drinking range: 2021 - 2045 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Dark with the usual sweet oak nose. Just a little dead on the palate. Round and very well worked tannins but just a little short of freshness. Drinking range: 2023 - 2040 Rating: 16.5+ Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2017)

Bright and engaging, with lots of bay, savory and tobacco notes out front, backed by lively plum, cherry and raspberry coulis flavors. The sleek, mineral-edged finish pulls the fruit and herb elements together. Distinctive. Rating: 90-93 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2017)

A dense and tight red with currants, blueberries and hints of walnuts. Changes from pure fruit and then back to wet earth. The purity in the cabernet, the linear tannins and the drive with acidity behind it makes it one of the best Tertres ever. Better than 2015? Rating: 94-95 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

A beautifully smooth, silky du Tertre in 2016, with an emphasis on subtle spicing, full of subtle but unmistakably exotic black chocolate, white pepper and cloves. Elegant and slightly restrained with generously silky tannins, a lovely wine. Drinking range: 2025 - 2045 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2017)

The 2016 du Tertre is soft, pliant and quite expressive. Sweet red cherry, white pepper, herbs, iron and smoke give the wine its distinctive savory personality. The 2016 is medium in body, yet offers lovely depth and midpalate pliancy. Floral notes and bright acids add freshness on a finish supported by firm tannins and creamy, expansive fruit. The 2016 is a terrific du Tertre. Rating: 89-92 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Always one of the most typical and recognisable of Margaux, this is delicate, floral and refreshing, achieving its effects without over-ripeness or extraction. Light and well balanced, with just a whisper of toasty oak and grassy elegance. Drinking range: 2021 - 2028 Rating: 91 Tim Atkin MW, www.timatkin.com (Apr 2017)

The 2016 du Tertre has a refined bouquet of black fruit infused with loamy, sous-bois scents, gradually evolving more intensity with aeration. The medium-bodied palate is well-defined, with lithe tannins, a fine bead of acidity and a detailed, quite precise finish. This just requires a couple more years in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2021 - 2045 Rating: 91 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 1899)

Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those of the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do call us, but see the 'practical notes' below.

Ordering

Prices are per case as listed 'in bond London'.

Pre-Orders are a firm commitment from you to buy the wines you order on release, subject to the price being below the upper price of the estimated band on our website. You may also set your own upper price limit, lower or higher than ours. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability. Providing this firm commitment to us effectively gives you priority.

Wines listed on the website (after any pre-orders and allocations have been fulfilled) can be ordered in the usual way via the website order form or by email or telephone 020 7221 1982, always subject to stock remaining.

Confirmation

All orders will be confirmed by email and are contractually binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of the confirmation date, apart from pre-orders which are binding if the release price is below the top estimate or other price you have set.

Invoices are raised at the In Bond price, excluding any duty and VAT which will become payable at the prevailing rates on arrival of the wine if required duty paid.

Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or credit transfer. We reserve the right to charge 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.

Delivery

  • Shipment to our bond (LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
  • Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
  • Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £1000, orders below this total will be charged £16.50+ VAT when the wine invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
  • Delivery for 2016 Bordeaux primeurs will probably be completed by October 2019, but we make no guarantee as to specific delivery times, and some of the Sauternes may be later.

Practical notes - how it works

We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes) for immediate payment. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option, but do please note that confirmed orders are still binding as above even if the final invoice has not been issued.

When the wine is shipped, unless previously specified we will assume that delivery is to be to bonded storage with Elephant Storage, but in any case, we will contact you requesting any alternative instructions. If you have another bonded delivery address you would like the wine to go to, please tell us at the time of ordering. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue invoices at the rates prevailing at the time for the excise duty (currently £25.98 per case) and the VAT (currently at 20%) on the total of the wine cost and the duty.

Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.

One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the bottle size you want. Even if a wine is only listed in one size, you can order any bottle or case size you want if the property supplies it, but you must order the case/bottle size you require and check that the correct size has been invoiced.

Additional charges are as follows:-

  • +£15 per case of 24 half-bottles
  • +£15 per case of 6 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
  • +£35 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
  • +£45 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.