CHÂTEAU MEYNEY

The 2016 Meyney is a bold, powerful wine. Tobacco, menthol, chocolate, spice and torrefaction notes all add shades of darkness. Meyney is potent and quite broad in feel, and yet everything is very nicely balanced. Although not especially subtle, Meyney delivers the goods, and then some. Drinking range: 2022 - 2036 Rating: 93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Jan 2019)

The 2016 Meyney has quite an opulent and flamboyant bouquet, which is something I do not expect from this Saint Estèphe. It seems to calm down in the glass and attains more delineation and poise. The palate is sweet on the entry with impressive precision, quite linear in style with blackberry, graphite and smoky notes, leading to a finish that offers satisfying persistence. Excellent. Drinking range: 2021 - 2040 Rating: 90-92 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

Very fresh and rather open in feel, with gently crushed plum and black cherry fruit, gilded with a hint of warm paving stone. Stays bright overall through the finish. Rating: 89-92 James Molesworth, The Wine Spectator (Apr 2017)

Solid and incredible depth reminds me of the Meyneys of the 1960s that were so structured and incredible. Full-bodied yet polished and refined. Super structure. Rating: 95-96 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2017)

Winemaker Anne la Naour and consultant Hubert de Bouard are clearly working very hard on upping the quality of Meyney, which is just starting to push beyond its normal price category. Of the triumvirate of great vintages, for me the 2014 was incredible and punched above its weight, but this is also a very good wine. It's a terroir of clay and gravel that takes a long time to come round, but already we have freshness, colour and spice with big bristling tannins and well placed damson and black cherry fruits. Powerful upfront with a good round mouthfeel, this has depth and solidity, a serious wine. 49% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Petit Verdot. Drinking range: 2024 - 2040 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Meyney is powerful and absolutely delicious. Black fruit, torrefaction, smoke, licorice and bittersweet chocolate flavors are dark and boldly sketched. Beams of firm tannin add to the wine's imposing, brooding personality. All the elements fall into place effortlessly in this ample, broad Saint-Estèphe. Rating: 90-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2017)

The 2016 Meyney has a very deep color. The bouquet is a stunner, delivering intense, mineral-rich black fruit pixelated to the nth degree. This is extremely focused and conveys the energy of a tightly coiled spring. The extremely well-balanced palate offers fine-grained tannins and superb acidity. Very pure and focused, with a harmonious, vibrant finish that lingers in the mouth. You can feel this lingering 45–60 seconds after the wine has exited. Wonderful. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. Drinking range: 2026 - 2050 Rating: 95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Dec 1899)