Chateau Barde-Haut - St.-Emilion 2016
Price: $52.75
| Producer | Chateau Barde-Haut |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St.-Emilion |
| Varietal | Red Blend |
| Vintage | 2016 |
| Sku | 01816 |
Chateau Barde-Haut Description
Chateau Barde-Haut is a 17 hectare estate located at the extreme east of the village of Saint-Emilion. The vineyard forms an natural amphitheatre and is particularly well exposed to the south with views over the Dordogne valley.
The soil is very typical of Saint-Emilion being mainly composed of clay which is found on a layer of chalk.
There has been significant investment in renovating the cellar so that all work is completely done by gravity to ensure that the precious grapes of the Chateau are well respected. The cellar is equipped with wooden vats, stainless steel tanks and concrete vats of 50 to 70 hl. A strict policy of selection to ensure the quality is undertaken and individual steps including pigeage are all carried out by hand. Malolactic fermentation is done in new French oak barrels specially selected from different coopers for the property. The wine is then aged for 18 months in barrels.
It is the combination of exceptional soil and the introduction of natural wine producing and wine growing technologies combining tradition and modernity that have made Chateau Barde-Haut one of the rising stars of Saint-Emilion.
Vinous Media: 96 Points
Readers will find a rich, flamboyant wine in the 2016 Barde-Haut. There is not a ton of subtlety here, but I am not sure that matters all that much given how immensely pleasing the 2016 is. Crushed rocks, graphite, lavender, blackberry, plum, and violet infuse a Saint-Emilion that offers tremendous textural richness as well as vibrancy. Most importantly of all, the 2016 is flat-out delicious. This is a decidedly opulent, dark Saint-Emilion with all of the elements impeccably balanced. I loved it.
Jeb Dunnuck: 95 Points
The 2016 Chateau Barde-Haut might end up being the best wine ever made at this address from the Garcin-Leveque family, and it certainly ranks with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Dense purple-hued with awesome notes of cassis, black cherries, spring flowers, damp earth, and violets, it hits the palate with incredible purity and precision, a deep, multi-dimensional texture, sweet tannins (from ripe fruit, not sugar), and a building sense of minerality that shows on the finish. It has the depth of fruit and elegance to shine even today yet will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and evolve for two decades.
Wine Advocate: 93 Points
The 2016 Barde Haut is composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it gives up expressive wild blueberries, kirsch, baked plums and spice box notes with hints of cracked pepper, lavender, garrigue and Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, the palate bursts with blue fruits, framed by firm, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long.
