2016 Chateau La Garde - Pessac (750ml)
Very deep, almost black appearance to La Garde 2016, with its intense and complex forest fruit bouquet of blackberries and rich, dark cherries, accompanied by spicy, smoky notes. Immediately generous, expressive fruit flavours define the wine on the rich and concentrated palate, which is underpinned by delicate tannic structure and lovely smoothness to the intensity. Impressive harmony pervades throughout and culminates in a long, elegant finish.
The vintage
The first six months of the 2016 grape season turned out to be particularly rainy and warm, replenishing water reserves in the soils which would serve the vines well in forthcoming months. Which was just as well as sunshine set in for the long haul from mid-June, bringing very dry weather until the end of the harvest. Veraison in the reds, which were languishing on the deep gravel soils of Château la Garde, notched up a gear with mid-September’s light, but adequate rainfall. The combined effect of available water supplies and favourable temperatures – not too excessive during the day and very cool at night – played an important role in developing the fruit and their aromas during ripening. The subsequent run of ideal day/night temperature variation through to harvesting also played a vital role. We harvested selectively 4 - 18 October, patiently adjusting intake planning as each grape variety and plot reached maximum ripeness.
Blending
- 52% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 45% Merlot
- 3% Petit Verdot