Château de Malle 2016

Very well balanced, well-judged sweetness, fruity freshness, compact, mineral style.

The pale lemon-colored 2016 de Malle opens with flamboyant scents of musk melon, pear tart, peach cobbler and ginger ale, plus a touch of white pepper. The palate is packed with layers of stone fruit and spice, with a creamy texture and plenty of spicy sparks on the long finish.

Ripe apricot and peach flavors form the core, featuring a dash of orange blossom honey through the finish. Delivers richness, with moderate range on the close. Drink now through 2027. 1,417 cases made.

A lighter, delicate take on the vintage, this treads softly but still has a concentrated quality to the botrytis. There is a sense of luxurious richness without being heavy, and it finishes with good length.

A very solid and typical Sauternes that has a satisfying balance of tropical fruit-salad and candied-citrus character with medium-full body and lively acidity that lifts the finish. Drink or hold.

Tasted blind. Peachy nose. Racy and lively with lots of well-balanced sweetness and a fair amount of acidity. Good second-rank stuff. (JR)

The 2016 de Malle shows quite a bit of new oak on the nose that masks the terroir profile, and there does not seem to be much behind it. The palate is better, offering dried honey, orange zest and marmalade and quite a tangy finish. It is a shame that while this finishes in such pleasing fashion, the aromatics come across as rather ordinary. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Medium-bodied, leaning toward the candied orange and lemon curd side of the style spectrum, you’ll also find ripe, sweet, honeyed pineapple, mango, and vanilla notes. This will be enjoyable on the younger side, pairing well with spicy, savory dishes.

Medium green-yellow. Ripe peach fruit with a hint of fresh meadow herbs and tangerine zest. Juicy on the palate, fine honey flavour, pleasant acid structure, and mineral. It is persistent, elegant, and an appetizing wine.

Radiant golden yellow. Multi-layered bouquet with nectarine and mint, followed by a hint of coconut and white chocolate mousse. Full-bodied and very rich on the palate. A long finish with lingering yellow-fruit notes. Continues last year’s success!

Kunz barrel sample 17: closed, mineral bouquet, cooked pears, chalk, grapefruit. Velvety, nicely opulent palate with powerful fruit, creamy structure, good acidity, intense and complex aromatics, long, generous finish. Can still improve.

Closed, mineral bouquet with stewed pears, chalk, grapefruit. Velvety, fairly opulent palate with powerful fruit, creamy structure, good acidity, intense, multi-faceted aromatics, long, lavish finish. Still has room to improve. 17/20 2020 - 2040

It has tightened up a bit after bottling, but the fruit remains alluring and the texture has the necessary richness.

The richness of the vintage and the purity of the fruit seem to prevail over the power to which this terroir had accustomed us. A very fine Sauternes to enjoy for its delicious youthful fruit.

Hints of passion fruit, almonds, and crème brûlée. Dense on the attack, the wine is suave and saline. Excellent balance between sweetness, bitterness, and salinity. The wine is creamy, rich, and persistent. A truly beautiful wine!

Green-yellow color. Discreet nose. Supple, very fruity palate, flavorful, pleasant on the finish with a bit more tension than others. Good length.

91–93. Barrel Sample. This historic estate, with its magnificent chateau, has made an elegant wine in 2016. Without great richness, but with fine acidity and honeyed flavors, it will age well for the medium term.