Château Larmande 2016

Full attack, dense structure, silky tannins, more compact than long.

Warm cherry and plum notes are direct and accessible in this red, with a moderate structure showing alder accents through the finish. Drink now through 2023. 5,800 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Heady and ripe, dark fruits, cassis, liquorice with clove spice and blackcurrant aromas. Juicy but quite savoury, liquorice, clove, and toasted oak flavours mingle with redcurrant and damson fruits with a hint of hazelnut. Well-defined with a balanced structure. A wine built to last.

Just a hint of bitter chocolate coats the fresh black-fruit character in this generous St.-Emilion. Polished tannins carry the long finish. A blend of 65 percent merlot, 30 percent cabernet franc and 5 percent cabernet sauvignon.

Medium-bodied, smoky, spicy, fresh and bright, with an easy-drinking, soft, open character, finishing with sweet red cherries and licorice. Drink this now and over the next 10–15 years.

I loved the 2016 Château Larmande, a concentrated, medium- to full-bodied Saint-Emilion made from 77% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, all brought up in 60% new French oak. It has impressive ripeness as well as notes of black cherries, mulberries, and cassis intermixed with hints of chocolate, spice, and graphite. Textured, layered, and expansive on the palate, it’s a ripe, pleasure-bent beauty that’s going to drink nicely for 15 years or more.

Kunz barrel sample 17: restrained, austere bouquet, cherries, baking chocolate. Broad, medium-bodied palate with sweet fruit, finely sandy tannins, bourgeois structure, and a dry finish.

Reserved, austere bouquet, cherries, baking chocolate. Broad, medium-bodied palate with sweet fruit, finely sandy tannins, bourgeois structure, dry finish. 16/20 2023 - 2034

The Larmande 2016 is deep garnet-colored. It bursts with scents of black cherry compote, wild blueberries, and chocolate cake, plus wafts of garrigue, smoked meats, and graphite. Medium-bodied, the palate is tightly wound and refreshing, featuring loads of mineral layers and a peppery kick on the finish.

Purple with violet highlights. The bouquet of Larmande 2016 shows great finesse and freshness. Pleasant hints of spices, blueberries, and cherries. On the palate, the wine has body, breadth, and perfect balance. Its tannins are silky yet characterful. They complement the structure, which supports the fruity intensity on the finish. A delightful and convincing wine.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. An original, aromatic nose with ripe fruit and suave, floral nuances. Delicate on the attack, tasty, fragrant, then juicy, the wine develops very pleasantly with a lovely texture. It stretches out on the finish with good, sappy length while maintaining a delicate touch. Plenty of pleasure and flavor!

Small red fruits. Gourmet, fruity, long palate, a hint of graphite, nice pep, long finish.

92–94. Barrel Sample. This juicy wine offers notes of spice on the nose and mouth, as well as firm tannins and a generous character on the palate. It is solidly structured, though the ripe fruit flavors offers some cushion.