Château Soutard 2016

Among the wines tasted for this article, this is the first vintage where things fall into place, with greater fruit purity — autumnal red berry — and pencil lead coming from the Cabernet Sauvignon. The vintage has the lively acidity of 2011 and 2014, but is riper and with a slightly longer finish than that of 2012. The estate began to use fewer sulfites, which could explain the superior fruit purity. And yet, there is still a sense of oak-derived, drying tannin on the medium finish.

A firm and silky red with lots of fresh tannins and a salty character. Full to medium body, lovely concentration of fruit at the center of the palate and a flavorful finish. A blend of 63 percent merlot, 28 percent cabernet franc, 7 percent cabernet sauvignon and 1 percent malbec. Drink after 2022.

The 2016 Soutard is a pretty wine with lovely freshness and energy. Blood orange and floral notes lift the red berry fruit nicely. Although attractive, the 2016 feels a bit narrow in construction. It would be nice to see a little more meat on the bones.

A touch of oak on the nose leads to licorice and red fruits. The wine is soft, medium-bodied, open, and finishes with sweet red cherries.

Deep dark ruby, firm core, purple reflections, delicate brightening on the rim. Somewhat restrained nose with a hint of dark berry fruit, subtle noble wood savouriness and orange zest. Medium body, fresh blackberry conserve, integrated tannins, good freshness and minerality with a lemony touch. Lively style.

The 2016 Château Soutard comes from the team of Thomas Duclos and is 63% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Franc, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec. The vineyard lies mostly on the upper plateau with limestone soils, and the wine was aged in 60% new French oak. Deep purple in color and packed with notes of crushed rocks, spring flowers, violets, and sweet cassis and black raspberry fruit, it shows subtle background oak, full-bodied richness and depth, and a beautiful sense of both power and elegance. It’s capable of aging for two decades or more.

Kunz barrel sample 17: jammy, sweet, broad bouquet, cherries, chalk, old wood. Dry, firm palate with sandy tannins, medium fruit, light aromatics, muscular structure, drying finish.

Jammy, sweet, broad bouquet, cherries, chalk, old wood. Dry, firm palate with sandy tannins, medium fruit, light aromatics, muscular structure, drying finish. 16/20 2023 - 2032

The 2016 Soutard is deep garnet-colored. It leaps with open-knit notions of stewed red and black plums, blackberry preserves, and damp soil, with hints of tapenade, smoked meats, and cracked black pepper. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers great elegance, with loads of earthy nuances and a refreshing backbone, finishing long and soft-textured.

A peppery, intense, already nuanced nose; a deliciously textured palate that’s strikingly clear and expressive, rich and fleshy yet maintaining a very refined balance all the way through the finish: this is the great, perfectly balanced wine we were expecting from Soutard!

Purple with violet hues. Such complexity and finesse in the bouquet of Soutard 2016. Beautiful balance between fruit, spices and discreet oak notes. I pick up hints of cinnamon, licorice wood, cherries and dark berries. The attack is creamy and appetizing. On the palate, the wine clearly displays its breadth. It owes this to its fine-grained tannins, which are compact and imposing, yet elegant and perfectly integrated. In passing, they also lend a suave touch to the palate. The structure mainly delivers freshness and fruit intensity from the first sip through to the finish. With this wine, we’re six feet Soutard :D and in seventh heaven.

The nose is fruity, elegant and precise, offering subtle power, straightness and fine complexity. It reveals notes of fleshy blackberry, blackcurrant and, more lightly, ripe raspberry and blueberry, combined with touches of sweet spices/toasty nuances, pepper and a discreet hint of vanilla. The palate is fruity and balanced, with good definition, lovely juiciness, smoothness, precision, straightness, a lively acid framework and indulgence. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of blackcurrant and blackberry, and more lightly raspberry and black cherry, combined with touches of tangy blackcurrant, discreet hints of redcurrant, toast, vanilla, as well as a very discreet menthol note and floral tones (in the background). Lovely finish! A hint of almond and toast is present, along with a discreet touch of cedar, sappy nuances and an imperceptible hint of pepper on the finish. The tannins are fine, elegant and well-handled. Subtle power on the finish.

Dark, intense, and vibrant color. A medium-intensity nose with pure, ripe, and even complex fruit. It is both fresh, ripe, and floral. This wine has the seductive attack typical of 2016, aromatic and tender, which then unfolds on a very airy body. It develops with fruity, savory notes and fine density on the finish. Very good sappy and aromatic length, with no tannic edges. It’s very good.

Ripe and inviting, with plum, cassis and raspberry fruit melded together nicely and laced with subtle apple wood and sweet spice accents. Fine energy imparts sneaky length. Drink now through 2025. 5,400 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Fresh red fruits, floral, Zan, hint of vanilla. Fruity, fresh, lively, elegant palate, great chew, supple, well-integrated tannins, crunchy juice, long finish.

This grand estate on the outskirts of the small city of Saint-Émilion is now performing well, as this wine with its bold structure and rich fruits proves. It is concentrated, solid with black-plum flavors that are still laced with acidity and tannins. The wine needs plenty of time, so drink from 2023.