Clos Puy Arnaud 2016

This is quite juicy and engaging while remaining comparatively lightweight in feel, with damson plum and cassis notes carried by racy acidity, while light sanguine and iron accents linger through the finish. Doesn’t skimp on length either, despite the unencumbered style. Drink now through 2027. 1,900 cases made.

Biodynamic. An expressive nose that’s ripe and plush, showing dark fruit notes and a minty edge. The palate is bright and juicy, again accented towards the fruit but with marked acidity as well. Definitely a food wine.

The 2016 Clos Puy Arnaud is a fabulous wine. Rich, boisterous and full of fruit, the 2016 is simply gorgeous. Bright red raspberry, blood orange, mint and wild flowers all race out of this sumptuous, silky, exceptionally beautiful Côtes de Castillon. All of the elements meld together in a sumptuous, super-expressive wine that hits all the right notes. Clos Puy Arnaud is one of the classiest wines of the vintage. Don't miss it.

Medium-bodied, this is on the fresh, floral, red plum and cherry side of the style range and should be ready to drink on release.

Inky bright dark purple core and hue. The nose is fragrant and intense with notes of black truffle, smoke, limestone, ripe blackberry and cassis with fine oak underneath. Excellent texture with plenty of cocoa powder-like tannins, dense and weighty fruit with lovely freshness and purity, layered with a very long, fresh and complex finish. Still youthful but very tempting with excellent potential for further ageing.

You enter the bouquet of this wine as if into a tunnel of distinctive sensations that linger on the palate. One must dwell on the quality of a deep, sensitive, ripe tannin. The mouthfeel is like velvet, vibrating in a spicy atmosphere. The slightly Jansenist finish suggests a distant future.

Fresh red fruits, intense nose, floral, bramble and prune notes. Lively, dynamic palate, very fresh, with supple tannins.

From biodynamic viticulture, Puy Arnaud is a benchmark wine from Côtes de Castillon. The vines are located on a limestone plateau with asteriae (starfish) fossils. Deep purple color. Lots of finesse and freshness on the nose. Pleasant notes of violets and spices. On the palate, the wine is juicy, fruity and perfectly balanced. I find the same freshness as on the nose. Beautiful aromatic intensity, ideally supported by the structure. A very inviting, mouthwatering wine that will be hard to resist—but why resist it, after all? Just a bit of patience so that all the elements fall into place. Kudos to Thierry Valette and his team.

Dark, intense, and vibrant color. Moderately aromatic nose, fruity, pure, creamy, and rather soft. Succulent on the attack, both full and tender, delicately fleshy and flavorful, the wine develops with a juicy, lively expression. Very beautiful, long, fruity finish.