Château La Fleur 2016

Dark and winey, with a mix of well-focused black currant and boysenberry fruit, while graphite, anise, tobacco and ganache notes fill in through the finish. The ganache element echoes nicely. Best from 2021 through 2031. 4,167 cases made.

Perfumed and tight on the nose with currant, blackberry and blueberry aromas that follow through to a full body, fine-grained tannins and a fruity, savory finish. Hard not to drink now. Try in 2020.

The 2016 La Fleur is racy and super-ripe, with elevated alcohol, hard tannins and oxidative notes that make it hard to find much pleasure. I expected more from this Saint-Émilion.

some earthy notes, a hint of oak, medium-weight structure, a bit tannic but needing long time, generous fruit.

Kunz barrel sample 17: dense, velvety bouquet, strawberry jam, black cherries, tobacco. Creamy, powerful palate with rich, sweet fruit, plenty of fine tannins, opulent structure, muscular structure, plush finish. Still has room to improve.

One of the revelations of the vintage, with a very pure, fruit-forward nose; on the palate, a delicate yet intense tannic structure carries through to peppery notes.

Deep garnet red. An inviting bouquet with fruity and spicy aromas. Lively, juicy attack. On the palate, the wine is expressive, fruity, and well supported by its tannins. The latter are fine-grained and in harmony with the structure and its freshness. Fruity finish.

The top wine from this estate, this is pure Merlot, a ripe wine with juicy black fruits and smoky spice from the wood aging. Age the wine to let the rich tannins calm down and integrate into the broad fruitiness. Drink from 2022.