2016 Primeur Pessac-Léognan

Veronique Sanders and her team made a fantastic Haut-Bailly in 2016

2016 Château Bouscaut

Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, spices, vanilla and toast nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, structured, juicy, ripe and rich, trying bit hard. 91-93

2016 Château Bouscaut blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, vanilla nose, fresh. Fresh acidity, fresh, lively, citrus and lemons, minerals, light smoky notes, long finish. 90-92

2016 Château Brown

Ruby. Ruby, fruity, anise and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some anise, leaner finish. 87-89

2016 Château Carbonnieux

Ruby. Dark berries, blueberries, spices and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, ripe, elegant, long. 91-93

2016 Château Carbonnieux blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity, some citrus and apples nose, minerals. fresh acidity, fresh, apples, citrus, minerals, elegant, bit short. 89-91

2016 Château Les Carmes Haut-Brion

Ruby. Blackberries, fruity, anise, spices, ripe nose, dark berries, vanilla. Light scented note. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, juicy, fruity, dark berries, spices, anise, detailed, playful, ripe, long. 93-95

2016 Domaine de Chevalier

Ruby. Blackberries, cassis, vanilla, spices, rich, blueberries, dark fruity, minerals nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some spices, structured, blackberries, long. 93-95

2016 L'Esprit de Chevalier

Ruby. Anise, fruity, blueberries nose, light vanilla. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, leaner. 86-88

2016 Domaine de Chevalier blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, minerals, vanilla and citrus nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, some minerals, some bitter notes in the finish. 91-93

2016 L'Esprit de Chevalier blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some citrus and minerals nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, light minerals. 87-89

2016 Château Couhins-Lurton

Ruby. Dark berries, some spices, blackberries, blueberries, light minerals, elegant. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, juicy, dark berries, elegant texture, long. 91-93

2016 Château Couhins-Lurton blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Gooseberries, some honey melon, vanilla, spices, apples nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, fresh, apples, some citrus, vanilla, minerals, long. 91-93

2016 Château de Cruzeau

Ruby. Dark fruits, vanilla, spices, blackberries, fairly woody nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, vanilla. 86-88

2016 Château de Cruzeau blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, vanilla, some spices, fruity nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, smoky, some vanilla and spices, apples, pears peel, long. 90-92

2016 Château de Fieuzal

Ruby. Dark fruits, spices, vanilla and cassis nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, some anise, ripe, fruity and long. 92-94

2016 Château de Fieuzal blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, grapefruits, vanilla nose, tight. Fresh acidity, fruity, some bitter notes, vanilla, lighter, good length. 88-90

2016 Château de France

Ruby. Vanilla, spices, dark fruity nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, anise, vanilla, long. 88-90

2016 Château de France blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, peach, vanilla nose, light. Fresh acidity, fresh, lively if leaner, bitter finish. 86-88

2016 Château La Garde

Ruby. Blackberries, fruity, dark berries and anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some anise and spices, good length. 88-90

2016 Château La Garde blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Fruity, apples, pears and peach nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, elegant palate. 87-89

2016 Château Haut-Bacalan

Ruby. Dark fruits, some spices, blackberries, quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, playful, juicy, red berries, darker fruits, elegant. 88-90

2016 Château Haut-Bacalan blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, floral, fruity, elegant nose, peach and ripe pears. Fresh acidity, fresh, apples, lemons, spices, playful, somewhat leaner finish, good length. 88-90

2016 Château Haut-Bailly

Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, tighter, scented and floral notes far behind, detailed, violets, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red blackberries, fresh and bright yet layered and intense, detailed, long. Stunning. 96-98

2016 Le Parde de Haut Bailly

Ruby. Some mint, light thyme, blackberries, minerals, some vanilla, detailed nose, quite intense. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, some spices, anise, blueberries, elegant and refreshing. 91-93

2016 Château Haut-Bergey

Ruby. Jammy blueberries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, hollow mid palate, fruity and fresh finish. Will it come together? 87-89

2016 Château Haut-Brion

Ruby. Dark fruity, ripe, rich, blueberries, tight, blackberries, some violets and floral notes, exotic spices, layered. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries and spices, nuanced, deep, rich yet not sweet or lush, has grace but also restraint to it now, stunning length. 96-98

2016 Le Clarence de Haut-Brion

Ruby. Dark fruits, blueberries, blackberries, floral, scented, detailed nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, red berries, blackberries, quite intense, detailed, long. 92-94

2016 Château Haut-Brion blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, some candied lemons, peach, vanilla, some spices, detailed nose, minerals, touch smoky. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, spices, some vanilla, detailed, playful and elegant, refreshing, lively, long. 93-95

2015 La Clarté de Haut-Brion

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, peach, ripe gooseberries, some vanilla, elegant nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, some vanilla, elegant, good length. 88-90

2016 Château Haut-Lagrange

Ruby. Vanilla, spices, some wood, herbal nose, lacks some fruit to handle the wood. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, leaner, red fruity, bit thin. 85-87

2016 Château Haut-Lagrange blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, pears, some lemons, candied lemons nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, rounded, apples, peach, some ripe lemons finish, leaner. 88-90

2016 Château Haut Nouchet

Ruby. Blackberries, cassis, fruity, dark berries and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, anise. 86-88

2016 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion

Ruby. Blackberries, fruity, spices, anise, cassis, vanilla and pepper nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, anise, liquorice, quite woody at this stage but should handle it nicely. 89-91

2016 Château Larrivet Haut-Brion blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, ripe gooseberries, some vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, grapefruits, lemons, minerals, playful, elegant. 89-91

2016 Château Latour-Martillac

Ruby. Blueberries, cassis, vanilla, spices, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, structured, spices, juicy, long. 92-94

2016 Château Latour-Martillac blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, some vanilla and lemons, long finish. 90-92

2016 Château Lespault-Martillac

Ruby. Fruity, dark berries, some anise nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries and anise, some spices, good length. 88-90

2016 Château Lespault-Martillac blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, fruity nose, some grapefruits. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, some spices, long. 89-91

2016 Château La Louviére

Ruby. Dark fruits, spices, fresh nose, faint herbal touch. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, structured, fresh and lively, dark berries, long. 90-92

2016 Château La Louviére blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity, fresh, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, lemons, elegant if leaner, good length. 88-90

2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière

Ruby. Blackberries, spices, fruity and fresh nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, lively, elegant, refreshing, long. 91-93

2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity, peach, pears nose, fruit driven. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, refreshing if a bit lean, lacks concentration like most dry whites this year. 89-91

2016 Clos Marsalette

Ruby. Blackberries, fruity nose, some vanilla, fresh. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries and anise, some spices, good length. 88-90

2016 Clos Marsalette blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, vanilla, some smoky notes nose. Fresh, fruity, apples, rounded. 86-88

2016 Château La Mission Haut-Brion

Ruby. Blackberries, coffee, blueberries, some vanilla and spices, deep, rich and intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fresh, fruity, dark berries, some ripe raspberries, structured, firm, detailed, layered, refreshing finish, long. 95-97

2016 La Chapelle de la Mission Haut-Brion

Ruby. Spices, fruity, blackberries, some floral notes, detailed and nuanced nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, some spices, deep and intense, detailed, vanilla, smoky notes, long, firm. A beautiful La Chapelle. 92-94

2016 Château La Mission Haut-Brion blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, gooseberries, some vanilla and spices nose, not as up front as usual for primeurs. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, lemons, peach, vanilla, spices, more Sauvignon Blanc than usual (62,7%) making it somewhat leaner and more focused. Less tropical, long. 92-94

2016 Château Olivier

Ruby. Red fruity nose, spices, blackberries, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, fresh, lively, long. 90-92

2016 Château Olivier blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, citrus, lemons, some vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, refreshing, long. 90-92

2016 Château Le Pape

Ruby. Blueberries, blackberries, some spices, vanilla, touch of herbs, scented nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, blueberries, some red fruits, elegant and detailed, long. 92-94

2016 Château Pape Clément

Ruby. Blueberries, vanilla, spices, light floral note nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries and spices, anise and blueberries, long. 90-92

2016 Château Pape Clément blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity, fresh, peach nose, tight. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, minerals, rounded, long. 89-91

2016 Château Picque Caillou

Ruby. Blackberries, some minerals, ripe fruits nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, spices, anise, bitter wood. 86-88

2016 Château Picque Caillou blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Fruity, minerals, vanilla and peach nose. Fresh acidity, fruity, apples, rounded, elegant. 88-90

2016 Château de Rochemorin

Ruby. Dark fruits, some spices, blackberries, vanilla, fairly intense nose, light scented note. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, blackberries, fruity, some vanilla and spices, good length. This is very likely to improve. 88-90

2016 Château de Rochemorin blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Pears, peach, minerals, lemons, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, some spices, long finish. 89-91

2016 Château de Rouillac

Ruby. Blackberries, raspberries and vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, red berries, anise and spices, leaner finish. 87-89

2016 Château Le Sartre

Ruby. Dark fruits, some spices, blueberries, quite intense nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, anise and vanilla, structured. 88-90

2016 Château Le Sartre blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Smoky, apples, spices, pears and peach nose. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, apples, lemons, pears and peach, good length. 88-90

2016 Château Seguin

Ruby. Blackberries, fruity, vanilla and spices nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, some vanilla and spices, good length. 88-90

2016 Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Ruby. Fruity, red berries, cassis, vanilla nose. Fresh acidity, ripe tannins, fruity, dark berries, spices, refreshing, elegant, textured, long. 92-94

2016 Château Smith Haut Lafitte blanc

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, fruity, vanilla, lemons, ripe nose, peach. Fresh acidity, fresh, fruity, rounded, lemons, elegant texture, long. 92-94